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Floodplains Information

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The City of Scott has participated actively in the Nation Flood Insurance Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since 1984 and the City of Scott is dedicated to minimizing the loss of life and property that is associated with flooding events. Education and prevention are valuable and proven tools that help communities become resistant to these natural disasters.

The City of Scott recognizes that its entire community is susceptible to flooding, not just those structures located within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). The following information is to help inform property owners and renters located within the SFHA, flood prone areas and also all property owners within the City of Scott.

 

FLOOD ZONE MAP

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You may view a flood zone map, at City Hall.

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FLOOD SAFETY

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1. Learn the safest route from your home or business to higher, safer ground, but stay tuned to reports of changing flood conditions.

2. If emergency officials tell you to evacuate or leave your home, go immediately to a safe shelter, hotel or relative's house.

3. Turn off all utilities, gas and electricity at the main switch. Stay away from power lines and electrical lines. Be alert for gas leaks.

4. Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood related deaths. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.

5. Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than in any other location. Vehicles also push water into homes and cause additional property damage.
 

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FLOOD INSURANCE

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The purchase federal flood insurance is highly recommended. Basic homeowner's insurance policies don't cover damage from floods. The City of Scott participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which means that federally subsidized flood insurance is available to everyone in the City. Remember there is a 30-day waiting period before a policy becomes effective. Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank or loan company when they obtained a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the building's structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in the City of Scott, there is usually more damage to furniture and the contents than there is to the structure. Remember that a flood insurance policy must be renewed each year. If you are a renter in the City of Scott, a renter's insurance policy is very helpful.
 

 

Mandatory Purchase Requirement:


The mandatory purchase requirement applies to all forms of federal or federally related financial assistance for buildings located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). This requirement affects loans and grants for the purchase, construction, repair, or improvement of any publicly or privately owned buildings in the SFHA, including machinery, equipment, fixtures and furnishings contained in such buildings. If a building is located in a SFHA, the agency or lender is required by law to require the recipient to purchase a flood insurance policy on the building.

For more information about flood insurance, contact:

  • Flood Smart 

  • Any Lafayette Parish Public Library

  • Your insurance agent

  • The City of Scott Planning Department

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PROPERTY PROTECTION

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Rather than wait for a flood to occur, you can act now to protect your property from flood damage. Various alternatives are available to help minimize flooding. If the floor level of your property or structure is lower than the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) located on the City's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), consider ways to prevent flooding from occurring such as retrofitting your building. "Retrofitting" means altering your building to eliminate or reduce flood damage.

Retrofitting measures include:

  • Elevating the building so that flood waters do not enter or reach any damageable portions of it.

  • Constructing barriers out of fill or concrete between the building and flood waters,

  • "Dry flood proofing" to make the building walls and floor watertight so water does not enter,

  • "Wet flood proofing" to modify the structure and relocate the contents so that when flood waters enter the building there is little or no damage, and

  • Preventing basement flooding from sewer backup or sump pump failure.

There are several good references on retrofitting in any Lafayette Parish Public Library. Many of these will inform you about retrofitting techniques and help you decide which is best for you.

 

FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM

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If flooding is imminent and evacuation of the City is advised, the City of Scott will notify you through local radio and Cable TV. Additionally, the City will be receiving information from NOAA Weather Station Radio broadcasts weather information at 162.550 MHZ, 24 hours a day, and from the National Weather Service Offices in Louisiana. The local contact number is (337) 233-1130. Please call in reference to evacuation notices, procedures and shelters.

 

FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

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All development in the City of Scott needs local and state permits. Contact the City of Scott Office of Planning at (337) 233-1130 for advice before you build, fill, place a manufactured home or otherwise develop. The subdivision ordinance, flood control ordinance and the International Building Codes have special provisions regulating construction and other developments within floodplains. Without these provisions, flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) would not be available to property owners in the City of Scott. Any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal; such activity can be reported to the Planning Department at the phone number above. See the City of Scott Flood Protection Ordinance for more information. 

 

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS
 

What is substantial improvement? The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement, must conform or meet the same construction requirements as a new building and be constructed above the minimum Base Flood Elevation (BFE) listed on the City of Scott's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

What is substantial damage? Substantial damage means damage of any origin sustained by a building or structure when the cost of restoring the building to its pre-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the building before the damage occurred. Substantial damage is determined regardless of the actual repair work performed.

The City of Scott requires by ordinance that any substantial improvement or substantial damage improvement must have a building permit. Permit information can be obtained at the Planning Department located at City Hall or by calling at (337) 233-1130.

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DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

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It is illegal in the City of Scott to dump any type of debris into a canal, stream, river or drainage ditch. This debris can become entangled in culverts and shallow stream beds, canals or drainage ditches and impede drainage causing the flow of water to back up. Citizens of Scott should also keep drainage ditches on their property free of debris, foliage and vegetation that would impede the flow of water. Debris dumping should be reported to the City of Scott at City Hall by calling (337) 233-1130.

 

FLOOD INFORMATION

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Citizens of the City of Scott can obtain flood information concerning flooding, flood maps, mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements, flood insurance requirements and inquiries, and flood zone determinations from the City of Scott Planning Office located at City Hall, or by calling (337) 233-1130.
 

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FLOOD PROTECTION ASSISTANCE

 

Concerned citizens and the general public can obtain information on flood protection assistance from the City of Scott Planning Department.

List of Services Provided:

  • Provide a list of names of contractors and consultants knowledgeable or experienced in retrofitting techniques and construction.

  • Provide materials on how to select a qualified contractor's and what recourse citizens have if they are dissatisfied with the contractor's performance.

  • Make site visits to review flooding, drainage and sewer problems and provide one-on-one advice to property owners.

  • Provide advice and assistance on retrofitting techniques, such as, elevating buildings above flood levels or the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), dry flood proofing, wet flood proofing and protecting basements from sewer backup. Also, information on the installation of barriers, levees, berms and flood walls around individual buildings or structures is available.

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IMPORTANT USEFUL WEBSITES

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BROCHURES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

 

All of the following publications can be picked up at Scott City Hall at 125 Lions Club Road, Scott, LA 70583. 

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