Flood Protection Information
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). Find the adopted Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and the new FIRMS. 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.
HELPFUL LINKS:
2023 Annual Progress Report - Floodplain Management Plan
Dare County Emergency Management
Dare County Government Channel information
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
On this interactive site, property owners can locate and view their property in relation to identified flood zones in Southern Shores
FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping Program
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.
To keep current as FEMA implements changes to the NFIP based on recent legislation.
