Property owners and residents with
flood-damaged buildings may be eligible for assistance    

[JAN. 24, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- As property owners in Illinois contemplate cleanup and repairs following recent flooding, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources is reminding them to contact local building and zoning officials about requirements for obtaining local permits before repairing or rebuilding flood-damaged structures.

The permits are required as part of local government participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides eligibility for flood insurance, flood disaster assistance, state and federal grants and loans, and buyout funds for flood-prone property.

Local floodplain management ordinances require that permits be obtained for any construction or development activity in a floodplain area, including the repair or reconstruction of structures damaged by flooding.

Special conditions apply to substantially damaged buildings -- those in which the total cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the structure’s pre-flood market value. If a building is found to be substantially damaged, federal flood insurance regulations require that repairs not begin until compliance with the local floodplain ordinance is demonstrated. In some cases, that may require repairs that include elevating or flood-proofing the structure to reduce the potential for future flood damage.

Repair costs must be calculated by assuming the building will be fully repaired to its pre-damaged condition, even if the owner decides to do less. The total cost calculation must include structural materials, finish materials and labor, even if the owner chooses to do his or her own repairs.

State and federal assistance may be available to property owners to reduce the chances of future flood damage. Mitigation assistance may cover costs of relocation or costs for elevating or purchasing flood-damaged structures. Flood insurance may also provide up to $30,000 to protect a structure from future flood damage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Natural Resources work with local communities on floodplain ordinance enforcement to try to reduce the risk and costs of future flood damages.

Property owners and residents with flood-damaged buildings should contact their local building and zoning administrator for more information on repair and reconstruction permits.

For more information on floodplain management and flood insurance issues, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; or phone [phone], voice-TTY relay [phone] or TTY [phone].

[Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release]