Floodplain Management

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States; each year thousands of communities are negatively impacted by floods.  To reduce the impacts of flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) partners with communities to adopt floodplain management regulations.  Floodplains are FEMA designated areas of flooding hazard with a 1% chance of flooding in any given year; the term is also commonly referred to as the “100-year flood.”  Recommended regulations include the adoption of FEMA Flood Maps designating areas of Floodplain and development standards limiting development in the Floodplain.  

The City of Republic participates in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  Participation in the program requires adoption of both FEMA Flood Maps and certain regulations for development within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), also referred to as a Floodplain.  Our community’s participation in the NFIP, reduces the costs of flood insurance for homeowners, renters, and businesses, by adopting and enforcing floodplain management ordinances designed to reduce flooding risk.  

The Community Development Department is responsible for the adoption and enforcement of the City’s Floodplain Management Ordinance and FEMA’s Flood Maps (known as a FIRM or Flood Insurance Rate Map), reviewing and issuing Floodplain Development Permits, maintaining documentation and records of all floodplain activities, and providing resources and information relating to floodplain development within our community.  

The City of Republic’s Flood Maps and Floodplain Ordinance were adopted in late 2010; updates to both the Ordinance and Maps occur periodically.  The City’s Adopted Floodplain Maps may be found at our Community Map Gallery.

In May 2019, FEMA released new Preliminary Flood Maps for Greene County.  These maps are currently available for public review and comment and may be accessed through the following links:


The Public has an opportunity to provide feedback on the Preliminary FIRMs for our community.  Additional information regarding this process can be found on our Flood Maps and Resources pages.