For the purpose of this subchapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DEVELOPMENT. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to, buildings, and other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operation.
FLOOD HAZARD AREAS. Any flood plain district, floodway district, floodway fringe district, or any combination thereof which is subject to inundation by the regulatory flood or any flood plain district as delineated by Zone A on a flood hazard boundary map.
FLOOD or FLOODWATER. The water of any lake or watercourse which is above the banks and/or outside the channel and banks of such watercourse.
FLOOD PLAIN. The area adjoining the river or stream or other such body of water which has been or may hereafter be covered by floodwaters.
FLOOD PROTECTION GRADE. The lowest elevation of the lowest point in a building at which flood waters may enter the interior of the building. This lowest point is defined by the following:
(1) The lowest floor of the building (if a basement is included, the basement floor is the lowest floor);
(2) The garage floor, if the garage is the lowest level of the building;
(3) The first floor of a building elevated on pilings or constructed on a crawl space;
(4) The floor level of any enclosure below an elevated building where the walls of the enclosure provide some resistance to the flow of flood waters;
(a) Unless the walls are designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on the walls by allowing entry and exit of floodwater, through providing a minimum of two openings (in addition to doorways and windows) having a total area one square foot for every two square feet of enclosed floor area subject to flooding. The bottom of all such openings shall be no higher than one foot above the enclosed area's floor;
(b) Such enclosed space shall be usable for nonresidential purposes and building access;
(5) The level of protection provided to a nonresidential building below which the building is designed to be water tight. The design and construction shall be certified by a professional engineer registered under I.C. 25-31-1 or an architect registered under I.C. 25-4-1, as being adequate to withstand the flood depths, pressures, velocities, impact and uplift forces and other factors associated with the regulatory flood.
FLOODWAY DISTRICT That area designated as “Commission Floodway” by the Department of Natural Resources.
FLOODWAY FRINGE DISTRICT. Those portions of flood hazard areas lying outside the floodway district.
NATURAL RESOURCES. The Indiana Natural Resources Commission.
REGULATORY FLOOD. That flood having a peak discharge which can be expected to be equaled or exceeded on the average of once in a 100-year period, as calculated by a method and procedure which is acceptable to and approved by the Indiana Natural Resources Commission. This flood is equivalent to a flood having the probability of occurrence of 1% in any given year.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, shed, detached garages, cabins, mobile homes, and other similar items.
(Ord. 172, § 8-200, passed 4-5-90)