Critical Facilities

Critical Facilities. Construction of new and substantially improved critical facilities shall be located outside the limits of the special flood hazard area (one percent chance floodplain). Construction of new critical facilities shall be permissible within the SFHA only if no feasible alternative site is available and access to the facilities remains available during a 0.2 percent chance flood. Critical facilities constructed within the SFHA shall have the lowest floor elevated three feet six inches above the base flood elevation at the site (or to the 0.2 percent chance flood elevation whichever is greater). Floodproofing and sealing measures must be implemented to ensure that toxic substances will not be displaced by or released into floodwaters. Multiple access routes, elevated to or above the 0.2 percent flood elevation, shall be provided to all critical facilities to the maximum extent possible. Critical facilities must not only be protected to or above the 0.2 percent chance flood but must remain operable during such an event. The community’s flood response plan must list facilities considered critical in a flood, since loss of access can cause a critical situation. Other facilities in low risk flood zones that may also be needed to support flood response efforts must be included on the critical facility list. The use of any structure shall not be changed to a critical facility, where such a change in use will render the new critical facility out of conformance with this section. The list of the operators of the critical facilities affected by flooding must be updated at least annually, as part of the community critical facility planning procedures. 3986829.1/00520.00006