COLUMBUS, OH -- Property owners affected by recent flooding are encouraged to check with their community floodplain administrator before undertaking any repair or rebuilding projects, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Property owners affected by flooding are required to obtain a development permit prior to making repairs, said Cindy Crecelius, manager of ODNR's Floodplain Management Program. If a structure is substantially damaged, any efforts to repair or rebuild must meet local flood safety codes.
Most of the communities in the areas affected by the recent severe storms and flooding participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This means that the local government has adopted and enforces special safety codes regarding construction in flood plains. Floodplain administrators oversee local enforcement efforts in order to save lives and property.
They have the information property owners need to rebuild and repair structures sensibly and avoid future flood damage and unnecessary costs, Crecelius said.
Such information includes:
- Rebuilding with materials less likely to be damaged by water, such as tile rather than carpeting.
- Raising utility connections and electrical outlets.
- Anchoring home fuel tanks with straps and fasteners to prevent them from overturning or floating away.
- Raising water heaters, heating systems and appliances above the base flood elevation.
Structures that are damaged or destroyed and are not currently compliant with local flood safety codes may have to be raised above the base flood elevation line. The base flood elevation is the level at which there is a one percent chance of flooding in any given year. Elevating a structure above this level not only reduces future flood damage, it also qualifies the building for lower-cost flood insurance, made available through the NFIP. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the NFIP that enables property owners - including renters - to purchase flood insurance. Standard property insurance does not cover damage caused by rising waters.
Property owners in flood-prone areas have a responsibility to themselves, their families and their neighbors to rebuild in a way that reduces future flood losses, Crecelius said. The NFIP was created to help them fulfill that responsibility.