Floodplain Management

DCD (through the Executive Director) serves as Floodplain Administrator and enforces floodplain regulations in accordance with Section 917: Flood Hazard Area Overlay District (FHA) of the Zoning Ordinance for Huntington County and the towns of Andrews, Markle, Mount Etna, Roanoke, and Warren. Kim Hostetler is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) by the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).

Technically, everyone is located in a floodplain, but some areas are at higher risk than others. DCD regulates the higher-risk Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) lands subject to inundation by the regulatory flood, also known as the base flood or the 1 percent annual chance flood. To find out if your property is located within the SFHA, you can check the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) on file in our office. These maps are also available digitally on the Huntington County GIS site. Simply locate your property and turn on the layers “Flood Zones” and “Floodway.” If you need any mapping assistance or have any questions related to floodplains, we strongly encourage you to contact the Department.

Huntington County and the towns of Andrews, Markle, Mount Etna, Roanoke, and Warren all participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Participation in the NFIP requires these jurisdictions to adopt a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risks to new construction in the SFHA. In return, the federal government makes affordable flood insurance available to property owners as a financial protection against flood losses.

• Huntington County and Local Jurisdictions' Flood Damage Prevention Ordinances

Most homeowners’ insurance policies will not cover losses due to flooding; flood insurance is only available through participation in the NFIP. For structures located within the SFHA, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory if using a federally regulated/insured bank for a loan.

Click here for more information about flood insurance through the NFIP.

For more information on flood insurance, please click here (Flood Smart).

As of May 1, 2015, Huntington County and the towns of Andrews, Roanoke, and Warren are all participants in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary incentive program that recognizes communities that implement floodplain management practices beyond federal minimum requirements. Huntington County, Andrews, Roanoke, and Warren are presently at a Class 7 rating, allowing flood insurance policyholders within these jurisdictions to receive an automatic 15% discount on flood insurance premiums.

A floodplain development permit is required for nearly all construction or development activities within the SFHA. This includes activities such as excavation, filling, storage of materials, etc. Often, a floodplain development permit will be required in conjunction with a building permit. However, even if a building permit is not required for the project, a floodplain development permit may still be required. Please contact the Department before proceeding with any development activities within the floodplain for project-specific regulations and to obtain all required permits.

As part of your floodplain development permit application, you will need to determine the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for your property. One way to do so is to use the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal (INFIP), an online resource provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Once you’ve located your property on the portal, follow the instructions to request an electronic Floodplain Analysis and Regulatory Assessment, or eFARA. If you need assistance with requesting an eFARA, please do not hesitate to contact the Department.

Please note: If your proposed project is located within the floodway portion of the SFHA, you will also need to obtain a permit for construction within the floodway from DNR’s Division of Water before a local floodplain development permit can be issued.