The City of
Last update: 6/23/05
Local Flood Hazards
City
of
While
some sort of seasonal flood-related damage could occur in any given year, the
flooding and associated events of
Although
the floods of 1903 and 1971 represented a large-scale disaster, they are not
unprecedented within the recent past.
Floods of record have occurred in or near the Heppner Area before and
since the great flood of 1903. Past
floods have occurred in 1883, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1903, 1904, 1917, 1918, 1920,
1934, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1971, and 1979.
A dam constructed in 1983 across Willow Creek below the confluence with
Balm Fork, has greatly reduced the incidence of flooding in the Heppner
area. The risk of flooding remains
however from the unregulated streams of Shobe Creek and Hinton Creek, although
the incidence has been reduced due to the change of land practice from plowed
fields to vegetative cover. The area of
actual flood hazard is currently under evaluation and is expected to be reduced
substantially when the study is completed.
However, until the results of the study are officially recognized, and a
new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is prepared, we must continue to use the
current FIRM.
Flooding occurs when climate (or
weather patterns), geology, and hydrology combine to create conditions where
river or stream waters flow outside of their usual course and
“overspill” beyond their banks.
In the City of
Flooding historically has been
most severe in early spring to late summer when intense thunderstorms stall
over a watershed. The City of
Riverine flooding and urban flooding are the two types of
flooding that primarily affect City of
NFIP PURCHASE REQUIREMENT
NFIP: This community
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes
federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, whether they are
in a floodplain or not. Flood insurance covers direct loss caused by surface
flooding, including a river flowing over its banks, a lake or ocean storm, and
local drainage problems.
The NFIP insures buildings,
including mobile homes, with two types of coverage: structural and contents.
Structural coverage is for the walls, floors, insulation, furnace, and other
items permanently attached to the structure. Contents coverage may be purchased
separately provided the contents are in an insurable building.
Mandatory Purchase Requirement: The mandatory
purchase requirement applies to all forms of federal or federally related
financial assistance for buildings located in a Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA). This requirement affects loans and grants for the purchase,
construction, repair, or improvement of any publicly or privately owned
building in the SFHA, including machinery, equipment, fixtures, and furnishings
contained in such buildings.
Financial assistance programs
affected include loans and grants from agencies such as the Department of
Veterans Affairs, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Housing Administration,
Small Business Administration, and DHS/FEMA. The requirement also applies to
secured mortgage loans from financial institutions, such as commercial lenders,
savings and loan associations, savings banks, and credit unions that are
regulated, supervised, or insured by federal agencies such as the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of Thrift Supervision. It also
applies to all mortgage loans purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in the
secondary mortgage market.
How it Works: Before a person
can receive a loan or other financial assistance from one of the affected
agencies or lenders, there must be a check to see if the building is in a SFHA.
The SFHA is the base (100-year) floodplain mapped on a Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM). It is shown as one or more zones that begin with the letter
“A” or “V”.
Copies of the FIRM are available for
review in most local government building or planning departments. Many lenders
and insurance agents have copies, also. It is the agency’s or the
lender’s responsibility to check the FIRM to determine if the building is
in a SFHA, although many communities provide assistance.
If the building is in a SFHA, the
agency or lender is required by law to require the recipient to purchase a flood
insurance policy on the building. The requirement is for structural coverall
equal to the amount of the loan (or other financial assistance) or the maximum
amount available, whichever is less. The maximum amount available a single
family house is $250,000.
The mandatory purchase requirement
does not affect loans or financial assistance for items that are not covered by
a flood insurance policy, such as vehicles, business expenses, landscaping, and
vacant lots. It does not affect loans for buildings that are not in the SFHA,
even though a portion of the lot may be flood prone. While not mandated by law,
a lender may require a flood insurance policy for a property in any zone on a
Flood Insurance Rate Map.
.
NOTICE TO: Lending Institutions and Real Estate and
Insurance Agents
SUBJECT: Flood Insurance Rate Map Zone Information
As a public service, the City of
If you would like to make an inquiry, please tell us
the street address and, if available, the assessor’s map and lot number.
We are open
This letter is being sent to you for informational purposes only. The City is working on ways to improve and increase its circulation of and accessibility to information that pertains to the floodplain, in an effort to better educate and assist its citizens about developing and living in the floodplain. Please take the time to read the information below, and if you have further questions, or would like additional information, a variety of contact information has been supplied at the end of this document.
City of
While some sort of seasonal flood-related damage could
occur in any given year, the flooding and associated events of
Although the floods of 1903 and 1971 represented a large-scale disaster, they are not unprecedented within the recent past. Floods of record have occurred in or near the Heppner Area before and since the great flood of 1903. Past floods have occurred in 1883, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1903, 1904, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1934, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1971, and 1979. A dam constructed in 1983 across Willow Creek below the confluence with Balm Fork, has greatly reduced the incidence of flooding in the Heppner area. The risk of flooding remains however from the unregulated streams of Shobe Creek and Hinton Creek, although the incidence has been reduced due to the change of land practice from plowed fields to vegetative cover.
Flooding occurs when climate (or weather patterns), geology, and
hydrology combine to create conditions where river or stream waters flow
outside of their usual course and “overspill” beyond their
banks. In the City of
Flooding historically has been most severe in early spring to late
summer when intense thunderstorms stall over a watershed. The City of
Riverine flooding and urban flooding are the two types of flooding that
primarily affect City of
City of
Membership within NFIP — and the availability to City residents of flood insurance — requires the City to manage its floodplain in ways that meet or exceed standards set by FEMA. NFIP insures building with two types of coverage: structural and contents. Structural coverage includes walls, floors, insulation, furnace and other items permanently attached to the structure. Contents coverage may be purchased separately to cover the contents of an insurable building. Flood insurance also pays a portion of the costs of actions taken to prevent flood damage.
Since
Federal financial assistance requires the purchase of flood insurance for buildings located within the SFHA — a requirement that affects nearly all mortgages financed through commercial lending institutions. This mandatory requirement stipulates that structural coverage be purchased equal to the amount of the loan, or other financial assistance, or for the maximum amount available, which is currently $250,000 for a single family residence. While the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement has been in effect for many years, not all lending institutions required flood insurance in the past. Today, however, most institutions are now requiring the flood insurance purchase, and some are reviewing all mortgage loans to determine whether flood insurance is required and should have been required in the past. Upon refinancing a loan, nearly all lending institutions will enforce the flood insurance requirement. It is the lender’s responsibility to check the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to determine whether a structure is within the SFHA.
The mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement does not apply to
loans or financial assistance for items that are not eligible for flood
insurance coverage, such as vehicles, business expenses, landscaping and vacant
lots. The requirement also does not apply to loans for structures not located
in a SFHA, even though a portion of the lot may be within a SFHA. Persons
located within SFHAs who received disaster assistance
after
Maintaining the flow capacity in streams that cross City properties requires cooperation and assistance to prevent flooding and bank erosion. Following are some suggestions and information for understanding the ways that floodplains function and how the City regulates the floodplain in order to protect property and lives, while affording City citizens the ability to obtain floodplain insurance.
Do not dump or throw anything into ditches or streams: A plugged channel cannot carry water, and
when it rains, the excess water must go somewhere. Trash and vegetation dumped
into a stream degrades water quality of both the stream itself and its
receiving waters, and every piece of trash contributes to flooding. Several State and Federal agencies have
adopted and enforce regulations that prohibit the dumping of material into any
natural or manmade component of the drainage system. Additionally, the City as a whole has adopted
and enforces regulations that prohibit the illegal dumping of material,
including material dumped into ditches, streams or other drainageways. Please report any observations of the
dumping of debris or other objects into streams, drainageways,
or rivers to the City of
Remove debris, trash, loose branches and vegetation: Keep banks clear of brush and debris to help
maintain an unobstructed flow of water in stream channels. Do not, however, remove vegetation that is
actively growing on a stream bank. Streamside vegetation is tightly regulated
by local, state and federal regulations.
Streamside vegetation also serves to hold the soil in place and may
reduce erosion. Before undertaking any
removal of streamside vegetation, contact the City of Heppner Planning
Department at
Obtain a floodplain development permit and / or building permit, if
required: To minimize
damage to structures during flood events, the City requires all new
construction in the floodplain to be anchored against movement by floodwaters,
resistant to flood forces, constructed with flood-resistant materials and
flood-proofed or elevated so that the first floor of living space, as well as
all mechanical and services, is at least 1 foot above the elevation of the
100-year flood. These standards apply to new structures and to substantial
improvements of existing structures. The City defines a Substantial Improvement
as any reconstruction, rehabilitation, or addition to an existing structure,
the cost of which exceeds 50 percent of the structure’s appraised or
market value (whichever the builder chooses to use). Additionally, most other
types of development within the floodplain also require a floodplain
development permit, such as grading, cut and fill,
installation of riprap and other bank stabilization techniques. City staff are available to undertake site visits, if requested,
to review flood, drainage and sewer issues. Contact the City of
Recognize the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains to help
reduce flooding:
Floodplains are a natural component of the City of
Reduce risk of damage to homes: Practical and cost-effective methods for reducing or eliminating the
risk of flooding are available to property owners whose homes have experienced
damage from flooding in the past, or may experience damage in the future. Such
techniques include elevation of the home, relocating the home to higher ground,
constructing floodwalls or berms, flood-proofing and
protecting utilities. For further During times of flooding information,
contact the City of Heppner at
City Floodplain Information Services: The City can determine the relationship of a
particular property to the floodplain, including: 1) whether the property is
located within the Special Flood Hazard Area; 2) Flood Insurance Rate Map (
The
Morrow County Emergency Management Department has flood warning information
available that can be accessed by calling them at
Following
is a list of important considerations that should be followed during times of
flooding:
Prepare an evacuation plan: Before the floodwaters hit, develop an evacuation plan among all members of a household that includes a meeting place outside of the house, as well as an escape route out of the floodplain and away from floodwaters.
Do not walk through flowing water: Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there.
Do not drive through a flooded area: More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires: The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Columbia Electric Cooperative or the Morrow County Emergency Management Office.
Shut off gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs: Be prepared in advance with a detailed checklist because warning of an impending flood may provide little time for preparation prior to evacuation.
Look out for animals, especially snakes: Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals.
Look before you step: After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
Be alert for propane leaks: Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames unless you know that the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.
·
City of
·
City of
· Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Phone: (425) 487-4600
Web: http://www.fema.gov/nfip/
·
City of
Phone:
· Oregon Trail Library District, Heppner Branch (Houses floodplain publications and other floodplain information)
Phone:
·
Division of State
Lands (
Phone: (503) 378-3805
Web: http://statelands.dsl.state.or.us/index.htm
· Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
Web: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
· Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
Phone: (503) 945-7200
Web: http://www.odf.state.or.us/
· National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Web: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
(and) http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/
·
Phone: (503) 808-4510
Web: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/