FLOOD06898

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas
• Date: 4/1/1995
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Historic FEMA Regulatory Floodplain Information

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Guide For Approximate Zone A Areas

Floodplain Management

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APPLICABLE NATIONAL FLOOD
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
APPROXIMATE ZONE A AREAS

INSURANCE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS IN

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The primary requirement for community participation in the
NFIP is the adoption and enforcement of floodplain management
regulations that meet the minimum standards of the NFIP
regulations in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) section 60.3. These minimum standards vary depending on
the type of flood risk data provided to the community by FEMA.

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The intent of floodplain management regulations is to minimize
the potential for flood damages to new construction and to
avoid aggravating existing flood hazard conditions that could
increase potential flood damages to existing structures. To
protect structures in riverine and lacustrine areas, the NFIP
regulations require that the lowest floor (including basement)
of all new construction and substantial improvements of
residential structures be elevated to or above the BFE. New
or substantially improved non-residential structures in
riverine areas must either be elevated or floodproofed (made
watertight) to or above the BFE.

ReQUirements for Obtaininq BFE Data

In areas designated as approximate Zone A, where BFEs have not
been provided by FEMA, communities must apply the provisions
of Paragraph 60.3(b) of the NFIP regulations. Subparagraph
6D.3(b) (4) requires that communities:

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Obtain, review and reasonably utilize any
base flood elevation and floodway data
available from a Federal, State, or other
source... [44 CFR 60.3 (b)(4) ]

section IV describes the sources from which BFE data may be
obtained. These data are to be used as criteria for requiring
that new construction, substantial improvements, and other
development within all approximate Zone A areas meet the
applicable requirements in Paragraphs 6D.3(c) and (d) of the
NFIP regulations, including the requirement that structures
have their lowest floors elevated to or above the BFE (or
floodproofed to or above the BFE for non-residential
structures) . These data should be used as long as they
reasonably reflect flooding conditions expected during the
base (lOD-year) flood, are not known to be scientifically or
technically incorrect, and represent the best data available.
Communities should consider formally adopting these data by
reference as part of their floodplain management regulations.

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