Floodplain Management
This webpage is designed to educate and assist Carbondale Township Residents and Businesses in identifying flood hazard areas, mitigating against flood hazards risk and connecting to state and federal resources.
What is a flood?
A flood is when water overflows from a creek, storm water pipe, river or lake and flows onto land that is normally dry. Flooding can happen slowly over a long period of rain or it can happen in minutes like a Flash Flood.
What is a floodplain?
A floodplain or Special Flood Hazard Area is an area of land adjacent to a water resource such as a creek or river that is prone to flooding. The floodplain can generally be broken down into two sections, the Floodway and the 1% Flood Hazard area (formally known as the 100-year Floodplain).
Is my property in a floodplain?
Whenever you purchase a property or business it is important to determine if your property is in the Special Flood Hazard Area. This is important because being in the floodplain greatly increases your risk of flooding and could result in the need for flood insurance or improvements to prevent flooding damage.
To determine if your property is in the Special Flood Plain Hazard Area use the link to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Once you are on the webpage, enter your properties address and click search.
Floodplain Ordinance and Policies
Carbondale Township adopted its most current Floodplain Construction Ordinance on June 18, 2020. View Ordinance No.1-2020 (PDF).
Additional Resources & Information
- Flood Insurance Information
- Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference
- NOAA Flooding Information
- Manage Floodplain Risk
- State Resources
- Preparing for a Flood
- FEMA FIRM Map – the official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map
- Flood Factor – Evaluate your Risk
Agencies
State and Federal agencies overseeing flood prevention and protection activities are listed below: