Department of Planning & Development
National Flood Insurance Program
"FLOOD NEWS"
Important Information About Flooding in the
City of Washington and Washington Park
This information is intended for those persons owning property
in a special flood hazard area (SFHA) within the City of Washington
and Washington Park, as designated by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) and delineated on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
effective May 5, 1987.
The Flood Warning System
Beaufort County receives flood warnings from the National
Weather Service via the Emergency Broadcast System and the
N.C. Division of Emergency Management. Within 24 hours or
less, the Beaufort County Emergency Services Office acts
upon all warnings received. That information is passed on
to the public via local radio, television stations, fixed
siren systems, public address systems, and the Emergency
Broadcast System. The county has also adopted an Emergency
Operations Plan developed to address the multiple hazards
that threaten the jurisdiction. The Emergency Operations
Plan presents a basic plan for Beaufort County and City
of Washington officials that clearly defines who will do
what and when during an emergency.
Flood Safety
There are several actions residents of flood hazard areas
can take to decrease the potential of injury due to flooding:
Click Here for
Additional Storm Preparedness Information
Property Protection Measures
Every year, flooding causes more property damage in the United
States than any other type of natural disaster. While recent
improvements in construction practices have made new homes
less prone to flood damage, there are a significant number
of existing houses that continue to be susceptible to repetitive
losses. Many of these homeowners feel they are trapped in
a never-ending cycle of flooding and repairing. The house
is rarely the same, and its value usually declines.
However, there are ways this cycle of repetitive flooding
can be broken. Throughout the country, many examples can be
found to illustrate practical and cost-effective methods for
reducing or eliminating the risk of a house being flooded
again. In cases where flooding may be unavoidable, steps are
taken to reduce the amount of damages incurred. Some have
reduced their flood losses by taking temporary measures such
as moving furniture and equipment to upper floors or to higher
elevations. Others have held back rising waters by sandbagging
or building temporary levees. More permanent approaches have
also been used. The Federal Insurance Administration has published
a manual that describes various techniques that can be used
to flood proof an existing building. This process is known
as "retrofitting."
The Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood Prone Structures
presents a series of permanent retrofitting measures that
can be incorporated into an existing house to reduce or eliminate
the potential of future flooding. The measures covered include:
This retrofitting document and others related to flooding can be
ordered free of charge by calling FEMA at 1-800-480-2520. The local
public library and the City of Washington
Planning Department also have flood related documents available
for your review.
Flood Insurance
Usually, your homeowner's insurance policy does not
cover losses due to flooding. Washington participates in the
National Flood Insurance Program, which makes federal flood
insurance available to everyone in the city. Property owners
in Washington and Washington Park qualify for a reduction
in flood insurance because the cities participate in the Community
Rating System Program. Call your insurance agent regarding
these rates and other information specific to your policy.
Being in the regular phase of this NFIP Program, a detailed
flood insurance study has been done and Flood Insurance Rate
Maps (FIRM) developed. Property owners within the city may
purchase flood insurance as follows:
| Building Coverage |
|
| Type of Coverage Available: |
Amount: |
| Single-Family Dwelling |
$185,000 |
| Other residential |
$250,000 |
| Non-residential |
$200,000 |
| Small Business |
$250,000 |
| Contents Coverage |
|
| Type of Coverage Available: |
Amount: |
| Residential |
$60,000 |
| Non-residential |
$200,000 |
| Small Business |
$250,000 |
Drainage System Maintenance
The drainage system in Washington is made up of the Tar-Pamlico
River and several of its tributaries. In addition to serving
as a drainage basin, this system also serves as a recreational
waterway so it must be kept clear and navigable. A community
can lose some of its drainage system storage capacity due
to dumping, debris, soil erosion, sedimentation, and overgrowth
of vegetation. When this happens, flooding is more likely
to occur and may subject more property to the flood hazard.
Inspections are made routinely and measures are taken to maintain
the system. It is illegal to dump anything into or intentionally
degrade the system. Report any violations in Washington to
the Planning Department at (252) 975-9317, and in Washington
Park to Zoning Administration at (252) 946-3157.
Floodplain Development Permit Requirements
Any development work in a flood hazard area requires the
issuance of local permits prior to the work to ensure that
it will not aggravate the effects of flooding and that the
structures are flood damage resistant. Any development work
includes excavation, dredging, filling, dumping, bulk-heading,
driving of piles, clearing, alteration of land prior to building,
or alteration of shore bank or bottom of any waterway. This
description certainly indicates that prior to doing any work
you should contact the Building Inspector's office at
(252) 975-9334 or the Planning Department at (252) 975-9317.
Report permit violations to the Inspections Office at (252)
975-9334.
Substantial Improvements
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that
if the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or
other improvements to a building exceeds 50% of the buildings
fair market value, then the building must meet the same construction
requirements as a new building. Substantially damaged buildings
must also be brought up to the same standards (e.g., a residence
damaged so that the cost or repairs equals or exceeds 50%
of the building's value before it was damaged must be
elevated above the base flood elevation).
Natural & Beneficial Functions of Floodplains
In addition to the beauty afforded by our rivers and wetlands
these features dissipate wave forces, reduce frequency and
duration of surface flow, provide habitat for fish, wildlife,
and other vegetation, and filter various forms of runoff.
Fortunately, NC CAMA and US Army Corps of Engineers regulations
protect these areas from undesirable development that would
be detrimental to both the environment as well as the development
itself.
The Flood Hazard
The dominant sources of flooding in the city are storm surge
and riverine flooding. Storm surge from the Atlantic Ocean
propagates into the Pamlico Sound, which further propagates
into the Tar-Pamlico River, which further propagates into
Jack's Creek, its tributaries, and Snode Creek; riverine flooding
from heavy rainfall occurs on Cherry Run and its tributaries,
Pineygrove Branch and Runyon Creek/Herring Run.
North Carolina also experiences hurricanes, tropical storms,
and severe extra-tropical cyclones, known as "Nor'easters."
These storms passing through the city have historically produced
severe flooding and extensive property damage. These flood
losses are also caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions
in the floodplain which cause increases in flood heights and
velocities, and by development that is inadequately elevated,
flood proofed, or otherwise unprotected from flood damages.
Further Information
Washington offers, as a public service, the following assistance
to residents, property owners, realtors, insurance agents,
and lenders:
-
Assistance in determining if properties are in a special
flood hazard area
-
Special flood protection techniques
-
Flood determinations
-
Historical flooding patterns
-
Retrofitting and flood proofing advice
-
Flood insurance requirements
In addition, the City of Washington has made available several
flood information packets at the public library for your review.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding flooding, please
call the Washington Planning Department at (252) 975-9317.
Contact Information:
City of Washington
Inspection Office
P.O. Box 1988
Washington, NC 27889