Flood Plain Ordinance passes

The Henry County Board of Supervisors officially passed the Henry County Flood Plain Ordinance.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put the ordinance guidelines and standers in place.

Its purpose is to protect and preserve the “rights, privileges, and property of Henry County and its residents and to preserve and improve peace, safety, health, welfare, and comfort and convenience of its residents by minimizing those flood losses.”

Henry County will look to reduce flood heights and flood flow by minimizing water flow.

Uses that are dangerous to health, safety, and property in times of flooding with be prohibited.

Properties must be protected against flooding at the time of their construction.

Structures can be built on the flood plain without elevation but must have a ventilation system to allow water to flow out of the building.

If the building is inhabited, it will have to be raised by at least one foot.

The ordinance will also allow Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to continue being collected by the county. Property owners will stay eligible to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

The ordinance in its entirety and additional information can be found on Henry County’s official website at https://henrycounty.iowa.gov.

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com