We are excited to announce that O’Brien County is a new participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Over the past few years, O’Brien County has been working through the steps to establish a new floodplain management program. The O’Brien County Board of Supervisors have approved an O’BRIEN COUNTY FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all lands and development within the jurisdiction of unincorporated O’Brien County which have significant flood hazards. The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for O’Brien County and Incorporated Areas, dated December 17, 2020, which were prepared as part of the O’Brien County Flood Insurance Study, shall be used to identify such flood hazard areas.
O’Brien County, IA – Flood plain Ordinance
Floodplain Development Application – O’Brien County, IA
The O’Brien County Environmental Health Specialist (Jonathon Hintz) will be overseeing the Floodplain Management Administrator duties.
O’Brien County Floodplain Management Administrator: Contact Information
O’Brien County Environmental Health
Jonathon Hintz
Environmental Health Specialist
155 South Hayes, PO Box 525
Primghar, IA 51245
Phone: 712.957.0105
Fax: 712.957.0115
Cell: 712.261.0661
Email: jhintz@obriencounty.iowa.gov
What is the NFIP?
More than 650 Iowa communities currently participate in the NFIP. To participate in the program, a community must adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances meant to reduce damage from future flood events. In exchange, the NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters and business owners in these communities. Community participation in the NFIP is voluntary, but there are many advantages to participating.
Flood insurance is intended to provide an alternative to disaster assistance and to reduce the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Flood damage is reduced by nearly $1 billion a year nationally through communities implementing sound floodplain management requirements and property owners purchasing flood insurance. Additionally, buildings constructed in compliance with NFIP and Iowa floodplain development standards suffer approximately 80% less damage annually than those not built in compliance
In addition to providing flood insurance and reducing flood damages through floodplain management regulations, the NFIP identifies and maps the nation’s floodplain. Mapping flood hazards areas creates broad-based awareness of flood hazards and provides the data needed for floodplain management programs and to actuarially rate new construction for flood insurance.
- The NFIP Program Description NFIP Program Description offers a more detailed overview and history of the program.
- Buying flood insurance is the best thing you can do to protect your home, your business, family and financial security.
National Flood Insurance Program Information
Floodsmart.gov: https://www.floodsmart.gov/
Iowa Department of Natural Resources – Floodplain Development Permit
(Permit and Environmental Review Management Tool – PERMT)