Chapter 27 Flood Plain Management

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FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT § 27-1 CHAPTER 27 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT Article 1. Authorization. Section 27-1. Statutory authority. This chapter is enacted pursuant to the U.S. National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Public Laws 90-418 and 91-152), as amended, and the U.S. Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-234), as amended. In addition, the Legislature of the State of Hawai`i has in Hawai`i Revised Statutes 46-1.5(5), 46-1.5(14), 46-11, 46-11.5, and 46-12 conferred upon the various counties the authority to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry (1993, ord 93-78, sec 3; am 2007, ord 07-169, sec 3.) Section 27-2. Findings of fact. (a) The flood hazard areas of the County of Hawaii are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disruption of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all of which adversely affect the public health, safety and general welfare. (b) These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards which increase flood heights and velocities and, when inadequately anchored, cause damage to uses in other areas. Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated, or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. (1993, ord 93-78, sec 3.) Section 27-3. Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) To protect human life and health; To minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects; To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; To minimize prolonged business interruptions; To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard; To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas; 27-1