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<br />Mitigation Strategy Report <br />FEMA-1134-DR-NC <br /> <br />State of North Carolina <br />Division of Emergency Management <br /> <br />Until FEMA remaps an area, the existing FIRM is the official means to determine flood risk. However, <br />following a significant flood event such as Hurricane Fran, communities can tag high water marks as <br />a means to determine event-specific flood elevations. These marks can serve as the "best available <br />data" when making floodplain management decisions. Communities should be encouraged to tag <br />high water marks and record the data on existing community maps, including, if available, a Geo- <br />graphic Information System (GIS). <br /> <br /> <br />IIA1l8IAL RlI8II ....,a PIGIIWI <br /> <br />FIRM <br />FlOOD IHstmANCE RIlE lAP <br />BUNCOMBE COUNTY, <br />NORTH CAROLINA <br />AND INCORPORATED AREAS <br /> <br /> <br />PAIR 282 OF 550 <br /> <br />$SEE MAP tHOEX fOR PANELS NOT PfttNTEOl <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />CllI#M\JM1Y <br />~.CXfY1Jf <br />~.NI(.t.S <br /> <br />~l.!tliI.~ <br /> <br />- - < <br />... _ c <br /> <br /> <br />,ill ....... UlItr .. ... .... ......... .....-- <br />J!, .......,............,...W- -..... ~ <br />................-~............_-- <br />- <br /> <br /> <br />MAP NUMBER <br />37021C0282 C <br /> <br />EfRCDVE DATE: <br />lilY 6. 1996 <br /> <br />Federal Emergency Management Agency <br /> <br />Fi~ure 10: Flood Insuranee Rate Map, <br />Buneombe County <br /> <br />"' <br /> <br />FEMA is using GIS to provide integrated maps of <br />the declared area. The State Department of Trans- <br />portation provided controlled aerial photography, <br />which was incorporated into the database. From <br />these photographs and other information, maps <br />have been developed with one foot contour lines. <br />The maps also contain high-water lines. The maps <br />are being used to assist communities in determin- <br />ing actual flood risks, thereby providing the means <br />to make better land use decisions. A coastal build- <br />ing Inventory is also being incorporated into the <br />system. North Topsail Beach is the first commu- <br />nity to begin this project. With this information, <br />North Topsail Beach will be able to determine, with <br />improved precision, which structures face the <br />greatest flood risks. The State should expand this <br />effort to inventory buildings and delineate flood <br />elevations among all North Carolina communities. <br />This data should be incorporated into local and <br />EM GIS programs. <br /> <br />A significant problem facing riverine communities <br />is the changing nature of BFEs. In addition to gen- <br />eral inaccuracies in a FIRM, continued develop- <br />ment in the floodplain can significantly increase <br />flood elevations. Development, including the cov- <br />erage of drainage basins with impervious surfaces, <br />greatly increases the rate of water runoff into <br />nearby tributaries, creeks, streams, and rivers. <br />Another challenge facing local officials is the en- <br />croachment of development into regulatory flood- <br />ways (see Figure 11, below). The NFIP does not <br />allow development in the floodway. However, <br />some participating communities have not strictly <br />enforced their flood ordinance. Furthermore, many <br />communities have chosen not to participate in the <br />NFIP and are therefore not required to regulate <br />structures in the floodway. Thus, the State, in con- <br />junction with local governments, should work to <br />improve the enforcement of existing floodway <br />regulations among participating communities and <br />encourage non-participating communities to join <br />the NFIP. <br /> <br />L <br /> <br />~- - <br /> <br />Page 23 <br />