FLOOD04455

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Minnesota
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Flood-Proofing Administrative Manual for Minnesota
• Date: 1/1/1997
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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uplift of basement floor slabs. The State Building Code does not require
that a registered engineer or architect design flood proofing measures for
, structures located in the Secondary Flood Hazard Area unless the building
official would deem it necessary. The need for specific flood-proofing
requirements is left to the discretion of the local building official,
who should be familiar with soil conditions and other physical character-
istics of the area. If he is not conversant with local problems, he should
seek the advice of those who are knowledgeable.

Secondary Flood Hazard Areas can be mapped within a community if sufficient
information is available. As an alternative, all remaining portions of the
municipality not in the Primary area should be treated as Secondary.

FEDERAL (CORPS OF ENGINEERS) INVOLVEMENT

Under Section 206 of the 1960 Federal Flood Control Act, the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers is authorized to provide information, technical planning assis-
tance, and guidance to non-Federal entities in planning the wise utilization
of flood plains. The Corps of Engineers, with many years of experience in
planning and construction of flood control projects, has developed and publish-
ed standards of design and construction for flood-proofing buildings and
structures in "Flood-Proofing Regulations" which has been cited earlier. Aside
from general advisory services, however, the Corps has no authority or capabil-
ity to "certify" or otherwise establish the resistance to floods of any flood
control structures (levees, dams, etc.) or flood-proofed buildings unless
constructed by the Corps.

MINNESOTA'S FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

In 1969 the Minnesota Legislature enacted the Flood Plain Management Act,
(Minnesota Statutes 104.01 - 104.08), thus endorsing in principle the concept
of a comprehensive approach to solving the state's flood problems. Flood plains
were decl ared to be "a 1 and resource to be developed in a manner whi ch wi 11
result in minimum loss of life and threat to health and reduction of private
and public economic loss caused by flooding." Primary emphasis in reducing
flood damage was to be placed on the adoption and enforcement of local land use
regulations such as zoning and subdivision ordinances. To carry out the legis-
lative intent, the Department of Natural Resources developed Statewide Standards
and Criteria for Mana ement of Flood Plain Areas of Minnesota (Minnesota Regula-
tions NR 85-93. These regulations provide minimum standards for the delineation
of flood plains and floodways and the establishment of flood protection eleva-
tions, in addition to providing criteria for land use regulations. Both the
Flood ~lain Managem~nt.Act and Minnesota Regulations NR 85-93 recognize that t~e
effectlve use of bUlldlng codes can playa key role in reducing flood damage
throughout the state.

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