Flood Proofing Eligibility

Flood Proofing Methods

1.) Raise-in-place:   Raise a house at its existing location on an elevated foundation or piers. The existing footer and/or foundation may be used depending on its condition.

2.) Move on Site:   Due to structural reasons or excessive costs, a house may be moved to a higher location on the property which may require a lesser raise.

3.) Replacement:  When the Corps determines that a structure cannot be flood proofed due to structural deficiencies, the Corps may evaluate demolishing the house and replacing it with a new elevated house comparable in size to the existing one. The cost for the replacement option must be less than the cost of acquisition plus standard relocation benefits before it will be considered.

4.) Veneer Walls:  Construction of a waterproofed wall attached to the structure with sealed openings at all entrances. Normally, veneer walls requiring a height greater than four feet will not be considered. This option would generally be reserved for masonry structures in sound condition.

5.) Ringwall/Levee:   A ringwall or levee may be constructed to protect an individual structure or small group of structures depending on the topography of the site.

____________________OPTION____________________

Owner Replacement:    In lieu of having your existing house flood proofed, you may choose to replace it with a new flood proofed house. The new flood proofed house must met the flood proofing requirements set forth by the Corps of Engineers. The homeowner is responsible for all costs that exceed the Government offer. The Government offer is based on the cost associated with flood proofing of the existing structure. This option is not available once an "official" offer has been made for standard flood proofing.

Implementation of the Flood Proofing Program

1.) Sign up at Real Estate Field Office.

2.) Enviromental Compliance Inspection (Examine the structure for Asbestos/Sanitary Disposal System)

3.) Design Team Site Inspection.

4.) Guide Plans and Specifications (GPS) Preparation and Delivery.

5.) Contractor Solicitation by Homeowner

6.) Flood Proofing Agreement

7.) Construction

8.) Final Inspection

Step 1 - Voluntary Sign Up:  You will make a very important decision if you voluntarily sign up at the designated Real Estate Project Office to participate in the flood proofing program. But sign up is only the first step.

Step 2 - Enviromental Compliance Inspection: 
If you sign up, you agree to give the representative of the Corps the right to enter yor property to inspect your house for asbestos or other contaminants. A trained Corps representative will make this inspection. Also, a sanitary disposal system investigation will be performed to assure that your system is in compliance with Health Department Regulations. If it is not, the Government, will replace it with an acceptable one if the Health Department agrees and regulations can be met.

Step 3 - Design Team Site Inspection:  About the same time of the enviromental compliance inspection, a team consisting of Corps specialists will make a site inspection of your house to determine if it is structurally sound and can be raised. They will also determine whether there is an alternative method available for flood proofing your home, like those previously mentioned.

Step 4 - Guide Plans and Specifications Preparation and Delivery:  Once it has been determined your house Can be flood proofed and How that will be done, a set of Guide Plans and Specificaitons (GPS) will be prepared. The GPS will vary for each structure depending on such things as the height of raising your house, whether there is a basement, the condition of your foundation, and numerous other factors. The Corps representatives will visit with you and discuss your GPS and inform you that you must solicit construction proposals for the work required in the GPS.

At this meeting, you must fully understand the work to be done and agree to proceed or work will stop. However, it must be understood that the purpose is to flood proof the house and not to make improvements to the house at government expense. On the other hand, if you want to make improvements to your home, that don't interfere with the flood proofing conditions, you may do so at your own expense. You can work this out with your contractor at the proper time. Any additional work must be submitted with your construction proposals prior to execution of the Flood Proofing Agreements to ensure that it does not interfere with flood proofing conditions, and that it is clearly understood that any additional improvements are at your expense.

Step 5 - Contractor Solicitation by the Homeowner:  After accepting your GPS, you are required to obtain three cost proposals from a contractor of your choice. We require three or more proposals since it improves competition between contractors. Any contractor you select to give a proposal MUST be licensed by the State as required for the work to be done. You must furnish the proposals to the Huntington District Corps office as directed. Upon receipt, the contractor(s) proposals will then be compared to the Government's "fair and reasonable" cost estimate that has been prepared by the design team. The Government estimate has been prepared using information obtained from the contractors by Government auditors, actual quotes on materials from local suppliers and labor rates established for the area by the Department of Labor. Sometimes the contractor and design team may need to resolve differences and review specific details. An agreement is then reached on the contractor's proposal. If an agreement can not be reached, the homeowner may look for another contractor or agree to pay the difference required by the contractor's proposal. Failure to come to terms will result in all activities stopping.

Failure to come to terms will result in all activities stopping, but the Corps doesn't want this to happen. In the past, on several occasions the Corps design team met with the homeowner and contractor and have been able to resolve differences and successfully reach an agreement.

Step 6 - Flood Proofing Agreement:  Once the contractor's price is set, you will be asked to sign a standard flood proofing agreement with the Government. This agreement obligates the Corps of Engineers to pay reasonable and legitimate expenses associated with the flood proofing of your house in accordance with the guide plans and specifications. The Corps of Engineers is not obligated to conpensate homeowners for costs that exceed the stated amount. Further, the agreement obligates the homeowners to operate and maintain the flood proofing work, to refrain from the replacement of any habitable space in the flood zone within the structure, or construction of any structures on the property that would be subject to first floor damages in the event of a recurrence of the design flood. Additionally, the flood proofing agreement grants the local floodplain coordinator the right of access to the land, ensuring that the homeowner is complying with the said restrictions.

Step 7 - Construction:  After execution and acceptance of the Flood Proofing Agreement, the homeowner will give their contractor notice to proceed with construction. The contractor will then have two or three months to do the work and the homeowner and the Corps inspector will help to ensure the flood proofing is done right during construction. To protect your interests you will want to sign a construction contract between you and the contractor. The Corps encourages you to consider such things as contractor performance, insurance and bonding in your selection and contract agreement with the contractor. A copy of your contract must be provided to the Corps.

Step 8 - Final Inspection:  Upon completion of construction, a final inspection will be held with you, the contractor, the Corps and the local sponsor in attendance. At this time, the Government check made out to you and the contractor (and the bank if necessary) will be given to you. It is expected that the contractor will be paid at the final inspection, if all work is in accordance with the GPS.

Although you will be protected from a recurrence of the April 1977 flood, you should never stay in the house during any future floods. There could always be a bigger flood.

Further Information