Higher Regulatory Standards Series 430

Higher Regulatory Standards 432 Elements Dougherty County (2007 Manual) – Total Points: 2740 – Activity 430 Points: 1038 (38%) 432 Activities (2013 Manual) – Freeboard (500) – Cumulative Substantial Improvements (90) – Protection of Critical Facilities (80) – Enclosure Limits (240)

Freeboard The NFIP rules require that the lowest floor of residential structures be elevated to or above the base flood elevation and that non- residential structures be elevated or flood- proofed to or above the BFE. Attached garages and utilities (including electrical, heating, ductwork, ventilating, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment) must also be protected to the BFE.

Freeboard Activity 432.b A freeboard requirement adds height above the BFE to provide an extra margin of protection. For CRS credit, freeboard must also apply to the level of protection provided to all components of the building, which includes equipment servicing the building.

Dougherty County FPM Ordinance Three-foot freeboard (no filling restrictions) (375 Points) for residential structures and all utilities, including ductwork, servicing the building. Non-residential structures can be flood- proofed to the 3-foot freeboard level. Equipment servicing the building must be flood-proofed to the freeboard level.

Cumulative Substantial Improvements Activity 432.d NFIP allows improvements valued up to 50% of the building’s pre-improvement value to be permitted without meeting the flood protection requirements. When it does exceed 50%, the building must be protected according to the ordinance requirement for new buildings.

Cumulative Substantial Improvements CRS credit is provided when the total value of all improvements or repairs permitted OVER TIME does not exceed 50% of the value of the structure (Cumulative Substantial Improvements). – Counted cumulatively for 10 years (40 points) – Counted cumulatively for 5 years (20 points) When it does exceed 50%, the building must be protected according to the ordinance requirement for new buildings.

Dougherty County FPM Ordinance Cumulative Substantial Improvements – Counted cumulatively for 5 years (20 points) Cumulative Substantial Damage Improvements. – Counted cumulatively for 5 years (20 points)

Protection of Critical Facilities Activity 432.f CRS definition of a critical facility: A structure or other improvement that, because of its function, size, service area, or uniqueness, has the potential to cause serious bodily harm, extensive property damage, or disruption of vital socioeconomic activities if it is destroyed or damaged or if its functionality is impaired.

Protection of Critical Facilities Critical facilities include health and safety facilities, utilities, government facilities, and hazardous materials facilities. Protection of Critical Facilities must be stated in FPM Ordinance to receive CRS credit.

Dougherty County FPM Ordinance Critical Facility: any public or private facility, which, if flooded, would create an added dimension to the disaster or would increase the hazard to life and health. Critical facilities include: – Structures or facilities that produce, use, or store highly volatile, flammable, explosive, toxic, or water-reactive materials; – Hospitals and nursing homes, and housing for the elderly, which are likely to contain occupants who may not be sufficiently mobile to avoid the loss of life or injury during flood and storm events; – Emergency operation centers or data storage centers which contain records or services that may become lost or inoperative during flood and storm events; and generating plants, and other principal points of utility lines.

Dougherty County FPM Ordinance SECTION F. STANDARDS FOR CRITICAL FACILITIES – Critical facilities shall not be located in the 100- year floodplain or the 500-year floodplain. – All ingress and egress from any critical facility must be protected to the 500-year flood elevation. (80 Points)

Critical Facilities International Code Definition For the purposes of a local regulation, a community may also use the International Codes’ definition for Category III and IV buildings.

Category III Buildings Category III: Includes buildings/structures that represent a substantial hazard to human life in the event of failure. They include buildings with higher concentrations of occupants (i.e., where more than 300 people congregate in one area). Typically educational facilities with capacities greater than 250 for elementary and secondary facilities, 500 for colleges and adult-education facilities, or 150 for daycare facilities.

Category IV Buildings Category IV: Facilities such as hospitals, fire and police stations, rescue and other emergency service facilities, power stations, water supply facilities, aviation facilities, and other buildings critical for the national and civil defense.

Enclosure Limitations Activity 432.g Regulations to limit enclosures below the BFE have two objectives: – Protect structural integrity of building from wave action or hydrostatic pressure – Discourage property owners from finishing the area below the BFE and storing valuable or hazardous items in that area. Over time there is a tendency to enclose the lower areas and convert to bedrooms, family rooms, or other finished areas, in violation of FPM regulations.

Enclosure Limitations CRS credit is available for communities that execute non-conversion agreements, whereby owners agree not to modify the enclosed area to make it more susceptible to flood damage. To receive credit, the non-conversion agreement must be filed with the deed and other property records, so that it will be effective as ownership of the property changes in the future. – Sample non-conversion agreement located at Sample non-conversion agreement located at

Dougherty County Require the owner of a building to sign a non- conversion agreement that is filed with the deed and other property records and grants the community the right to inspect the enclosed area at any time (60 points).

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