Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
4 <br /> Flood Hazard Area Overlay <br /> 12. 6.13 Stream Buffers <br /> 13. Article 7 Subdivisions <br /> 14. Article 8 Non-conformities <br /> 15. Article 9 Enforcement ; and <br /> 16. Article 10 Definitions <br /> n Other: <br /> B. RATIONALE <br /> 1. Purpose/Mission <br /> In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 Zoning Atlas and Unified <br /> Development Ordinance Amendments of the UDO, the Planning Director has <br /> initiated text amendments to revise and update existing flood damage prevention <br /> regulations as well as a zoning atlas amendment to eliminate the Special Flood <br /> Hazard Area (SFHA) Overlay District. <br /> The proposal involves updating existing standards to ensure consistency with the <br /> new Federal minimum model flood damage prevention ordinance as well as adopting <br /> new flood mapping data by reference in the UDO. <br /> 2. Analysis <br /> As required under Section 2.8.5 of the UDO, the Planning Director is required to: <br /> `cause an analysis to be made of the application and, based upon that analysis, <br /> prepare a recommendation for consideration by the Planning Board and the Board of <br /> County Commissioners'. <br /> In 1968 Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to help <br /> provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves from the <br /> possible damage of structures resulting from flood events. The program is intended <br /> to supplement typical homeowner insurance policies, which do not cover damage to <br /> structures resulting from a flood. The NFIP offers flood insurance in communities <br /> that participate, specifically through the adoption and enforcement of regulations <br /> designed to mitigate/reduce flood risk commonly referred to as flood damage <br /> prevention regulations, in the program. <br /> Part of the `regulations' local communities are required to adopt are Flood Insurance <br /> Rate Maps (FIRM) denoting areas susceptible to flooding. Participating communities <br /> use these maps to verify the anticipated `elevation' of flood waters during a storm <br /> event and work with property owners to ensure structures are not located in areas <br /> where flooding is a possibility. FIRM maps are modified over time to reflect changes, <br /> both increases and decreases, in anticipated flood levels. Participating communities <br /> are required to adopt these new maps once they are certified to continue to be <br /> eligible for participation in the NFIP. <br /> Orange County has been a member of the NFIP since approximately 1976. <br /> The County's original FIRMs became effective on March 16, 1981, with the last <br /> Form Revised 09-29-16 <br />