§ 14-56. Use and interpretation of flood insurance rate maps.

The Director shall make interpretations, where needed, as to the exact location of special flood hazard areas, floodplain boundaries, and floodway boundaries. The following shall apply to the use and interpretation of flood insurance rate maps:

(1)

Where field surveyed topography indicates that adjacent ground elevations:

a.

Are below the base flood elevation, even in areas not delineated as a special flood hazard area on a flood insurance rate map, the area shall be considered as a special flood hazard area and subject to the requirements of this article; and

b.

Are above the base flood elevation, the area shall be regulated as a special flood hazard area, unless the applicant obtains a letter of map change that removes the area from the special flood hazard area.

(2)

In special flood hazard areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency where base flood elevation and floodway data have not been identified and in areas where the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not identified special flood hazard areas, any other flood hazard data available from a Federal, State, or other source shall be reviewed and reasonably used.

(3)

Base flood elevations and designated floodway boundaries on flood insurance rate maps and in flood insurance studies shall take precedence over base flood elevations and floodway boundaries by any other sources if such other sources show reduced floodway widths or lower base flood elevations.

(4)

Other sources of data shall be reasonably used if such sources show increased base flood elevations or larger floodway areas than are shown on flood insurance rate maps and in flood insurance studies.

(5)

If a preliminary flood insurance rate map or a preliminary flood insurance study has been provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

a.

Upon the issuance of a letter of final determination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the preliminary flood hazard data shall be used and shall replace the flood hazard data previously provided from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the purposes of administering this article.

b.

Prior to the issuance of a letter of final determination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the use of preliminary flood hazard data shall be deemed the best available data and used where no base flood elevations or floodway areas are provided on the effective flood insurance rate map.

c.

Prior to issuance of a letter of final determination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the use of preliminary flood hazard data is permitted where the preliminary base flood elevations or floodway areas exceed the base flood elevations or designated floodway widths in existing flood hazard data provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Such preliminary data may be subject to change and to appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(Code 2004, § 50-40; Ord. No. 2014-95-66, § 2, 4-28-2014)

(Code 2004, § 50-40; Ord. No. 2014-95-66, § 2, 4-28-2014)