The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, October 24th, to update and amend the borough’s floodplain management plan. With these amendments, the borough will be able to maintain its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Ordinance 2023-23, sponsored by Mayor Peter Micciche, provides updates to the floodplain management code which, though small, have a significant impact on the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s access to federal assistance in the event of flooding, and by extension, access to the same for peninsula residents.
“2023-23 updates our code based on some FEMA requirements and some housekeeping amendments to meet federal standards so that we can continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, which helps with federal disaster assistance,” said Assembly member Mike Tupper. Tupper serves as the Vice Chairman for the Policies and Procedures Committee, and presented the ordinance.
The Borough has participated in the NFIP since 1988, making federal disaster assistance, federal hazard mitigation grants, federal subsidized mortgages, and affordable individual homeowner flood insurance available within the Borough. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) oversees the NFIP and provides participating communities with the minimum regulations and regulatory flood maps for each community to enforce.
FEMA visits the Borough to perform a Community Assistance Visit every five to eight years. These visits serve ultimately provide technical assistance to the community and assure that the community is adequately enforcing its floodplain management regulations. During their visit, FEMA officials meet with community staff and officials, review current code, tour and inspect structures in the floodplain, as well as review floodplain development permits and document any unpermitted structures.
It was during the most recent of these visits, in 2022, that FEMA officials reviewed KPB code to assess compliance with federal requirements and to provide required and recommended changes. The FEMA proposed amendments were intended to increase flood safety, and bring code pertaining to FEMA minimum regulations into compliance with federal standards and provide clarifications.
Mayor Micciche expanded on the ordinance he sponsored, and how it benefits residents of the Kenai. “Last night we had an ordinance amending our section regarding the floodplain management to adopt required changes to remain compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program, which is why we care about the FEMA [requirements]. It allows people to get lower cost insurance when they’re compliant with the floodplain management plan.”
A memorandum attached to the ordinance states, “These amendments are necessary to keep the Borough in good standing with the NFIP. Failure to adopt the required changes could result in sanctions, which could impact the Borough ‘s ability to participate in the NFIP.”
The ordinance passed unanimously as a part of the assembly’s consent agenda.
