A. Critical facility means any of the following:
1. A structure or facility that produces, uses or stores highly volatile, flammable, explosive, toxic, and/or water reactive materials;
2. Hospitals, emergency medical facilities, nursing homes and/or housing facilities likely to have occupants who may not be sufficiently mobile to avoid injury or death during a flood;
3. Essential emergency response facilities, such as police stations, fire stations, emergency shelters and/or operation centers that are needed for public safety and/or flood response activities before, during and after a flood; and
4. Public and private utility facilities, such as, but not limited to power, water and wastewater treatment, and/or communications, that are vital to maintaining or restoring normal services to flooded areas before, during and after a flood.
B. Applicability. The critical facility requirements shall only apply along watercourses which have FEMA designated floodplains. Where the two-tenths percent chance floodplain has not been established, the chief engineer may require that this floodplain be delineated by the applicant.
C. Critical facilities shall be located outside of the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain, if possible. If a critical facility must be located in a two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain, it must be demonstrated that there is either a critical need to locate it within the floodplain, or that there is not a suitable alternative site, as justified by an Arizona registered civil engineer. Any critical facility located within a two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain shall be protected from that event. Protection includes, but is not limited to, elevating the lowest floor and all utilities and mechanical services to a minimum of one-foot above the base flood or to the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain water surface elevation, whichever is greater, providing elevated access ramps, if appropriate, adequately protecting the facility from both lateral and vertical erosion associated with the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain, providing all weather access during the base flood and developing an emergency response plan.
D. Existing critical facilities within the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain that propose substantial improvements and/or repairs shall be protected from the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) flood event. Protection includes, but is not limited to, elevating or flood proofing the lowest floor and all utilities and mechanical services to a minimum of one-foot above the base flood or to the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain water surface elevation, whichever is greater, providing elevated access ramps, if appropriate, adequately protecting the facility from both lateral and vertical erosion associated with the two-tenths percent annual chance (five hundred-year) floodplain, providing all weather access to the base flood and developing an emergency response plan.
(Ord. 2010-FC5 § 1 (part), 2010)