Town Council updated the Town’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
On June 1, 2020, the Town Council updated the Town’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance which became effective immediately. The Town Council also adopted the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The adopted Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance can be found at https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/httpsouthernshores-nc-govsfloodprotection/ and the new FIRMS can be found at https://fris.nc.gov/fris/. Typically, FEMA requires local Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) and Flood Ordinances to be updated every ten years. The previous FIRMs for Dare County and the Town of Southern Shores became effective on September 20, 2006. The new FIRMs were released on June 30, 2016 and become effective on June 19, 2020.
Town Staff and officials from Dare County and the other Municipalities met regularly as a CRS Users Group throughout the adoption process. Discussion primarily focused on public awareness of historical flooding, property owners dropping flood insurance policies vs. potential flood claims and their impact on local, State, and Federal levels, responsible building practices, and developing higher regulatory standards for construction. The adopted Ordinance contains a new minimum building elevation of eight (8) feet above mean sea level throughout the entire Town either through freeboard requirements or a local elevation standard of 8 feet in the AE, AO, Shaded X and X Zones. The VE Flood Zone is subject to the designated base flood elevation (BFE) on the FIRMs and a freeboard requirement in addition to the BFE.
Please contact the Town’s Planning and Code Enforcement Department at (252) 261-2394 ext. 3 should you have any questions regarding the new Ordinance and FIRMs.
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance adopted June 1, 2020
ADOPTED TCA-20-01 Flood Damage Prevention
Draft Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
Town of Southern Shores – Summary of Changes to DRAFT FDPO – 3-12-2020 – Copy
TCA-20-01 Flood Damage Prevention – DRAFT – PB changes from 5-4-2020 mtg and State’s changes
Definitions of Flood Zones – AE – AO – VE – X AND SHADED X
2020 Community Outreach Project Brochure
Learn About Flood Risks On the Outer Banks and How to Protect Your Property
OBX Flood Maps (Multi-Jurisdiction website for flood information)

Documents and Reports
- 2019 Annual Community Outreach Project Brochure
- Town Ordinance Chapter 16- Flood Damage Prevention
- Town of Southern Shores Emergency Management Plan
- Town of Southern Shores Hazard Mitigation Plan
- FEMA Flood Insurance Study (FIS) – effective 9/20/2006
- FEMA Substantial Improvement-Substantial Damage Forms
- 2019 Annual Progress Report – Floodplain Management Plan
- 2017 CRS Final Determination Letter
Town of Southern Shores Flood Maps
Current Effective Flood Maps
- Firm Map Index
- Panel 9866
- Panel 9867
- Panel 9868
- Panel 9877
- Fema.gov/portalThe FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is the official public source for flood hazard information produced in support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Use the MSC to find your official flood map, access a range of other flood hazard products, and take advantage of tools for better understanding flood risk.
2016 Preliminary Flood Maps Released 6/30/16
- 2016 Preliminary Flood Maps – News Release
- To Access Maps: The maps are released in digital format and can be viewed at the Flood Risk Information System (FRIS) website http://fris.nc.gov/fris/
- Video Tutorial: Here is a link to help you navigate the website
- FAQs on Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps
- Procedures and Impacts following a community receiving new preliminary flood insurance rate maps
- Dare County – Preliminary DFIRM Presentation – June 20 2016
- Dare County – Preliminary Flood Insurance Study FIS
- Fact Sheets
What you need to know about……….
Helpful Links:
www.darenc.com/emgyMgmt – Dare County Emergency Management
www.darenc.com/GovChannel – Dare County Government Channel information
www.fema.gov –- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
www.ncfloodmaps.com – On this interactive site, property owners can locate and view their property in relation to identified flood zones in Southern Shores
www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-hazard-mapping – FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping Program
www.floodsmart.gov – This site provides step by step guidelines for determining your flood risk, understanding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
and finding an insurance agent to assist you in determining the level of flood insurance needed for your property.
www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-reform – To keep current as FEMA implements changes to the NFIP based on recent legislation.
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