16.15.050 Adoption of report and flood insurance rate map.
(1) The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance Administrator in a scientific and engineering report entitled “The Flood Insurance Study for King County, Washington, and Incorporated areas,” dated August 19, 2020, as amended, with the accompanying flood insurance rate maps (FIRM), as amended, are hereby adopted by reference as though fully set forth herein. The flood insurance study is on file at Covington City Hall. The best available information for flood hazard area identification as outlined in CMC 16.15.140 shall be the basis for regulation until a new FIRM is issued which incorporates the data utilized under said section.
(2) The Floodplain Administrator shall use the following for floodplain boundaries, regulatory floodway boundaries, and base flood elevations when determining a special flood hazard area:
(a) Flood insurance rate maps;
(b) Preliminary flood insurance rate maps, as long as the preliminary data is more restrictive than the effective FIRM;
(c) Letters of map amendment; and
(d) Letters of map revision.
(3) When regulating development in special flood hazard areas mapped on the FIRM, the Floodplain Administrator shall determine the base flood elevation for existing conditions using the following sources:
(a) Flood insurance rate maps;
(b) Flood insurance studies;
(c) Preliminary flood insurance rate maps, as long as the preliminary data is more restrictive than the effective FIRM;
(d) Preliminary flood insurance studies, as long as the preliminary data is more restrictive than the effective FIS;
(e) Letters of map amendment;
(f) Letters of map revision;
(g) Historical flood hazard information, as long as the historical data is more restrictive than the effective FIS and FIRM;
(h) Flood studies prepared and approved by a recognized governmental agency, such as FEMA, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Washington State, or King County; or
(i) Best available data, as determined by the Director, as long as the best available data is more restrictive than the effective FIS and FIRM. (Ord. 12-20 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 06-17 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 100-98 § 1)