Base flood. A flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
Development. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, the placement of mobile homes, streets and other paving, utilities, filling, grading, excavation, mining, dredging or drilling operations and the subdivision of land.
Existing construction. For the purposes of determining rates, structures for which the start of construction commenced before the effective date of the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRMS effective before that date. "Existing construction" may also be referred to as "existing structures."
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Federal agency responsible for the implementation and administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
FEMA. The abbreviated version of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Federal Insurance Administration (FIA). Located within FEMA, FIA is responsible for the implementation and administration of the NFIP. The FIA was previously a part of HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and was reorganized together with other governmental offices, into the new FEMA.
Flood.
(1) A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
A. The overflow of inland or tidal waters.
B. The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
C. Mudslides (i.e., mudflows) which are proximately caused by flooding as defined in above and are akin to a river of liquid as flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current.
(2) The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by unanticipated force of nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal nature, such as flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in paragraph (g)(1)A. of this section.
Base flood. The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This is also known as the 100-year flood or the regulatory base flood
Flood of record. A flood which has occurred for which there are accurate local records available.
Flood boundary and floodway map. An official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated the boundaries of the floodway within the City of Wheeling.
Flood damage potential. The susceptibility of a specific land use at a particular location to damage by flooding, and the potential of the specific land use to increase off-site flooding or flood-related damages.
Flood-Fringe District. That area of the 100-year flood plain not included in the Floodway District.
Flood fringe area. The portion of the flood hazard area outside of the floodway based on the total area inundated during the regulatory base flood plus 25% of the regulatory base flood discharge.
Flood hazard area. The floodplain consisting of the floodway and the flood fringe area.
Flood hazard design elevation. The highest elevation, expressed in feet above sea level, of the level of floodwaters which delineates the flood fringe area.
Flood insurance rate map. An official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the City of Wheeling.
Flood insurance study. The official report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency which contains examination, evaluation, and determination of flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations.
Floodplain.
A relatively flat or low land area adjoining a river, stream or watercourse which is subject to partial or complete inundation;
An area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source as delineated on the flood map.
Flood plain districts. Those flood plain districts specifically designated in Section 1351.03
as being inundated primarily by the 100-year flood. Included would be areas identified as Floodway District (FW), Flood-Fringe District (FF) and General Flood Plain District (FA).
Floodproofing. A combination of structural and non-structural provisions, changes, or adjustments to properties and structures subject to flooding for the reduction or elimination of flood damage to real estate, real property improvements, water and sanitary facilities, and other utilities, structures, and the contents of buildings.
Floodway. The channel of a natural stream or river and portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel, which are reasonably required to carry and discharge the floodwater or flood flow of any natural stream or river.
Floodway district. Certain areas within the flood plain which must be capable of carrying the waters of the 100-year flood without increasing the water surface elevation of that flood more than one foot at any point.
Floodway, regulatory. The channel and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the regulatory base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than two-tenths of one foot.
Functionally dependent use. A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The term includes only docking facilities, port facilities that are necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, and ship building and ship repair facilities, but does not include long-term storage or related manufacturing facilities.
General Flood Plain District. That flood plain area for which no detailed flood profiles or elevations have been provided.
Manufactured home. A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. For flood plain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180 consecutive days. For insurance purposes the term "manufactured home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles.
Manufactured home park or subdivision. A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Federal program, administered by the FEMA, which provides flood insurance to local jurisdictions.
One-hundred year flood. A flood that, on the average, is likely to occur once every 100 years, i.e., that has a one percent (1%) chance of occurring each year, although the flood may occur in any year.
Start of construction [for other than new construction or substantial improvements under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (Pub. L. 97-348)]. This includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure.
Substantial improvement. Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure either:
Before the improvement or repair is started, or
If the structure has been damaged, and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition "substantial improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either:
a) Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing State or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions, or
b) Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
Variance. A grant of relief by a community from the terms of a flood plain management regulation.