1. Floodplain Management Program Benton County
03/02/2017
Floodplain Management Program Benton County
NWA Board of realtors
March 2, 2017
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

2. 03/02/2017
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

3. Floodplain Management County Roles & Responsibilities
03/02/2017
Floodplain Management County Roles & Responsibilities
Administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Regulation of all development within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
Assist with identification of flood risk or hazards as noted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), and risks that may NOT be shown on the FIRM’s.
Maintain, and manage changes to, the County FIRM repository.
Ensure compliance with FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS).
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

4. Floodplain Management Relevance to Realtors
03/02/2017
Floodplain Management Relevance to Realtors
One of the first entities to encounter discussions regarding flood risk and flood insurance information with property owners and/or prospective purchasers.
Realtors enter multiple listing service information on property for sale, which may include flood risks.
Realtors assists in formulation of disclosures and/or disclaimers as it relates to contract's of sale, which may include flood risk.
Flood maps can dictate insurance requirements prior to loan closing.
Flood maps can dictate construction requirements.
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

5. Floodplain Management & Flood Insurance
03/02/2017
Floodplain Management & Flood Insurance
The County participates in the NFIP so property owners can purchase ‘federally backed’ flood insurance.
‘Federally Backed’ flood insurance is available to communities that enforce floodplain management standards to REDUCE flood damage.
Most homeowners insurance DOES NOT COVER FLOODS.
Many homes that sustain flood damage are NOT in an identified floodplain on the FIRM’s.
Low risk policies are available outside of the mapped floodplain.
Flood insurance covers residential buildings up to $250,000 and non- residential buildings up to $500,000
“federally backed” means either FDIC insured, or, other Federal regulations - VA, Farm Credit, OCC, FHA/HUD, OTS, SBA, NCUA
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

6. FIRM’s & “Terms of Endearment”
03/02/2017
FIRM’s & “Terms of Endearment”
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
Produced by FEMA for the NFIP
Financial ‘Risk Map’ Only – not an absolute depiction of where the flood will go!
Base Flood – Flood with a 1% annual chance of occurring.
Referred to as the ‘1% Annual Chance Flood’
Informally referred to as the ‘100-year flood’
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) – The 1% Annual Flood Height at a given location.
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) – land area covered by the ‘Base Flood’.
The area where the NFIP’s floodplain management regulations must be enforced and where mandatory flood insurance purchase applies.
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

7. FIRM’s & Misnomers of the ‘Base Flood’
03/02/2017
FIRM’s & Misnomers of the ‘Base Flood’
“Well, since that was the 100-year flood, at least the next flood won’t occur for another 99 years!”
Incorrectly using the term ‘100-year’
The ‘Base Flood’ can occur several times in a single year, once in a 5-year period, a 10-year period, etc.…
The ‘Base Flood’ has a 1 in 4 chance of occurring during a the life of a 30-Yr. Mortgage.
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

8. Floodplain Regulations & Development Permits
03/02/2017
Floodplain Regulations & Development Permits
‘No structure or land shall be located, altered, or have its use changed within the SFHA without full compliance with the terms of the Floodplain Ordinance and other applicable regulations.’ Sec H
‘A Floodplain Development Permit [FDP] is required for all structural development, placement of manufactured structures, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, placement of fill, excavating, watercourse alteration, drainage improvements, roadway or bridge construction, individual water or sewer installations or any other development in a Special Flood Hazard Area to ensure conformance with the provisions of this Ordinance.’ Sec A
Floodplain Development Permit [FDP] applications must be completed under the direction of Planning Division Staff prior to applying for any permits for construction from the Building Safety Division.
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

9. 03/02/2017
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

10. 03/02/2017
Flood Protection Information: Services Offered by County Planning Division
Assistance with identification of flood risk for specific properties.
Flood insurance information and purchasing requirements.
Information on County Floodplain Development Permitting requirements.
Information on property protection measures, including information on obtaining grants to offset costs for these activities.
Information on flood safety practices.
Official copies of the most current Elevation Certificates.
Flood related problems not shown on the FIRM’s, historical flood information, and information on natural floodplain functionality.
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

11. Community Rating System - Overview
03/02/2017
Community Rating System - Overview
FEMA Program (reduce risk)
Part of the National Flood Insurance Program rating
The program is VOLUNTARY
Rewards communities with better floodplain management practices with reduced flood insurance premiums for their flood insurance policy holders.
This means going above and beyond the minimum NFIP requirements
Administered by the Insurance Services Office (ISO)
ISO/CRS Specialist
CRS Goals are to;
Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property
Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP
Facilitate comprehensive floodplain management practices
Benton Co. is currently a ‘Class 8’ Community: We save individual policy owners $92 per year / the Community saves $11,731 per year!
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

12. Flood Risk Mapping Resources:
03/02/2017
Flood Risk Mapping Resources:
FEMA GeoPlatform
Benton County BaseMap Viewer
FEMA Map Service Center
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

13. 03/02/2017
Flood Protection Information: Outreach Materials for the Realtor Community
custom flood hazard disclosure Brochure
Benton Co. Flood Protection Brochure
FEMA ‘Help protect your customer’s new home’ Brochure
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS

14. Floodplain Management Program
03/02/2017
Floodplain Management Program
Flood.bentoncountyar.gov
Kevin m. Gambrill, AICP, CFM , CESSWI
Director of Planning / Floodplain Administrator
905 NW 8 th, St bentonville AR
Benton Co. Floodplain Management Program - NWA Board of REALTORS