National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established under the
(NFIA) in 1968 to reduce future flood losses through local floodplain management. NFIP requires participating cities, counties, or states, to adopt floodplain management ordinances containing certain minimum requirements intended to reduce future flood losses.
Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are depicted on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) or Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBMs) that have been prepared by
(FEMA) for each participating community. The participating community is responsible for informing FEMA of any alterations or changes to the floodplain. TxDOT requires that designers inform the participating community through its
(FPA) of any changes to the floodplain or its parts via
.
The following list identifies some typical conditions that must be checked for consistency with the requirements:
- Replacement of existing bridge with smaller opening area, e.g., shorter length, deeper deck, higher or less hydraulically efficient railing.
- Replacement of bridge and approach roadway with an increase in the roadway profile.
- Safety project involving addition of safety barrier.
- Rehabilitation or maintenance of roadway resulting in a higher profile.
- Highway crossing at a new location.
- Longitudinal encroachment of highway on floodplain (with or without crossing).
For more information on the NFIP, see Chapter 5 of this manual.