Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) - Floodplain
Flooding can be the most frequent and costly disaster in a community, as it is in our nation. The likelihood of inland, riverine, and coastal flooding changes over time due to erosion, changing land use, changing weather patterns, and other factors. The risk for flooding can vary within the same neighborhood and even between adjacent properties. Still, nobody is exempt from flood risk – where it can rain, it can flood. Knowing your flood risk is the first step to flood protection.
Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) are high-risk areas with a one-percent (1%) chance or more of being inundated by a base flood in any given year, as identified by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maps. Floodplain management regulations are enforced, and the purchase of flood insurance applies to these areas. Please visit FEMA Flood Risk Communication Video Series, FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program for more information.
The 1% flood has a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year; however, during the span of a 30-year mortgage, a home in the SFHA floodplain has a 26-percent chance of being flooded at least once during those 30 years! The value of 26 percent is based on probability theory that accounts for each of the 30 years having a 1-percent chance of flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
The Town of Vienna participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, whether or not they are in an SFHA. Flood insurance covers direct loss due to surface flooding, which includes that caused by local drainage problems.
Please be aware that many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage.
NFIP provides two types of coverage:
- Structural coverage for walls, floors, insulation, furnaces and other items permanently attached to the structure
- Content coverage, purchased separately, protects contents in an insurable building.
Some financial assistance, loans, and mortgages require flood insurance if a building is located in a special flood hazard zone.
The Town participates in the Community Rating System (CRS) through FEMA to reduce the flood insurance premiums for properties within the Town’s jurisdiction. The Town has a CRS number of 8, providing a 10% reduction in flood insurance premiums.
Elevation Certificate Information
Elevation Certificate Information for buildings is on file with the Vienna Department of Public Works (DPW). This information can be obtained by calling 703-255-6380 or emailing dpw@viennava.gov, providing your address. Town staff will assist you with the elevation certificate information.
Protect from Flooding
Protect People From Flooding
- Evacuate the area immediately. Never drive around barricades, and local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
- Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alert systems for current emergency information and instructions.
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Turn-Around. Don’t Drown!
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
- Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the vehicle.
- Get to the highest level if trapped in a building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater.
- Designate a place where your family can rendezvous after an evacuation order is issued.
Protect Property from Flooding
Losses due to floods can be reduced by implementing property protection measures. Furniture, appliances, clothing, and other movable items can be elevated within the structure or relocated away from potential flooding if time permits. You should also make an itemized inventory of your belongings, including costs, dates of purchase, and serial numbers.
There are several ways to protect a building from flood damage if feasible. One way is to make sure your lot is graded in a manner that will direct runoff away from your building. Another approach is to make your walls waterproof and place watertight closures over the doorways. This method is not recommended if water will rise to a depth of two feet or greater. A third approach is to raise the house above flood levels. Before making these modifications, consult with a certified contractor.
Build Responsibly
Strict regulations govern substantial improvements to structures in the flood plain. According to NFIP, “substantial improvement” means the cost of any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure that equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure either before the improvement is started or if the structure has been damaged and is being restored.
Please be advised that any new development or improvement on a property will be subject to current Town regulations and may also be subject to County, State, and Federal regulations.
Accessory structures such as decks, gazebos, and sheds are prohibited within the SFHA without first obtaining a building permit demonstrating they are provided with appropriate anchoring.
Activities in and around the SFHA are regulated by the Town of Vienna Zoning Ordinance Chapter 18.1.
Protect Natural Floodplain Functions
Floodplain and wetland areas buffer flood flows, remove pollutants from our surface waters, recharge groundwater and create diverse habitats for plants and animals. Keeping the sites free of trash and yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and pruned vegetation debris is essential.
If you would like to inquire with the Town of Vienna, please have the address available. We are open from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. You may reach us by telephone at 703-255-6380 or send an email to DPW@viennava.gov. Our staff will be willing to assist you in any way we can. There is no charge for this service.