Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Floodplain Management Program aims to prevent loss of life, reduce property damage, and protect our beneficial floodplains. Created in 1987 through a consolidation and transfer of all flood-related state programs to DCR (10.1-602ct), the program manages Virginia’s flood hazards and serves as the designated coordinating agency for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
DCR’s Floodplain Management Program collaborates across localities, state agencies and the federal government to provide technical assistance and educational outreach. We can also help individual property owners, engineers, developers, realtors and insurance agents with questions on flood maps, ordinances or construction methods, and provide workshops to professional groups.
DCR staff assists local floodplain administrators with review of floodplain ordinances, permit processes, flood maps and mitigation projects. This includes workshops on the use of Virginia Flood Risk Information System, joining the NFIP’s Community Rating System, and incorporating floodplain management principles into community planning. (For more information on upcoming training sessions, visit the Dam Safety and Floodplain Management Calendar.)
At the state level, DCR works closely with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), home of the Commonwealth’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which funds acquisition and elevation projects, infrastructure protection measures and updates to regional hazard mitigation plans. DCR and VDEM meet regularly to coordinate flood management goals and share information on flood events. Other Virginia agencies in close contact with DCR include the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Department of Transportation (VDOT).
The Floodplain Management Program’s primary federal partner is FEMA, the administrator of the NFIP. This ensures that our floodplain staff are up to date on current policy and guidance. DCR shares this information with localities across the Commonwealth, serving as a liaison between community leaders and FEMA officials.
Additional federal partners include the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), The National Weather Service (NOAA NWS), US Geological Survey (USGS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Representatives of these agencies, both state and federal, team up to form the Virginia Silver Jackets, dedicated to reducing flood hazards in the state.
Flood insurance is primarily available to property owners through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. Policies are only available in localities that actively manage their floodplains through participation in the NFIP. 291 Virginia NFIP communities have adopted and enforced special floodplain management ordinances to regulate and protect development in riverine, lacustrine (lake) and coastal areas prone to flooding. For more information, visit www.FloodSmart.gov.
If a community is not enforcing its floodplain ordinance in compliance with the NFIP, it can be placed on probation or be suspended from the program. If a community is placed on probation, all policyholders will incur a surcharge in addition to their regular premium until the community corrects the deficiencies. No new policies will be issued in suspended communities, and current policies will not be renewed, leaving at-risk floodplain residents and businesses without coverage. This can impact federally-backed mortgages and some forms of FEMA disaster aid. DCR staff works with communities to help them maintain compliance and encourage communities to join the program.
All NFIP communities can reduce the cost of policyholder premiums by participating in the Community Rating System (CRS). This program awards points to communities implementing flood protection measures beyond the NFIP requirements. These include higher regulatory standards, open space preservation, flood warning systems and public awareness campaigns.
Use DCR's Local Floodplain Management Directory to see if your community participates in the NFIP or CRS.
The DSIS Floodplain Module Access Form provides access to the Dam Safety Information System application, which enables users to access floodplain management-related information about Virginia communities. Depending on the level of access granted, users may use DSIS to view, edit, download, upload and enter information related to their communities' floodplain activities. Any member of the public may also apply for read-only access to information. Click the link below to access the form.
Stay informed about floodplain management by signing up for our quarterly newsletter!
Contact Floodplain Management at FloodplainMgmt@dcr.virginia.gov
