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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The basic requirement of these regulations is that new development and significant improvement of <br />existing development cannot occur in the 1 DO-year floodplain without a floodplain development <br />pennit being obtained. Obtaining such a pennit requires compliance with engineering standards. <br />In communities like Kit Carson that have no detailed floodplain infonnation with water surface <br />elevations, the engineering standards are general. Structures must be built with materials and <br />techniques that "minimize flood damages." In communities that have detailed floodplain <br />infonnation the standards require that residential buildings must be elevated above the I DO-year <br />elevation and that non-residential buildings must be either elevated or floodproofed. Other <br />structures or projects (i.e. bridges, culverts or fill) must be constructed in a way that minimizes the <br />potential increase in flood elevations they may cause. <br /> <br />Flood Insurance <br /> <br />Flood insurance is made available to owners and occupants of floodprone property through the <br />federal govemment's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP insurance is available <br />to anyone in any community that participates in the NFIP. At the time of this publication, Kit <br />Carson was not participating in the NFIP. Communities become participants by adopting <br />floodplain regulations, adopting an NFIP map (if one exists) and agreeing to cooperate with the <br />federal government in the local implementation of the NFIP. Property owners and occupants can <br />then contact an insurance agent familiar with the NFIP (perhaps their own agent) and purchase <br />insurance through that agent, much like they would purchase homeowner's insurance. Brochures <br />and other infonnation regarding the National Flood Insurance Program can be obtained by calling <br />the Regional Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Denver at (303) <br />235-4830. <br /> <br />FloodDlain Manaeement Alternatives <br /> <br />Besides floodplain regulations and flood insurance, there are many actions that can reduce the risk <br />of flood damage in a community. Generally these actions fall into two classes, structural actions <br />and non-structural actions. Structural actions involve the construction of facilities to separate <br />floodwaters from property that is at risk. They include construction of improved channels, <br />enlargement of crossing structures (bridges and culverts), levees and floodwalls, reservoirs and <br />ponds to detain floodwaters and diversion channels and pipes to direct waters elsewhere. Non- <br />structural actions usually involve removing people and/or structures from the risk without <br />physically altering the floodplain. Actions include regulation of new development, the adoption <br />and enforcement of specific building code requirements, floodproofing of existing buildings, <br />relocation of structures to safer sites, acquisition of floodplain (including buildings) for open space <br />or other appropriate land uses, public education, flood waming systems and emergency response <br />programs. <br /> <br />Colorado communities interested in exammmg or pursuing possible floodplain management <br />alternatives should contact the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Knowing the full range of <br />alternatives can allow a community to develop a program that best addresses its particular flood and <br />stonn drainage situation. <br /> <br />5 <br />