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| Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
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LICKING COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONFLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
National Flood Safety Awareness WeekClick Here for the news releases for 2008
Click Here for the news release
IntroductionLike most counties in Ohio, Licking County utilizes the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) that are produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These maps were created as a tool for communities to use when dealing with special flood hazard areas. These areas typically have a one percent chance of flooding in any given year or a 25% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. The FIRMs are, at best, conservative interpretations of the existing special flood hazard areas. With this in mind, the Licking County Planning Commission adapted the Flood Damage Prevention Regulations from the National Flood Insurance Program's Standard Regulations to compliment the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The differences between Licking County's Flood Damage Prevention Regulations and the Standard Regulations that FEMA requires are quite significant. An example would be the requirement dealing with useable ground. In order for a new lot to be created in Licking County, there must be enough ground where natural elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation for house, well, and septic. The Licking County Health Department, County Engineers, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service support this. Another difference is that the Licking County Regulations require the placement of permanent benchmarks when creating a subdivision. All residents of Licking County will benefit from this requirement, since establishing these permanent benchmarks makes determining property elevations much easier and less expensive.
Licking County is also involved with the Community Rating System Program (CRS) . This program was developed through the National Flood Insurance Program to give communities the incentive to do more than just regulate building in the flood hazard area. If communities such as Licking County decide to implement CRS into their floodplain management activities, they work toward accumulating points based on more comprehensive floodplain management activities. The more points communities receive for their activities, the greater the reduction in flood insurance premiums local residents are required to pay. This program is strictly voluntary. Licking County joined the program in 1993 and based on their efforts that first year, the county residents received a five percent discount on flood insurance premiums. In 1997, Licking County was approved for an additional five percent discount, bringing the total to ten percent off the premium rate for residents requiring flood insurance.
Recently, Licking County assisted the Village of Hebron, implement a Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) provides funding to assist states and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Village of Hebron's program was successful in removing four homes from the floodplain, which had repeatedly suffered from flood damage.
A Stream Maintenance Brochure (PDF, 20K) is available to assist land owners with watercourse management questions and concerns.
Please checkout our brochure on Licking County Flood Protection.
In addition to flooding hazards, the Countywide All Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (CANHMP) (9.1 MB) addresses other Licking County hazards. Click here to view the plan(9.1 MB).
The Licking County Planning Commission is currently involved in actively updating the Countywide All Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (CANHMP) to meet Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) requirements. The result will qualify Licking County for additional future mitigation funds designed to reduce flood risks for Licking County residents and businesses, as well as infrastructure such as roads, bridges, etc.
For additional information on this project, contact Jim Mickey, Environmental Planner, via email at Click Here or via telephone at 740-670-5200.
For more information regarding floodplain management in Ohio and the United States, visit...
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