Floodplain Reports & Information

The City of Madison participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and is a Class 8 Community Rating System (CRS) community.

The NFIP enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection from the government against losses from flooding. This insurance is designed to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities and the federal government which states that if a community will adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood risks to new construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), the federal government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses.

The SFHAs and other risk premium zones applicable to each participating community are depicted on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The Mitigation Division within the Federal Emergency Management Agency manages the NFIP and oversees the floodplain management and mapping components of the Program.

Community Rating System

The CRS program is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:

1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property
2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP
3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management

Madison has a Class 8 CRS rating which provides a 10% discount on flood insurance premiums. Those discounts not only provide cost savings but also provide an incentive for new flood protection activities that can help save lives and property in the event of a flood.

Floodplain Development

Floodplain development permits are required to be obtained for any work done within the 100 year flood zone. This includes but is not limited to placement of fill, remodeling of existing structures, and new construction of structures including storage sheds and fences. Even if the work is not subject to needing a building permit it is still necessary to obtain a floodplain development permit.

Questions

For questions about development in flood zones in Madison please contact Ryan Hegg.