1. When do I need a permit?

Virtually any man made change in a flood area requires a permit. A book put out by FEMA on this topic exempts some minor activities such as putting in a post for your mail box. A room addition for a house built in a flood area will require a permit. To re-roof a house in a flood area will not need a permit. A roof is generally above flood waters. The added on room cannot only be flooded it can displace flood water that will have to go some place else. If you have a question just contact the Lyon County Floodplain Manager or Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources.

2. How do I get a permit?

A free permit can be obtained from the Lyon County courthouse for many things. Lyon County is required to verify all proper state and federal permits are obtained before the county permit is issued. In many cases state and federal permits are not required. A pole barn for agriculture in a flood area may only need the free county permit. Building a house in a floodway area will require a permit from Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources and possibly the Corps of Engineers as well.

3. What is a FIRM?

FIRM is short for Flood Insurance Rate Map. These maps show all of the flood hazard areas and floodway areas in Lyon County. You can view these maps on the Internet or see them in room #205 of the county courthouse or at the Emporia Public Library.

4. What is the difference between a special flood hazard area and a floodway?

All of the floodplain areas in Lyon County are flood hazard areas. Some of the areas closer to larger streams and rivers are classified as floodways. Floodways usually have greater volume of water moving at a greater velocity. During a flood, the water in the floodway carries more debris. This is a more dangerous area and it is more heavily regulated. Any thing that impedes flow of water in a floodway can slow it down. By slowing down floodwaters, the floods will remain longer. This can also cause a rise in floodwaters upstream. The state allows the county some flexibility to issue permits on our own in some flood areas but not in floodways.

5. What special flood hazards do we have here in Lyon County?

With the Cottonwood, Neosho and Marais Des Cygnes Rivers, Lyon County is subject to riverine flooding. We have watershed dams in Lyon County that could breach. County zoning rules prohibit building downstream from a watershed dam. The Flint Hills topography makes this an area where flash floods can be a danger as well.

6. If I want to buy flood insurance how do I go about it?

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Many local agents can help you sign up for flood insurance. A list of insurance agents from the Emporia area who sell flood insurance can be obtained from Lyon County Floodplain Manager.

7. If I don’t want to buy flood insurance can I be forced to?

Flood insurance is a federally backed program. Most federally backed mortgages require flood insurance if a property is in a flood area. One option some people look at is a LOMA.

8. What is a LOMA?

LOMA stands for a Letter of Map Amendment. If a property is shown to be in a flood hazard area, you may be required to buy flood insurance. If you feel the map is in error because your house is on a hill and too high for floods to reach it you can try to have the map changed. A certificate of elevation for the lowest living floor area by a licensed surveyor will show if your house is above the flood area. Then another form called a LOMA is filled out requesting FEMA to change or amend the flood map.

9. What is a 100-year flood?

FEMA regulates to a level of a flood that has a one percent chance of happening each and every year. Those are the flood areas shown as “A” zones on our flood maps. Statistically such a flood can happen more often than once every 100 years. Terms used now are ‘base flood’ or ‘one percent (1%) annual chance flood’.

10. What is an A-zone?

FEMA’s FIRM maps show different flood zone areas on them. Numbered A zones have been studied and base flood elevations are determined. There are AE zones. AH and AO zones involve shallow flooding areas. B zones have only a 0.2 % annual chance of flooding. Zone C is the safest area of all. Some of our A zones have never been properly studied. Base flood elevations have not been determined for those unnumbered A zones.

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