16.15.010 Purpose.
(1) The flood hazard areas of the City are subject to periodic inundation resulting 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.
(2) These flood losses may be caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in areas of special flood hazards which increase flood heights and velocities and, when inadequately anchored, damage uses in other areas. Uses that are inadequately floodproofed, elevated, or otherwise protected from flood damage also contribute to the flood loss. 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) To protect human life and health;
(b) To minimize the expenditure of public money and costly flood control projects;
(c) To minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and typically undertaken at the expense of the general public;
(d) To minimize prolonged business interruptions;
(e) To minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;
(f) To help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of special flood hazard areas so as to minimize future flood blight areas;
(g) To ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in an area of special flood hazard;
(h) To ensure that those who occupy special flood hazard areas assume responsibility for their actions;
(i) To qualify the City of Covington for participation and to maintain eligibility for flood insurance and disaster relief through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP);
(j) To maintain the quality of surface waters and protect the natural channel and floodplain processes and functions that provide habitat for threatened and endangered species; and
(k) To minimize loss of hydraulic, geomorphic, and ecological functions of natural watercourses and floodplains. (Ord. 12-20 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-17 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 100-98 § 1)