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FLOOD INSURANCE CONTINUED
<br />WHY A NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
<br />PROGRAM?
<br />Fat decades the nalional response to Ilood dis-
<br />asters was to build flood control works, dams,
<br />levees, somwNls, etc., as well as providodfsastar
<br />relief to flood victims. However, in Ilia lace at
<br />mounting flood losses. Congresscroatod the Na-
<br />lional Flood Insurance Program In 1968, The in.
<br />bell of the program westiis to reduce annual I"
<br />losses through more careful planning, that is by
<br />regulating construction within Ilood prone areas
<br />in return for providing property owners with af-
<br />fordable Ilead protection. 11 is estimated by the
<br />year 20DO the (load insurance program will save
<br />the American taxpayers and flood victims 1.7 bil-
<br />lion dollars a year.
<br />Blaine is located at Ilia headwaters at lour major
<br />drainage basins within the northern metropolitan
<br />area and, therefore, is not subject to'Iraditional
<br />down stream flooding'. Fwf iumme, in that
<br />there are no major rivers Iransversing the City, it
<br />is not anticipated any major flooding would over
<br />occur in Ilia City. However,'llooding'could lake
<br />place wnon high intensity rain storms occur,
<br />flooding shoals and causing small streams and
<br />low areas to fill up. This flash flooding could result
<br />in the lower levels of homes being inundated if
<br />they are located within areas hydrologically de-
<br />termined to be flood prone areas. (Hydrology is
<br />Ilia science at the distribution of water on land
<br />surfaces.)
<br />WHAT IS A FLOOD PRONE AREA?
<br />Any area subject to inundation on a periodic
<br />basis, that is having a 1% chance of being Inun-
<br />dated in anyone year, is flood prone. Over the life
<br />of a 30year mortgage, there is about one chance
<br />in lour (26%) that the defined level of (loading
<br />would occur in any given (load prone area. Most
<br />Blaine citizens would probably be surprised at
<br />the amount of land area in Blaine, largely unde.
<br />veloped, that Is designated flood prone.
<br />WHEN IS FLOOD INSURANCE REOUIRED
<br />BYLAW7
<br />In order to obtain financing to buy a building,
<br />build, or improve property located in an area de -
<br />signaled as being flood prone, flood insurance
<br />must be purchased. The law applies to any
<br />mortgage loan, grant, or other funding that is in
<br />any way federally connected. either direct Imanc-
<br />ino from a federal lucency IFHA, VA loans, EPA
<br />grants, etc.), or a conventional mortgage from a
<br />bank or savings and loan institution that is regu-
<br />lated or Insured by the Federal Government. In
<br />shod, flood insurance Is required if:
<br />1. AFederalEmorgencyMonagomenlAgancy
<br />flood map is in effect.
<br />2. The Improved property is located in a [load
<br />prone area, and
<br />3. The financing is through Ilia Federal Gov
<br />orient or a federally connected tender.
<br />All of these conditions exist within the City of
<br />Blaine; in shod, any building or structure located
<br />In a flood prone area is required to be insured.
<br />WHO DECIDES WHETHER FLOOD
<br />INSURANCE IS RECURRED?
<br />When the loan, grant, etc., Is directly from a Fad -
<br />oral agency, the agency itself must make Ilia do•
<br />cision. In Ilia case at a private Institution covered
<br />by Ilia act, tiro lender must decfdo. In certain
<br />cases, whine Ora landing institution is making a
<br />FI IA or VA loan. Ilia duties would be shared by
<br />both Ilia larding institution and [he Federal
<br />agency.
<br />HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT IF A PARTICULAR
<br />PARCEL OF LAND IS LOCATED IN A FLOOD
<br />PRONE AREA AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR FLOOD
<br />INSURANCE?
<br />The office of Community Development, City of
<br />Blaine, has all flood prone areas designated on a
<br />map located within City Hall. It you will call the Of
<br />lice of Community Development at 784-6700
<br />and idonlily the property in which you are inter•
<br />fisted, you will be told whether or not it is located
<br />within one of these flood prone areas. You can
<br />also call your local insurance company, or the
<br />Federal Emergency Management Agency at the
<br />toll free number of 1.800-424.8872. Flood Inuu•
<br />ante is riot required if no pal of a building is in the
<br />flood prone area.
<br />II you should question information you are given
<br />or, in the case of a loan, a requirement that you
<br />have load Insurance, Community Development
<br />can provide you assistance in research the
<br />issue.
<br />k POTPOURRI CownNUED
<br />1982, we received another loiter on the s..bjecl,
<br />this lime tram NSP. It read as follows:
<br />'These sales have created a hazard for us in
<br />that people post their 'notice of sale' on our
<br />utility, poles. Not only do these signs spoil the
<br />appearance of your community but they
<br />create a real danger for the men who climb
<br />these polos.
<br />When the sign is removed, the nails [hat held
<br />it are usually left in the pole, thus creating
<br />problems. II the climbing spur of a man on the
<br />pole contacts a nail head, the man could lose
<br />Iraclion and slide down the pole, resulting in
<br />possible serious Injury. Also, it a man was
<br />working on [he pole and an emergency
<br />should arise whereby he loses his balance
<br />and rapidly slides down the pole, he could be
<br />seriously injured by the protruding nails.
<br />We have instructed our people to remove
<br />these signs whenever they are working near
<br />a sign of INs type. We would also like to enlist
<br />your help in this matter and would appreciate
<br />it if you would inform the residents of your
<br />community of those dangers through your
<br />community news loiters.'
<br />Please be so Informed. Actually, garage, etc.
<br />sales signs are prohibited by City Code Soclton
<br />35.104(4)'Prohibited Spits -'Spn postings that
<br />are tacked or posted on Irefis, lances, utility
<br />posts, or other such supports.' However, it Is lob
<br />the ordinance was not meant to prevent advailis.
<br />ing garage sales. Further, the prohibition in such
<br />regard would be vary hard to enforce. Novorlho.
<br />less, there is a problem about which we ask your
<br />cooperation. Watch your method of advertising
<br />and remove the signs when the sale is over.
<br />Recreational Fires • Open Burning
<br />Leal, brush and (rash burning is not permitted
<br />within Ilia City. Recreational Gres for cooking
<br />food or personal enjoyment are permitted. While
<br />written permits are not required for a recreational
<br />lire, the fallowing procedures must be followed:
<br />Fire roust be small in size and on your property.
<br />Some means of extinguishing lire must be at
<br />hand, such as a bucket of water or con•
<br />necled water hose.
<br />Central Dispatch must be notified at 427.1212
<br />just prior to starting the lire. Please gNo your
<br />name. address, telephone number and
<br />approximate length at time you plan to burn.
<br />rite must be comp;atc", cxhnguishcd:.her, ea
<br />longer allanded.
<br />It you have any questions, plese call lira head•
<br />quartets of 786.4436.
<br />Peddling and Soliciting
<br />Peddlers and solicitors operating within the City
<br />must be licensed and cleared with the City. You
<br />may ask to see a Peddler's license if you are ap-
<br />proached to purchase wares at your home or on
<br />the street and you are encouraged to report any
<br />unlicensed peddlers to the Police Department
<br />Bicycle Thefts
<br />With the bicycling season upon us, it can be ex-
<br />pected that bicycle thefts will be Increasing. II is
<br />Important to have your bicycle licensed as an aid
<br />in recovering it in the event it is stolen. Bicycle
<br />licenses are available from Deputy Registrars,
<br />including any office from which vehicle licenses
<br />are available, and possibly some bicycle sales
<br />shops. The City does NOT Issue bicycle
<br />licenses. Bicycles slolan from within the City
<br />limits should be reported to the Blaine Police De.
<br />partment, Be sure to have readily availablr
<br />serial number and a good description of Ihi
<br />Unclaimed bikes are hold for a period of one`.. -
<br />and than sold at the July 41h auction.
<br />Conlinued Page 15
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