Before you work on flooded property

Owners of homes and businesses affected by the September 2012 flooding in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough will be required to meet certain local building standards before making repairs or rebuilding.

PERMIT NEEDED BEFORE WORKING ON FLOODED PROPERTY

A Flood Hazard Development Permit is required for any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials within the area of special flood hazard.

IF FLOODED, YOUR HOME MAY NEED TO BE ELEVATED

All flood victims need to obtain a Flood Hazard Development Permits (FHDP) BEFORE making repairs. Structures in high-risk areas that were substantially damaged must also comply with MSB 17.29 floodplain regulations, meaning owners may need to elevate their structures or take other steps to get their structures out of harm's way. Substantial damage is defined as repair costs that exceed 50 percent of the building's value; this amount does not include the value of the land. Your local permitting office can answer questions concerning these mitigation steps. Local Floodplain Managers will determine substantial damage.

Owners of structures that received substantial damage who were fortunate enough to have insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can receive additional assistance to meet these requirements through their policy's Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage.

ADDITIONAL HELP FROM NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE

ICC coverage provides up to $30,000 to elevate or otherwise bring a substantially damaged structure into compliance with regulations that govern construction in high flood-risk areas.

Owners with substantial damage should get an estimate from a licensed contractor, engineer, architect, or professional cost estimator of how much it will cost to comply with the floodplain management ordinance and contact the insurance company or agent who wrote the NFIP policy to file an ICC claim. The insurer will assign a claims representative to help process an ICC claim.

RELOCATION HELP POSSIBLE WITH NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE

Although elevation is the most common option residents can take to meet local ordinances, ICC payments can also be applied toward the cost of relocating the home or business out of harm's way, demolishing the flood-damaged building, or flood-proofing a structure by making it watertight—an option that is available for non-residential buildings only.

Flood insurance is available through NFIP. In exchange for this protection, which is not available under standard homeowners' policies, communities agree to adopt an ordinance that promotes careful floodplain management. Responsible rebuilding in these high-risk areas minimizes the potential for future loss of life and property, while at the same time making risks more predictable, so that flood insurance can be offered at reasonable rates.

For more information call Pamela Ness at 745-9562 or Michelle Olsen at 745-9871 or the Permit Center at 745-9822. Or emails:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.