Know Your Local Floodplain Administrator by Name

John A. Miller, FEMA Region II Mitigation Liaison

As we move into peak Atlantic Hurricane Season, do you know your local Floodplain Administrator? The local Floodplain Administrator (aka Floodplain Manager) carrying out the municipal responsibilities under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a source to learn about your flood risk. The NFIP, and the role of the local Floodplain Administrator, was created under a concept called Cooperative Federalism where Federal, state and local governments agree to collaborate to achieve common goals, in this case to reduce flood vulnerability. Over 22,000 communities participate in the voluntary NFIP. For homeowners, business owners, tenants and renters, and municipal governments to be eligible to purchase flood insurance under the program, the community (municipality or county, or in rare cases, some authority, and states) is required to adopt ordinances or regulations setting the standards for development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (the 1% annual chance floodplain or commonly called “the 100-year floodplain”) as specified on Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The local Floodplain Administrator oversees that ordinance or regulation and ensures that it is implemented.

The Administrator’s duties include:

• Issuing or denying floodplain development permits, assessing the accuracy and completeness of permit applications, and if other permits or authorizations are needed from other entities
• Inspecting all development (includes structures and other activities such as earthwork, land clearing, paving, storage of materials and equipment, drilling) to assure compliance with the local ordinance or regulation, to include substantial damage and substantial improvement requirements
• Maintaining records of floodplain development (to include copies of permits, elevation certificates and certifications)
• Assisting in the preparation and revisions to floodplain maps and keeping the ordinance or regulation current
• Correct violations of the ordinance or regulation through investigation and, when necessary, through legal recourse
• Helping residents obtain information on flood hazards, floodplain map data, flood insurance and proper construction methods

It is this last duty that is important to owners, tenants and renters in understanding the threat of flooding, how to avoid increasing vulnerability and to reduce your flood risk exposure. The local Floodplain Administrator can help you with understanding the standards required for adding an addition on your home or address your flood risk questions before you make an offer on a house, as examples.  If you are considering an activity or a purchase in the floodplain, you are strongly encouraged to meet with the Floodplain Administrator FIRST. Local ordinances, often titled Flood Damage Prevention Ordinances, can have higher standards or more restrictive requirements than the minimums dictated by the NFIP, so it is important to check the ordinance or regulation. Your best bet is to correspond with the Floodplain Administrator. The local Floodplain Administrator may know of flood-prone areas that are not depicted on flood mapping.

To get in contact with the local Floodplain Administrator, you can call the community and ask to speak to the Floodplain Administrator. If the person is unaware who acts in this capacity, you can ask to speak to the construction official or building inspector and he or she will know. Get to know your Floodplain Administrator: the relationship can save you heartache, money and keep you and your property safe and secure.