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4 <br />October 2005 and adopted the new FIRMS, effective February 2, 2007 on January <br />23, 2007.) <br />2. Within the basic flood zone, county zoning and building inspectors should require base <br />flood elevation (BFE) and lowest floor elevation (~FE) data for each new structure and <br />repair and expansion of existing buildings, and require a surveyed plot plan to establish <br />building improvement locations and elevations, if floodplains are involved, and <br />3. Develop specific administrative procedures to deal directly with substantial damage to <br />flood-prone structures and to complement the existing procedures described in the flood <br />damage prevention ordinance. (Staff has adapted administrative guidelines from the <br />revised ordinance.) <br />Over the years, county planners have been reasonably successful in discouraging new <br />development within mapped floodplain areas. Portions of 3,545 Orange County parcels contain <br />some floodplain areas. Around 135 parcels now contain or have contained some 180 <br />residences or accessory buildings. The new FIRM contains just 33 residences and 38 <br />accessory buildings. Just four of those accessory building and no residences have been built <br />within the effective floodplain area since the original effective date of the Flood Damage <br />Prevention Ordinance. Twenty-two of fihe 33 residences and 17 of the 38 accessory buildings <br />now found within the floodplain areas are the direct result of the new flood mapping extending <br />beyond the 1981 boundaries. <br />Through its attempt to become accredited through the CRS process, staff has initiated several <br />small projects to improve the county's ability to administer its regulations and educate the public <br />regarding floodplain regulations. These actions include the following: <br />1. Within the Orange County website, under Current Planning, flood elevation certificates <br />are available, as well as, instructions to complete the document and the county flood <br />damage prevention ordinance. <br />2. Staff now logs in all floodplain information inquiries. <br />3. Forms to respond to formal floodplain data requests. <br />4. A floodplain insurance data form for hand out to any interested citizen. <br />5. The Neuse, Cape Fear, and Roanoke Basin floodplain maps for Orange County are now <br />a layer in the Planning Department GIS and are available for viewing in the Planning <br />Department's map room. <br />6. All parcels with structures located within flood prone areas now have a notice placed on <br />them within the Building Inspection permit system, so that no improvements or addition <br />are allowed unless base flood elevations, lowest adjacent grades, and first floor elevation <br />data are determined. <br />7. Staff hosted a November 2006 open house/informational meeting for all property owners <br />with structures in mapped floodplains. <br />8. Both the Planning Department and County libraries have books, pamphlets, and <br />brochures on the NFIP and flood proofing buildings. <br />