Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risk of current and future flooding, resulting in a more resilient community. These measures take a variety of forms, and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or development, building codes and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.
Rapides Parish adopted the Chapter 10 1/2 - Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to reduce future flood damages. Since the Parish became a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), citizens have the availability to purchase flood insurance and receive federal funds when a disaster strikes (hurricane, flooding, tornado, etc) In return, the Parish must regulate development within the Parish when property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). You may not know this, but 30% of Rapides Parish is located in a high-risk flood hazard area.
State and federal agencies, local communities and property owners have a role in reducing flood risk and helping communities become more resilient. From states providing strong model ordinances, to communities adopting and enforcing higher-standard building practices, to property owners elevating their homes, everyone can play a part in making communities safer and more resistant to flood disasters.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is delivered to the public by a network of approximately 60 insurance companies and the NFIP Direct.
Floods can happen anywhere — just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents in a building, or both, so it is important to protect your most important financial assets — your home, your business, your possessions.
The NFIP provides flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses, and having this coverage helps them recover faster when floodwaters recede. The NFIP works with communities required to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that help mitigate flooding effects.
Flood insurance is available to anyone living in one of the 23,000 participating NFIP communities. Homes and businesses in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance.
Residents and Business Owners are encouraged to report flood damage to your main home structure or main business structure by contacting RAPC to assist in assessing damages and planning for future flooding events. RAPC is not an emergency assistant contact and can not be used for emergency assistance or rescue. Please contact 911 for emergency assistance and stay tuned to local weather, television and radio for release of related important information.
The term “substantial damage” applies to a structure in a Special Flood Hazard Area – or floodplain – for which the total cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the structure's market value before the disaster occurred, regardless of the cause of damage.
Substantial damage does not just apply to flood damage, it is damage by ANY nature.
Substantial damage determinations are required by the community to stay in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).