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Mitigation Strategy Report FEMA-1134-DR-NC State of North Carolina Division of Emergency Management The most severe flood levels in the Cape Fear River Basin occurred in Alamance County along the upper Haw River, which climbed to more than 14 feet above flood stage. The Neuse River Basin experienced some of the most severe and prolonged flooding. The cities of Kinston and Goldsboro were particularly hard hit. Flooding in these areas was increased due to rain following the hurricane. The measuring stations in Goldsboro and Kinston recorded flood levels above 12 and 9 feet, respectively. These communities faced localized flooding of significantly higher depths. Furthermore, flood waters receded very slowly, forcing many residents to seek temporary shelter elsewhere. In many areas across the State, the flooding of residential structures and businesses caused structural damage and ruined baseboards, drywall, carpets, contents and floors. Flood damage may have been avoided in these structures if they had been sufficiently elevated during construction. Newly constructed buildings and manufactured homes are required by the local flood damage prevention ordinance of communities participating in the NFIP to be elevated at least to the BFE. FiQure 7: Flooding in Johnston County In Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) where BFEs are not provided (unnumbered A Zones), local officials should consider amending their flood damage prevention ordinance to require that structures be elevated above the highest flood of record. When BFEs are unknown, new construction, at a minimum, should be built to the high water level associated with Hurricane Fran or the highest flood of record. Local governments should determine the elevation of flooding from Hurricane Fran and, if no other data is available, use this information for enforcement purposes. Ideally, the high water marks should be surveyed to establish the elevation above mean sea level. If surveying is not feasible, the flood depth can be measured. This information should be recorded on a community's FIRM and used as the standard to elevate the finished floor for all new construction and substantial improvements, Following future flood events, the State should assist local governments in tagging high water marks, This data should be incorporated into existing municipal and EM geographic information systems to help with future land use planning measures. Where high water marks were not surveyed and no other information is available, local governments should require the finished floor be elevated to five feet above the highest adjacent grade, instead of two feet, as required by NFIP. Page 15