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FEMA Zoning Maps
Floodplains are areas that are prone to flooding and are typically located along river corridors or other water bodies. Regulatory floodplain areas are those for which the City of Aberdeen enforces regulations for various forms of development and are often associated with a specific level of flood risk. In the city of Aberdeen, regulatory floodplains generally include the areas that would be inundated during flood events associated with a 1% annual chance of occurrence (1% ACE) and a 0.2% annual chance of occurrence (0.2% ACE), commonly referred to as the 100-year and 500-year floods, respectively.
FEMA Floodplain: includes the areas within the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) designated by FEMA on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).
- The City of Aberdeen maps page: On this page, you can put in the Aberdeen City address, you are researching, and it will zoom in to that property. By turning on the FEMA FLOOD ZONES Layer, on the right, you will be able to see if the property in question is in the flood zone or not. (Any zone labeled with an X in the name is not considered the floodplain). Note: Addresses outside the city limits will not appear.
- The FEMA Flood Map Service page: This site will allow you to put in an address anywhere in the US. It will show, in detail, the floodplain zones.
- The Permit Center office: Any specific questions on your parcel can be answered by calling or coming into the office. Staff will provide you with a copy of the FEMA map, if needed.
This zone is associated with the highest flood risk in the City of Aberdeen and often carries the greatest flooding depths and velocities. Base flood elevations (BFEs) are required to be determined in these zones by using the Flood Insurance Study (FIS). There are very few properties in Aberdeen that fall in this Category.
Typical floodplain regulations in this zone may include:
- New structures are prohibited
- Most uses are prohibited
- No-rise hydraulic analysis and PE certification required
- All development of any kind must be permitted.
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 100-year flood occurred but do not fall within the floodway zone. This zone is typically on the “fringe” of the 100-year floodplain (hence the name) and is determined using a detailed survey and hydraulic analyses or (more commonly) using the FEMA FIRM available on the City floodplain GIS map. Base flood elevations (BFEs) are determined in these zones. The AE zone is the most prevalent floodplain, within the City of Aberdeen.
Typical floodplain regulations in this zone may include:
- Structures must be designed to reasonably protect from flood damage.
This is described in the City Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance. - The finished floor (FF) of a new or elevated would be required to be 2 feet above the BFE. (Commercial to be floodproofed to 1 foot above BFE or Elevated)
- A development of any kind must be permitted.
- FEMA Elevation Certificates and or a Commercial Floodproofing Document will be required for significant improvement, new construction, or elevating of a structure.
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 100-year flood occurred but does not typically have a delineated floodway. This floodplain is determined using approximate methods of hydraulic analysis and without the use of manual surveying techniques. Base flood elevations have not been determined in these areas. These areas are very rare, within the City of Aberdeen.
Typical floodplain regulations in this zone may include:
- Structures must be designed to reasonably protect from flood damage.
This is described in the City Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance. - Floodway delineation is required if a structure or new use is proposed within 100 feet from the channel centerline of a floodway.
- The finished floor (FF) of New or Significantly Improved structures and mechanical equipment must be elevated to at least 2 feet above base flood elevation (BFE)
- BFE must be determined by a professional engineer (PE).
- FEMA Elevation Certificates and or a Commercial Floodproofing Document will be required for significant improvement, new construction, or elevating of a structure.
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 100-year flood occurred but mainly experiences shallow flooding depths (1 to 3 feet). Base flood elevations have been determined in these areas at selected intervals. The AH zone is a relatively small areas, located in South Aberdeen.
Typical floodplain regulations in this zone may include:
- Structures must be designed to reasonably protect from flood damage.
This is described in the City Flood Hazard Protection Ordinance. - The finished floor (FF) of a new or elevated would be required to be 2 feet above the base flood elevation (BFE). (Commercial to be floodproofed to 1 foot above BFE or elevated)
- A development of any kind must be permitted.
- FEMA Elevation Certificates and or a Commercial Floodproofing Document will be required for significant improvement, new construction, or elevating of a structure.
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 100-year flood occurred but mainly experiences shallow flooding depths (1 to 3 feet). Flooding depths are usually provided in lieu of base flood elevations. There is not an area, within the City of Aberdeen, that is labeled as an AO zone.
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 500-year flood occurred. This area is located only in the northeast area of Aberdeen
Typical floodplain regulations in this zone may include:
- New structures are required to be built with the finished floor (FF) at or above 18 inches above the crest of the road.
- Understand that flood insurance may be required by your lender.
- Properties with a history of flooding may be required to adhere to building floodplain development building standards. (To be determined by the City Floodplain Administrator)
This zone includes areas that would be flooded if a 500-year flood occurred but has a reduced risk of flooding due to levee protection. This area includes most of South Aberdeen.
- New structures are required to be built with the finished floor (FF) at or above 18 inches above the crest of the road.
- Understand that flood insurance may be required by your lender.
- Properties with a history of flooding may be required to adhere to building floodplain development building standards. (To be determined by the City Floodplain Administrator)
This area does not have a FEMA-designated floodplain.
- New structures are required to be built with the finished floor (FF) at or above 18 inches above the crest of the road.
- Understand that flood insurance may be required by your lender.
- Properties with a history of flooding may be required to adhere to building floodplain development building standards. (To be determined by the City Floodplain Administrator)
The City’s Online Floodplain Map uses a variety of colors and patterns to show the different flood zones in a particular area. Below is an example of a floodplain map and associated flood zone legend, you will encounter when viewing the City’s online floodplain map.