FAQs

Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risk of current and future flooding, resulting in a more resilient community. These measures take a variety of forms, are carried out by multiple stakeholders with a vested interest in responsible floodplain management, and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or building, building codes and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.

State and federal agencies, local communities and property owners have a role in reducing flood risk and helping communities become more resilient. From states providing strong model ordinances and communities adopting and enforcing higher-standard building practices to property owners elevating their homes, everyone can play a part in making communities safer and more resistant to flood disasters.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, enables homeowners, business owners and renters in participating communities to purchase federally backed flood insurance. This offers an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing flood damage to buildings and their contents. Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage.

Missoula County staff routinely works with its agency partners to monitor flood hazards, river depths and flood warnings. In adopting higher regulatory standards and working with partners for hazard mitigation projects, we participate in the Community Rating System. The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. That CRS benefit translates to a 15% countywide discount in flood insurance premiums.  

The Montana floodplain mapping program helps communities across the state identify flood risks. Identifying flood risk can help keep your home and local community safe from future flood events. Floodplain maps should be your go-to tool in learning about flood risks. Flood risks change over time, and floodplain maps will require periodic updates. It could be because of several things such as the age of the flood study, if there has been a lot of change or development in the area, or due to a flooding event. Flood studies now are done in collaboration with communities, DNRC and FEMA. Flood studies today use the best available data and technology. This includes high-accuracy topographic information, updated hydrologic data and modern engineering methods. Flood maps also help mortgage lenders determine insurance requirements and help communities develop strategies for reducing their risk.

Communities have an obligation to regulate the floodplain and enforce development standards as a condition for participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance and funding for other projects such as mitigation and recovery is made available by the federal government, and communities are charged with ensuring that development in the regulatory floodplain is in accordance with federal, state and local laws. The purpose of the Missoula County Floodplain Regulations is to promote public health, safety and general welfare, to minimize flood losses in areas subject to flood hazards and to promote wise use of the floodplain.

Flood insurance premium costs depend on a variety of factors. In 2021, FEMA implemented a new risk rating methodology called Risk Rating 2.0: Equity in Action (RR2.0). Lenders will typically reevaluate their loans to reassess flood risk when a new map goes into effect. If you own a building in a high-risk flood area and have a federally backed loan, your lender will require you to have flood insurance, because the flood maps indicate a high flood risk. FEMA’s new rating methodology, Risk Rating 2.0, considers specific characteristics of a building to provide a more modern, individualized and equitable flood insurance rate, based on where the structure is built, how it is built (building characteristics), and what is built and covered (replacement cost and coverage).