![]() ![]() These areas are called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) prepares Flood Insurance Studies (FISs) and defines and delineates areas at risk for one-percent-annual-chance flooding on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The one-percent-annual-chance flood standard has been used since the NFIP’s inception and is used in more than 22,200 participating communities.įloodplains are areas subject to inundation from floodwaters. A flood of this magnitude has a 26 percent (one in four) chance of occurring over the life of a 30-year mortgage. The federal government established the standard for mapping and regulating flood risk to be the one-percent-annual-chance flood, also referred to as the “base flood” and sometimes called the “100-year flood.” The base flood represents a magnitude and frequency that has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can offer affordable flood insurance by using risk management (floodplain management) principles to reduce flood losses. Basic utility flood protection decision process flow chart Regulated Flood Hazard Areas When planning and, ultimately, installing building utility systems, the basic process illustrated in figure 1 should be followed to ensure selection of appropriate flood risk reduction measures for building utility systems that satisfy building code requirements, manufacturer specifications, and local floodplain management regulations. It is also useful when evaluating structures that will undergo substantial improvement, guiding users to meet floodplain management regulations and building code requirements.Įven if compliance is not required, many building owners may find that applying mitigation measures described in this article will not only reduce future flood damage but also facilitate recovery after flooding Mitigation Planning This article illustrates the design and construction of typical residential utility systems that comply with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements for construction of new residential structures in flood-prone areas. Residents, communities, and businesses are all impacted when building utility systems are damaged and cause delays in post-flood building re-occupancy. 2Ī significant portion of flood damage is attributed to critical building systems, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other utility elements. Global Change Research Program estimates flood risk to coastal and interior flood-prone areas is only expected to increase, along with its associated losses. 1 Because of anticipated changes in climate conditions, stronger storms and rising sea levels, the U.S. has resulted in an annual average of nearly $8 billion in flood losses (adjusted for inflation) and eighty-two fatalities. During the past thirty years, flooding in the U.S. ![]()
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