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income of families and individuals occupying floodplains was 5 percent lower than those of the nonhazard areas. The local difference could well be greater because this figure includes several communities where sites with direct access to the water bring a premium. Census Block data, which were available for only 13 case studies, indicated that the value of housing tended to be some- what lower in the floodplain than in the nonhazard areas, particu- larly for riverine locations. On the other hand, single family housing and owner-occupied housing was more prevalent in the flood- plain. A higher vacancy rate existed in the floodplain along with higher percentages of older and substandard housing. Average annual flood losses for the case study communities were estimated at $76.6 million. This estimate was based on available data from the Corps of Engineers and the Soil Conservation Service. More than 52 percent of the losses was to residential development. Commercial and industrial development accounted for 32 percent. Public uses were estimated to experience 16 percent of the losses. The largest case study areas (Harris County and Orleans Parish) comprised 48 percent of the total floodplain area represented in the case studies, but accounted for 64 percent of the flood losses. A detailed analysis of the effects of regulations on property values was beyond the scope of this study. However, based on limited available data in the literature and an analysis in one case study area, market values do not appear to be depressed by the enforcement of existing floodplain regulations. The influence of floodplain regulations on market values of floodplain property can be viewed from either the perspective of the effects on developed property or the effects on undeveloped property. With respect to developed property, floodplain regula- 'tions exist along with many other regulations and codes which re- -8-