47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

The most convincing evidence of the effectiveness of the NFIPminimum requirements is found in flood insurance claim paymentstatistics. Buildings that pre-date the NFIP requirementsare, by and large, not constructed to resist flood damage. Buildingsthat post-date the NFIP (i.e., those that were constructedafter a community joined the program and began applying theminimum requirements) are designed to resist flood damage.The NFIP reports that aggregate loss data indicate that buildingsthat meet the minimum requirements experience 70 percent lessdamage than buildings that pre-date the NFIP. There is ampleevidence that buildings designed to exceed the minimum requirementsare even less likely to sustain damage.2.1.3.1 Overview of the NFIPThe NFIP is based on the premise that the Federal governmentwill make flood insurance available in communities that agree torecognize and incorporate flood hazards in land use and developmentdecisions. In some States and communities this is achievedby guiding development to areas with a lower risk. When decisionsresult in development within flood hazard areas, applicationof the criteria set forth in Federal regulation 44 CFR §60.3 are intendedto minimize exposure and flood-related damage. Stateand local governments are responsible for applying the provisionsof the NFIP through the regulatory permitting processes. At theFederal level, the NFIP is managed by FEMA and has three mainelements:m Hazard identification and mapping, under which engineeringstudies are conducted and flood maps are prepared inpartnership with States and communities. These mapsdelineate areas that are predicted to be subject to floodingunder certain conditions.m Floodplain management criteria for development, whichestablish the minimum requirements to be applied todevelopment within mapped flood hazard areas. The intent isto recognize hazards in the entire land development process.MAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM Flooding2-29