Floodplain Information
National Flood Insurance Program
The Town of Wise is a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is based on a mutual agreement between the Federal Government and the community. Federally backed flood insurance is made available to all residents in the Town of Wise, regardless of whether or not the property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. In return, the Town of Wise agrees to regulate development in our mapped floodplain.
Mapping
FEMA has prepared a floodplain map and developed flood hazard data which can be used for the following:
- Communities, states, and Federal agencies use them as the basis for regulating new flood prone construction,
- Insurance agents use them when rating flood insurance policies, and
- Lenders and Federal agencies used them to determine when flood insurance must be purchased as a condition of a loan or financial assistance.
The Town of Wise has a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) which is based on a Flood Insurance Study (FIS). You can search your address and view flood mapping using the Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS).
Permitting Requirements
Development, as defined in 44 CFR 59, means "any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials." Regulating all development in floodplains is essential because fill or other material can obstruct flood flows just as structures can.
Before any development in the floodplain can occur, the developer or property owner must obtain a Floodplain Development Permit from the Town of Wise Floodplain Manager/Zoning Administrator.
Permits from other Federal or state agencies may also be required for your project, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
FEMA/NFIP Resources
How to Secure Documents in Preparation for a Flood (FEMA)
How to Document Damage Video (FEMA)
Save Your Family Treasures (FEMA)
