The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Flood Hazard Management Program (FHMP) is the State Coordinating Office for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
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Floodplain Management
Table of Contents
Massachusetts Flood Hazard Management Program (FHMP)
FHMP program staff work with FEMA and officials from National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participating communities to implement the NFIP in Massachusetts. The FHMP is a technical assistance program and has no regulatory authority.
Program staff is available to provide guidance to all interested parties. Topics include the NFIP, floodplain management, flood resistant construction, floodplain mapping, flood mitigation, flood insurance and flood risk awareness and education.
The National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program exists to transfer the cost of flood damages from the public to the private sector. It does so by providing federal flood insurance to property owners and by requiring communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations.
Helpful links to more information:
Answers to Questions About the NFIP
NFIP Desk Reference Guide for State Insurance Commissioners & Others
Floodplain Management
In Massachusetts, floodplain management is addressed through a number of regulations and practices:
The Massachusetts Building Code
The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
Flood-resistant Construction
Every NFIP community has local codes, ordinances, and/or by-laws that describe and direct development in local floodplains. Because Massachusetts has a statewide mandatory building code, local MA communities typically hold additional, non-construction type regulations in their by-laws. In addition to the provisions found in the building code and Wetlands Protection Act, other flood-resistant construction requirements may be found in:
Massachusetts Title V regulations
Local Floodplain District requirements (contact the appropriate municipal staff)
9th Edition Massachusetts Residential Code Requirements in Floodplains
Guidance for residential additions in the Floodplain
Multiple Permits in Substantial Improvement
Local Substantial Damage Planning
This guidance has been developed by the Massachusetts Flood Hazard Management Program as a comprehensive tool for communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assure that certain practices and a post-disaster plan will be in place to implement the Substantial Improvement/ Substantial Damage requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as stated in the Massachusetts Building Code. Here are several documents to help you begin your local plan.
Floodplain Mapping
FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps provide the minimum standards for delineated floodplains. Flood-resistant construction must be used in at least the 1%-chance floodplain (formerly referred to as the 100-year floodplain.) To examine the FEMA flood maps, go to: https://msc.fema.gov/portal
The Map Service Center has a hotline for specific questions: 1-877-336-2627.
Some Massachusetts communities have more restrictive floodplain requirements, so always check with the municipality for these details. Local building department staff, conservation commission staff and planners can give you more information.
Flood Mitigation
Property owners can modify their structures to make them more resistant to flood damages. In some cases, a mitigation grant may help pay for these changes. In most cases, correct mitigation actions can lower annual flood insurance premiums. For more information:
Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures
Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings that Cannot be Elevated
Flood Mitigation Measures for Multi-Family Buildings
Building with Flood-Resistant Materials
How to Raise Electrical System Components
NFIP Flood Insurance
FEMA 3-1-22 presentation: NFIP Basics and Risk Rating 2.0
FEMA’s New Risk Rating 2.0 Approach
The National Flood Insurance Program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures. It does so by providing affordable insurance to property owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. For more information:
Purchasing NFIP flood insurance
If you have specific questions about your flood policy, speak to your insurance agent. If the agent cannot answer your questions, you can contact:
Adam D. Lizarraga
NFIP Regional Manager, ANFI, CFM
Adam.Lizarraga@associates.fema.dhs.gov
916-375-0927
Flood Preparation & Insurance Claims Resources
These documents from FEMA can assist you to prepare for flooding and file claims after a flood.
Starting Your Recovery after Flooding
Floodplain Management Training Opportunities
Effective floodplain management includes continued training because regulations, policies and guidance change at the local, state or federal level. Here are some training opportunities and materials for you to check on from time to time for self-improvement or to see what’s new:
- The Community Rating System (CRS) free training videos and live sessions: https://crsresources.org/training/ (Your community does not have to be a CRS community for you to attend these sessions.)
- FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers a number of free floodplain management training courses. Check out the Course & Schedule website for details: https://training.fema.gov/emicourses/ Courses that may interest floodplain managers include:
- E0273 “Managing Floodplain Development through the National Flood Insurance Program”
- IS0273 “How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)”
- E0194 “Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts”
- E0282 “Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts II”
- E0284 “Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts III”
- E0278 “National Flood Insurance Program/Community Rating System”
- E0210 “Recovery from Disaster: The Local Community Role”
- IS 1103A “Elevation Certificate for Surveyors”
Please remember that these courses teach the MINIMUM NFIP standards, and that your state or community may have some higher standards.
- Check out the MA Association for Floodplain Management (massFM) site for upcoming trainings and other events scheduled in New England: https://www.massfm.org/upcomingevents
- ASFPM materials on “No Adverse Impact” floodplain development: https://www.floods.org/resource-center/association-of-state-floodplain-managers-nai-no-adverse-impact-floodplain-management/
- Fact sheets on legal liabilities related to floodplain development: https://docs.rwu.edu/law_ma_sp/
- NFIP Flood Insurance Training—you do not have to be an insurance agent to take these courses: https://agents.floodsmart.gov/agent-training
For those wishing to obtain the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) status, please go to https://www.floods.org/certification-program-cfm/what-is-the-cfm-certification-program/ for program and exam details.
Flood Risk Awareness & Education
The following links will give you more information overall regarding flood risk in your community.
Massachusetts Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Viewer
2020 Massachusetts Model Floodplain Bylaw
Contacts
Joy Duperault, CFM
Director, Flood Hazard Management Program
NFIP Coordinator & Dep. Hazard Mitigation Officer
Dept. of Conservation & Recreation
251 Causeway Street, 8th floor, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1406
joy.duperault@mass.gov
Eric Carlson
Engineer, Flood Hazard Management Program
Dept. of Conservation & Recreation
251 Causeway Street, 8th floor, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1362
eric.carlson@mass.gov