Sec. 9.3.3. Special Flood Hazard Areas

  1. Types of Special Flood Hazard Areas
    There are three (3) primary SFHAs within the City.
    1. FEMA designated SFHA
      If FEMA designated SFHA boundaries overlap with the boundaries of another SFHA, FEMA designated SFHA boundary interpretations and standards shall prevail.
    2. Drainage Basin Study Maps
    3. Flood Hazard Soils
      A City accepted detailed boundary study shall supersede the boundaries of the flood hazard soils if the boundaries conflict.
  2. Establishing Special Flood Hazard Areas
    1. FEMA Designated SFHA
      1. FEMA designated SFHAs are those identified under the Cooperating Technical State (CTS) agreement between the State of North Carolina and FEMA in its flood insurance study (FIS) and its accompanying FIRM for Wake County or Durham County, whichever is applicable.
      2. The most recent FEMA SFHA maps and FIRMs officially adopted by the State of North Carolina and/or FEMA, with accompanying supporting data, including Letters of Map Amendment or Revision, are adopted by reference and declared to be a part of the UDO. Copies of the effective versions of these maps shall be maintained for public inspection as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-105.
      3. FEMA SFHAs are areas that have the potential to be inundated with flood waters during the 100-year storm event or the 1% annual chance. These SFHAs include contributing drainage areas of at least 1 square mile (640 acres).
      4. FEMA designated SFHAs are divided into three (3) primary areas:
        1. Floodway areas;
        2. Floodway fringe areas; and
        3. Future conditions flood hazard areas.
    2. SFHA Based on Drainage Basin Study Maps
      1. SFHAs also include City prepared drainage basin studies. These studies are defined through standard engineering analysis by the City’s Engineering Services Department, but which have not been incorporated in the FIRM. This includes detailed flood information generated as a requirement of Sec. 9.3.3.B.1.a.
      2. Drainage basin studies are completed by the City (or their designee) and accepted by the City to produce maps that supplement the FIRMs. These drainage basin study maps use the same FEMA SFHA criteria but for contributing drainage areas of less than 1 square mile (640 acres) and at least 100 acres.
      3. The most recent drainage basin study maps approved by the City’s Engineering Services Department with accompanying supporting data are adopted by reference and declared to be part of the UDO.
      4. Drainage basin study maps designated SFHAs are divided into two (2) primary areas:
        1. Floodway areas; and
        2. Floodway fringe areas.
    3. SFHA Based on Flood Hazard Soils
      1. Flood hazard soils are illustrated on maps published in the Wake County or Durham County, North Carolina Soil Survey, whichever is applicable, prepared by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Flood hazard soil types are listed in the definition of flood hazard soils in Chapter 12, Definitions.
      2. Maps depicting flood hazard soils with all explanatory matter attached to them are adopted by reference and declared to be part of the UDO.
      3. Flood hazard soils SFHAs are divided into two (2) primary areas:
        1. Floodway areas; and
        2. Floodway fringe areas.