Flood Zones - Construction in a Floodplain

Chapter 117 of the Code of the Town of Greece regulates construction activities in the Federal Emergency Management Areas (FEMA) identified special flood hazard areas (SFHA) as identified on the Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). In 2005 it was announced that all of Monroe County including the Town of Greece would have the FIRM maps updated to reflect changes in the identified SFHA’s. The new maps will be in digital form, and provide opportunities in late 2007 or 2008 for interactive web based searching for SFHA locations within the town’s boundaries.

For the present time applicants for permits for regulated activities in a FIRM identified SFHA will have their applications reviewed and are notified by staff of the Technical Services Department if special regulations apply to their proposed project.

If the proposed work is located in a FIRM identified SFHA Floodplain development the applicant is notified by staff. Special permit and inspection procedures are invoked to ensure compliance with flood damage prevention regulations.   

Floodplain development proposals are generally discouraged;the applicant is required to have an Elevation Certificate completed by a NYS licensed surveyor or professional engineer.  Forms can be obtained through our office or downloaded online. http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/publications.shtm

Additional material will be required depending on flood zone, type of project, and site conditions.

Floodplain location certifications for lenders

Floodplain location verification information can be requested by calling the Town of Greece Department of Public Works at  (585) 723- 2273. The information involves a review of the location of the property in relation to established flood hazard areas as identified on the FEMA prepared Federal Insurance Rate Maps. Our staff will then let you know if the property is, or is not, located in a FEMA identified Special Flood Hazard Area.

Occasionally a parcel will contain area in the SFHA and additional area outside the SFHA. In these cases it will be necessary for the property owner to retain the services of a NYS licensed surveyor or professional engineer to determine if the structures on the property are subject to flooding.

FIRM Maps

Floodplain maps may be viewed in our office during regular business hours. Copies of the maps and local regulations are also available at the Greece Public Library. These maps are copies of the original flood maps provided to our office by FEMA in 1992. Maps are subject to periodic revision and a master map containing those revisions is maintained at Town of Greece Department of Public Works at  (585) 723- 2273. Please call for an appointment if it is necessary to review this master document.

Letters of Map Revision and Amendment

Letters of map Amendment (LOMAs) have the effect of removing either a structure, a portion of a property, or an entire property from a Special Flood Hazard Area, based on the elevation of the ground. These are generally a response to portions of lots that were incorrectly located in the SFHA. The applicant must prove to FEMA's satisfaction that their structure is located on ground high enough that the structure would not be subject to inundation during the 100-year flood.

The town is not involved in the review of LOMA’s. The applicant retains the services of a NYS licensed surveyor or professional engineer who works directly with FEMA’s agent to obtain a LOMR. For more information please click on the following hyper-link www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fmc_loma.shtm

Letters of Map Revision (LOMR’s) are done as a result of a proposal to modify a SFHA. Typically these result from proposals to fill a portion of a SFHA, alter or modify a watercourse. NYS licensed professionals, hired by the applicant, prepare these applications. The Town is involved in the review of proposed LOMR’s.

Other related online resource locations

For more detailed information on flood insurance rate maps (FIRM's). The URL is: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/index.shtm

Flood insurance rate information can be found at; http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp