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<br />In some cases, you should consider a higher protection level than the base flood, For example, if
<br />your community suffered a flood that was higher than the mapped base flood, you should consider
<br />i tit the higher flood, (The highest flood recorded is called the flood of record.)
<br />
<br />Critical facilities, such as a hospital, fire station, power substation, or hazardous materials storage
<br />yard, should be protected from the 500-year flood or the flood of record, whichever is higher.
<br />Most Flood Insurance Rate Maps show the 500-year floodplain.
<br />
<br />Other flood data
<br />
<br />In addition to the area affected and the flood height, the following information can help you get a
<br />handle on your flood problem:
<br />
<br />. area and map of the watershed,
<br />. areas repetitively flooded (FEMA can provide insurance claims data on this),
<br />. amount of warning time,
<br />. how long the area will stay underwater (duration),
<br />. velocities, sediment, debris and other perils that accompany a flood, and
<br />. whether there are any flood protection projects underway,
<br />
<br />Other agencies that may have information on your flood problem are:
<br />
<br />. state Flood Insurance Coordinator,
<br />. state natural resources or water resources agency,
<br />. regional planning, sanitary, drainage or water management districts,
<br />. county emergency manager,
<br />. county or state highway or transportation department,
<br />. U,S, Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is
<br />usually co-located with your local soil and water conservation district (check the govern-
<br />ment listings in the phone book for your county seat),
<br />. U.S, Army Corps of Engineers, and
<br />. local university geography, engineering, or natural sciences department or library,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Most available studies map the base floodplain for
<br />larger bodies of water. However, ifpeople get wet,
<br />they consider it flooding and they'll want you to
<br />address it. Therefore, this step should review flood-
<br />ing from small ditches, flooding in depressional areas,
<br />and sanitary or storm sewer backup that isn't shown
<br />on your Flood Insurance Rate Map or covered in
<br />existing engineering studies.
<br />
<br />Other hazards
<br />
<br />How much time and effort is spent
<br />on collecting data depends on the
<br />time and resources available,
<br />However, the planning process
<br />should not be delayed while waiting
<br />for more data in order to develop a
<br />hi detailed roblem descri tion,
<br />
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />A good plan should integrate consideration of other hazards besides flooding, These can include
<br />natural hazards, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, ice storms, drought, and wildfire, and
<br />"technological" hazards, such as releases from chemical plants and hazardous materials spills.
<br />
<br />The ~10.Step" Mitigation Planning Process
<br />
<br />g
<br />
<br />May 1999
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