Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Form Revised 09-29-16 <br /> <br />buffer as detailed in Section 6.13 of the Unified Development Ordinance <br />(UDO) on a bona fide farm. <br />b. A Board member asked what a Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) is and <br />how are they produced. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The FIRM is the official map on which FEMA has <br />delineated the special flood hazard areas (SFHA) applicable to a specific <br />community, which include the following information: <br />• Common physical features (i.e. highways, roadways, railroads, <br />water features, etc.), <br />• Identified SFHAs, <br />• Base flood elevations (BFE) or anticipated depth of flooding for <br />given areas, <br />• Flood insurance risk zones, and <br />• Areas subject to inundation by the 500-year flood. <br />FIRMs are created by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) <br />officials at both the State and Federal level(s) after an analysis of the flood <br />hazards in a given area are studied and evaluated. <br />This study/evaluation is commonly referred to as a Flood Insurance <br />Survey (FIS), prepared by FEMA, providing an analysis of the flood <br />hazards in a given community. Once completed the FIS report contains <br />detailed flood elevation data for the community in both flood profiles and <br />data tables. <br />c. A Board member asked if the elimination of the Special Flood Hazard <br />Area Overlay District will negatively impact our flood management <br />program. <br />STAFF COMMENT: There should be no impact. Flood data will still be <br />displayed on County GIS system(s) which can be viewed <br />at: https://gis.orangecountync.gov:8443/orangeNCGIS/default.htm. <br />d. A Board member asked if these amendment(s) will alter the County’s <br />floodplain management outreach program. <br />STAFF COMMENT: No. Staff will continue to send annual letters to local <br />property owners outlining the services we offer as part of our floodplain <br />program. <br />e. A Board member asked if there is an increase in the identified floodplain in <br />Orange County. <br />STAFF COMMENT: The new FIRM denotes an increase in identified <br />floodplain on several parcels of property as well as a measurable <br />reduction for some parcels. This is the result in more accurate models, <br />completed as part of the FIS, denoting those areas where flooding is <br />possible throughout the area. <br /> 26