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NFIP Summary of Coverage
Floodplain Management

 From the enactment of the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act (Act 166 of 1978), floodplain monitoring has traditionally been the responsibility of the Department of Community & Economic Development (or its predecessor, Department of Community Affairs, DCA.)  Act 166 requires that a municipality enact and enforce an ordinance to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  DCA was able to manage this program until 1994, when the Department was reorganized into the Department of Community & Economic Development.  The staff that handled floodplain management was then reduced 75%, which made it impossible for DCED to provide guidance and technical support to municipalities as they had previously.

 For that reason, DCED entered into an agreement with the PA Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) to provide the services that DCA had previously provided to municipalities. To date, approximately 30 conservation districts have participated, at different points in time.

 

Conservation District duties and responsibilities under the program are to:

  • Meet with municipal officials and review their enforcement of their ordinance. This is referred to as either a community assistance contact (CAC) or a community assistance visit (CAV). The primary difference is that a visit (CAV) involves a file review in addition to the discussion of a contact (CAC). Prior to the meeting the district obtains a copy of the ordinance and checks to see whether it is up to date.
  • The district also conducts a visual survey of the municipality to see whether there has been any development in the floodplain since the last visit. If so, they will ask the officials if the proper permits were obtained. If no recent development is noted, the district will ask how the municipality keeps track of development. The district will ask the officials if they have copies of floodplain maps, and offer to assist them in acquiring them if needed.
  • District staff provides training on how to read and use floodplain maps, if requested by the municipal officials. If need exists, district staff conduct a workshop on map use for as many municipalities as request.
  •  Districts also establish libraries of educational materials about floodplain management for municipal staff and citizens in their counties to use.
  • Districts do not have enforcement responsibilities in this program.
 
 
Additional Information
is available at 
JCCD Office 
Mon - Fri, 8 AM - 4 PM
 
Publications include:
     
Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Jefferson County Twps.
 
Floodplain Ordinances for Jefferson County Twps.
 
Flood Proofing Regulations
 
National Flood Insurance Program: Answers to Questions About the NFIP
 
National Flood Insurance Program: Flood Insurance Claims Handbook
 
Protecting Floodplain Resources: A Guidebook for Communities
 
The National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System