FAQs

The National Flood Insurance Program, 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. There are now more than 20,600 participating communities across the United States and its territories.

Please make an appointment with Matt Heimel, Missoula County Floodplain Administrator, to review your project details and timeline.  

On Aug. 28, 2023, Missoula County adopted amendments to the floodplain regulations to reference updated floodplain mapping for the Clearwater River. This second phase of amendments is for the state model ordinance format, including changes to definitions and regulatory language.  

Development standards for permitted uses can be found in Sections 9 and 10 of the updated regulations. Please contact Floodplain Administrator Matt Heimel with any specific questions about regulation changes.

No, the updated regulations are solely for the County’s compliance with state and federal law and do not reflect new floodplain mapping.  

These changes do not affect your current use in the floodplain. However, you should know that federal flood insurance is available, and there are measures you can take for reasonable protection from flooding. Please contact Floodplain Administrator Matt Heimel to discuss living in the floodplain.

Missoula County does not set rates or policy coverage. The regulations will not affect your rates. However, please speak with your insurance agent to understand the factors for your premiums.  

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 standard 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.