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FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT Local Ordinance/Statutorv Requirements Communities that manage their floodplains in Colorado do so most often through the local regulatory process. This requires a community to adopt an ordinance or regulation that sets forth the performance standards by which development will occur in identified flood hazard areas. Nationwide and in Colorado, regulations are enforced within the area of the 100-year floodplain. The basic requirement of these regulations is that new development and significant improvement of existing development cannot occur in the 100-year floodplain without a floodplain development permit being obtained. Obtaining such a permit requires compliance with engineering standards. In communities like Akron that have no detailed floodplain information with water surface elevations, the engineering standards are general. Structures must be built with materials and techniques that "minimize flood damages." In communities that have detailed floodplain information the standards require that residential buildings must be elevated above the 100-year elevation and that non-residential buildings must be either elevated or floodproofed. Other structures or projects (i.e. bridges, culverts or fill) must be constructed in a way that minimizes the potential increase in flood elevations they may cause. Flood Insurance Flood insurance is made available to owners and occupants of floodprone property through the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP insurance is available to anyone in any community that participates in the NFIP. Akron participates in the NFIP, thereby making flood insurance for any property in Akron. Property owners and occupants can contact an insurance agent familiar with the NFIP (perhaps their own agent) and purchase insurance through that agent, much like they would purchase homeowner's insurance. Brochures and other information regarding the National Flood Insurance Program can be obtained by calling the Regional Office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Denver at (303) 235- 4830. Floodplain Manal!ement Alternatives Besides floodplain regulations and flood insurance, there are many actions that can reduce the risk of flood damage in a community, Generally these actions fall into two classes, structural actions and non-structural actions. Structural actions involve the construction of facilities to separate floodwaters from property that is at risk. They include construction of improved channels, enlargement of crossing structures (bridges and culverts), levees and floodwalls, reservoirs and ponds to detain floodwaters and diversion channels and pipes to direct waters elsewhere. Non- structural actions usually involve removing people and/or structures from the risk without physically altering the floodplain. Non-structural actions include regulation of new development, the adoption and enforcement of specific building code requirements, floodproofmg of existing 7