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HOUSING IN FLOODPLAINS  |  Opportunities

Housing in Flood Plains > Opportunities
Process of Rehabilitating Housing in a Flood Plain

Step 1:  Assessment and Planning - Conduct a risk assessment and develop a comprehensive plan. Engage with stakeholders, including homeowners, community groups, and government agencies.

Step 2:  Secure Funding - Identify and apply for funding from federal, state, and local sources, as well as private grants and loans.

Step 3:  Permitting and Regulatory Compliance - Obtain necessary permits and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including zoning laws and building codes.

Step 4: Design and Engineering - Develop detailed design plans for the rehabilitation, incorporating flood mitigation measures. Engage engineers and architects with experience in floodplain management.

Step 5: Construction and Implementation - Execute the rehabilitation project, which may involve elevating the structure, implementing floodproofing techniques, or relocating the building. Ensure construction follows the approved design and meets all regulatory standards.

Step 6: Monitoring and Maintenance - After rehabilitation, conduct regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the property remains resilient to flooding. Implement any necessary adjustments based on new data or changing conditions.

Housing in Flood Plains > Opportunities
Historic Building Flood Adaptation Guidelines

These guidelines help balance the need for flood resilience with the preservation of the historic integrity of properties.

Goals of the Guidelines:
• Adapt historic buildings to be more resilient to flooding.
• Preserve the historic character of buildings.
• Comply with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Key Points:
• The guidelines should be used alongside the existing Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.
• They focus on historic buildings, their site, and setting.

Adaptation Treatments:
• Aim to preserve historic properties in floodplains and make them more resilient to flood hazards.
• Treatments can often be done with minimal impact on the historic character.
• Some treatments may require significant changes, acceptable only if the building has a demonstrable risk of flooding.
• Adaptation treatments should minimize flood damage risk without destroying significant historic materials, features, or spaces.

HOUSING IN FLOOD PLAINS  | Challenges


Housing in Flood Plains > Challenges
Challenges of Housing in Flood Plains
LIHTC is aVarious federal and state grants support affordable housing development in Ohio. These funds may come from sources like the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and state appropriations aimed at housing development.

HOUSING IN FLOOD PLAINS  | Funding

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA):

 
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

• Provides funding for projects that reduce disaster risk.
• Authorized by the Stafford Act, HMGP provides funding post-disaster to rebuild communities in ways that mitigate future disaster losses. States and localities can apply for up to 15% of the total federal assistance provided for recovery.

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC):

• BRIC, launched in 2020, replaces the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. It funds proactive hazard mitigation projects, encouraging nature-based solutions and modern building code enforcement to enhance community resilience.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA):

• FMA grants aim to reduce or eliminate flood risk to properties insured under NFIP. Funding supports community and individual flood mitigation projects, technical assistance, and flood hazard mitigation planning.

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery

Congress appropriated
Address disaster recovery needs that are not met by other sources of Federal disaster assistance
Particularly for the benefit of low-and moderate-income (LMI) persons.
Can be used for necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization, in the most impacted and distressed areas

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

  • NFIP serves as the foundation for flood mitigation efforts by reducing flood risk to structures and occupants. It includes regulations and assistance for floodplain management.
  • When buildings in Ohio undergo repair or improvement, it provides a key opportunity for local floodplain management programs to reduce flood damage to existing structures.
  • To participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), communities must adopt and enforce regulations and codes that apply to new development in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). These local floodplain management regulations contain minimum NFIP requirements that also apply to existing structures classified as “substantially improved (SI)” or “substantially damaged (SD).” Enforcing the SI/SD requirements is crucial to a community’s floodplain management responsibilities. Local officials must consider various factors and scenarios when implementing these requirements.

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC):

ICC provides up to $30,000 to property owners covered by NFIP after a flood event to floodproof, relocate, elevate, or demolish buildings to comply with local flood damage reduction regulations.

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
Private Foundations and Nonprofits

Organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and local community foundations may offer grants.

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
HUD’s 203(k) Rehabilitation Program

The Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203(k) Rehabilitation Program offers a financing solution for homeowners and homebuyers looking to mitigate flood risks in flood-prone areas, such as those in Ohio.

Housing in Flood Plains > Funding
Ohio Floodplain Management Program


The Ohio Floodplain Management Program aims to significantly reduce flood damage by ensuring that development is either not placed in harm’s way or is adequately protected from flood hazards. Proper floodplain management can lead to increased property values, enhanced recreational opportunities, reduced costs associated with flood hazards and stormwater management, improved groundwater recharge and water quality, and valuable wildlife habitats. Flood Insurance Studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps are critical tools used to identify flood risk and manage development in flood hazard areas. The program collaborates with FEMA and other partners to obtain and update flood data, working with nearly 200 communities each year to provide federal flood hazard mapping and risk data, and assist with adopting compliant flood damage regulations. The program also serves as the state repository for flood data, coordinates efforts of federal, state, and local agencies involved in flood loss reduction programs, and assists communities in gaining and maintaining NFIP eligibility for the benefit of residents and business owners. Currently, 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties and over 660 cities and villages participate in the NFIP.