A separate flood insurance policy is required for flood peril coverage.įlood insurance is available for buildings only, contents only, or both buildings and contents. ![]() Damage caused by flooding is not covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy. The freeboard requirement is a voluntary regulation which results in significantly lower flood insurance rates due to lower flood risk.įederally subsidized flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for most properties located in Charleston County, including its municipalities. In addition to the minimum base flood elevation, the town observes a two-foot "freeboard" requirement. Please note that all new structures within the Town of Seabrook Island must meet or exceed the county's minimum elevation and floodproofing requirements. This regulation is enforced through the construction permitting process.Īny questions regarding "Substantial Improvements" may be referred to the Charleston County Building Inspection Services Department. In Charleston County and the jurisdictions for which it provides inspection-related services (including Seabrook Island), the values of construction work on building permits taken out on a property during the past five (5) years are included in the determination of a "Substantial Improvement". These requirements also apply to buildings that are substantially damaged however, the value used in making the substantial improvement determination is the pre-damage value of the structure. An improvement of 50% or more to a structure is known as a "Substantial Improvement". The National Flood Insurance Program requires that if the cost of reconstructing, rehabilitating, adding to, or otherwise improving a structure equals or exceeds 50% of the building's assessed or appraised value, then the building must meet the same construction requirements as a new building. Copies of this ordinance are also available from the Building Inspection Services Department upon request. The Charleston County Flood Damage and Prevention Ordinance mandates that certain procedures be followed for construction-related work within properties designated as flood zones on the Charleston County Flood Insurance Rate Maps. ![]() Information that you download or print from the MSC or the county's Flood Map Viewer may change or become superseded by new maps over time. Please note that FEMA flood maps are continually updated through a variety of processes. Īdditional information regarding flood zones and flood insurance is available from the National Flood Insurance Program. Residents are encouraged to use the MSC to find your official flood map, access a range of other flood hazard products and take advantage of tools for better understanding flood risk.Ĭurrent and preliminary flood maps for Charleston County may also be viewed on the Charleston County Flood Map Viewer. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official public source for flood hazard information produced in support of the NFIP. Click here for more information about flood zone definitions. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded). Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood or "500-year flood." The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or "100-year flood." SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30. ![]() SFHA's are defined as areas that will be inundated by a flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The mapping standards are published, vetted, peer-reviewed, and updated continuously to ensure they are aligned with current best practices.įlood hazard areas identified on the FIRM are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Through the Risk MAP program, flood maps are developed using the best available science and analyzed by some of the leading engineering firms in the field. This data is incorporated into flood maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), that support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and provide the basis for community floodplain management regulations and flood insurance requirements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) partners with states, tribes and communities through the Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program to identify flood hazards, assess flood risks and provide accurate data to guide stakeholders in taking effective mitigation actions that result in safer and more resilient communities.
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