There are three basic coastal zones and one new zone in the new NFIP maps: Please contact the Planning and Inspections Department with questions or concerns. Please click below to view the Floodplain Permit Instructions and the Floodplain Development Application. Since 1986, and even with the flood loss claims from recent devastating hurricanes and nor'easters, the NFIP has maintained its goal of being financially self-sufficient.Ĭlick here to view the Flood Maps for the Town of Sunset Beach and Brunswick County. Floodways are often the most hazardous areas within a community and generally coincide with environmentally sensitive areas. Floodways are areas that must be preserved in order to allow the discharge of the base flood, and communities are required to prohibit any development within a floodway that would cause an increase in flood heights. FEMA has mapped over 100 million acres of flood hazard areas nationwide and has designated some six (6) million acres of floodways along 40,000 miles of streams and rivers. The base flood, sometimes referred to as the “100-year” flood, has a one (1) percent chance of occurring in any given year. There is clear evidence that these goals have been achieved in areas where buildings and other developments are in compliance with the community's floodplain management ordinance.įlood insurance premiums for new buildings are based on flood risk, which is determined by the elevation of the lowest floor of the structure relative to the elevation of the national base flood standard. The NFIP's land-use regulations are intended to prevent the loss of life and property, as well as economic and social hardships, resulting from flooding. These same standards must also be adhered to by all federal agencies under a Presidential Floodplain Management Executive Order. Flood insurance, and most types of federal financial assistance, such as mortgage loans and grants, are only available in those communities that adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance that meets or exceeds the minimum NFIP standards. Federally-backed flood insurance coverage is available to any property owner in return for mitigation of flood risks by community regulation of floodplain development. The NFIP is a voluntary program based on a mutual agreement between the federal government and the local community. In recent decades, more than eighty (80) percent of disaster losses nationwide have been caused by floods.

Transferring the costs of flood losses from the American taxpayers to floodplain property owners through flood insurance premiums.Guiding future development away from flood hazard areas and.Requiring that new and future substantially improved buildings be constructed to resist flood damages.The program was designed to achieve these goals by: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress in 1968 to reduce the loss of life and property, and the rising disaster relief costs caused by flooding. What is the National Flood Insurance Program? This information is only available in digital form. Flood hazard data is available for review on the FRIS website.

Flood insurance rate map