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OTHER QUESTIONS:
FLOOD ANSWERS: Do
I live in a flood hazard area? The Flood Control District maintains a series of FEMA floodplain and floodway maps which identify those areas (special flood hazard areas) which would be inundated by flood waters during a 100-year flood, an event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. You can determine if you are in a federally designated flood prone area by requesting a flood hazard determination from the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. There is a $25.00 dollar charge for this service I
want to receive a floodplain map from FEMA. Can I get it online? You can view floodplain data in the FEMA Map Service Center online at fema.gov. You can call and order floodplain maps in the U.S. by calling toll-free 1-800-358-9616. How
can I obtain information about flooding and safeguarding my property? The Flood Control District has a number of free publications made available to the public. We recently published the "Homeowner's Guide to Flood Prevention and Response" which contains many ideas for safeguarding your property from flooding and to minimize damage. Click here to view the document. We also have publications prepared by FEMA, the State of California, and other agencies responsible for providing flood prevention information. What
is the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning? The following is a list of definitions commonly used by the National Weather Service. See the following website for information regarding weather in your area: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov Advisory (Abbrev. ADVY) - Highlights special weather conditions that are less serious than a warning. They are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property. Report - A weather report is a statement of the actual weather conditions observed at a specific time at a specific site Severe Weather Statement - A National Weather Service product which provides follow up information on severe weather conditions (severe thunderstorm or tornadoes) which have occurred or are currently occurring. Warning - A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. Watch - A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. Generally speaking, what are the primary concerns of the various Santa Barbara County watersheds? South Coast - South Coast Watersheds are steep and have short times of concentration. Conditions may change rapidly with high intensity rain, particularly with wet watersheds. Santa Ynez River - Significant flooding is generally not a concern until seasonal rainfall exceeds 15 inches in the upper watershed and Cachuma Lake is full. Santa Maria River (which includes the Sisquoc and Cuyama watersheds) - The levee protecting the City of Santa Maria and surrounding area is a concern at flows as low as 4,500 cfs. Cuyama River - Primary concern is washout of Highway 166.
SANDBAGS: Sand and bags are available from many local hardware and building supply stores. Sand and bags are made available to the public by the County and many Cities during periods of extreme flooding conditions. Residents are urged not to wait for sand and bags from the County as timing of availability is uncertain. Sandbags are best when half filled with sand. The filled bags should offset other bags. See the following website for more information: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/readiness/sandbags_t.htm.
BANK EROSION: How
do I prevent erosion of creek banks on my property? Certain methods of bank stabilization can help to slow erosion during periods of high flows. These include planting fast growing native vegetation, the addition of tree revetments, geotextiles, and other bio-technical strategies discussed in the County's publication, "Santa Barbara County Creek Care Guide." Call 568-3440 to obtain a free copy. What can I do if the creek bank on my property is already eroding? In general, creek banks are usually located on private property and bank erosion is a natural process. To help stop erosion, property owners can try to establish fast growing native vegetation. In some extreme instances, a hardened treatment such as a wall or rock slope protection may be sought, although these applications can be expensive. Also, permits from the State Fish and Game Department, as well as the City or County may be needed. In these extreme cases, professional engineering assistance is recommended from a local civil engineer. The County is not responsible for any erosion that occurs on private property and therefore not responsible for repairs of any such erosion.
TREES: If
a tree falls on my property who will remove it? Frequently, the County will remove trees that have fallen in a creek channel, typically in urban areas and that have a potential to cause flooding problems. Many trees fall before, during, and after storm events. However, only trees that are determined to be a potential flood threat and under County jurisdiction will be considered for removal by the County. If
a tree falls near a creek, or falls from a creek onto my property, will
the County remove it? The County is not responsible for removing fallen trees located on private property. Most trees are located on private property and are therefore considered private property. To determine the owner of a fallen tree you can contact the County Surveyor's Office to view available maps. If
the County has an easement does that make a difference? In general, no. Easements do not transfer property ownership. In general, an easement grants specific rights, for example, access, or the right to remove material from the channel. Will
my insurance cover the cost of tree removal? You should contact your insurance agent for coverage information.
FLOOD INSURANCE: You may need flood insurance if you are located in a flood-prone area. Nine out of every ten disasters in California involves flooding. In the life of a 30-year mortgage, a home located in a special flood hazard area has a 1% chance of being destroyed by fire, but a 26% chance of being destroyed by a flood. That is, such a home is 26 times as likely to be destroyed by flooding than by fire. In 1979, Santa Barbara County became a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and federal flood insurance became available to residents of the county. Without federal flood insurance, recovery from flood damage to your home is usually unavailable due to the increased risk to private insurance companies. As a condition of NFIP, the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District adopted Floodplain Management Ordinances that meet, and in some instances exceed, the Federal requirements for development in flood-prone areas. Federal law requires lending institutions to secure home loans with flood insurance for those homes located within special flood hazard areas. Subsequently, these lending institutions pass the requirement for flood insurance onto the homebuyer. Flood insurance requirements can also be triggered by refinancing a loan on flood-prone property. In most cases, you are notified by your lending institution that your home or the property is located within a special flood hazard area. At that time, you may need to obtain flood insurance or the lender can "force place" insurance on your loan (usually at the highest premium for maximum coverage). In most cases, the Flood Control District can inform you of whether of not your property is required to carry flood insurance for a fee of $20. District staff utilizes accurate topo maps, aerial photos, and other resources to make this determination. Flood Maps are available for inspection at the Flood Control and Water Conservation District Office located at 123 E. Anapamu St., in downtown Santa Barbara. How
do I obtain flood insurance? Call your local, licensed casualty or property insurance agent, or the National Flood Insurance Hotline at 1-800-427-4661. You can also visit their website at: http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/ How
much does flood insurance cost? The cost of flood insurance varies based on the age of the structure and the height above (or below) the flood level. The average flood insurance premium is about $900.00 a year. If your home was constructed prior to the date that the county became a participating member of the National Flood Insurance Program (Mar. 17, 1979, also called Pre-FIRM), your flood insurance premium would be subsidized by the Federal Government. If the home was built after that date (Post-FIRM) then flood insurance premiums will be based on actuarial risk. For example; a Post FIRM structure with a floor elevation two feet above the base flood elevation will have a yearly premium of about $345.00 if the floor elevation is two feet below the base flood elevation, the premium would be about $7500.00. The yearly premium of a PreFIRM structure would be about $715.00 regardless of how high or low the floor elevation is. Flood insurance rates for Zone X areas (areas out of flood plain) are sometimes higher than rates for Zone A areas (areas in floodplain). the reason for this is because the federal government pays more claims to people in these areas. However, there is now a preferred risk policy available with very low rates. Can
I be insured for flood damage right away? There is a 30-day waiting period for effective coverage except for initial purchase of flood insurance when one makes, increases, renews or extends a Federally insured loan or if a structure is placed into a SFHA (Special Flood Hazard Area) after a map change. If
I have flood insurance and my home is destroyed by mudflow and debris,
am I still covered? Yes, if the event meets the criteria in your federal flood insurance policy: ".... mudslide i.e.: mudflow caused by flooding, as defined in subparagraph A2. Subparagraph A2: The unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, or akin to a river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas." If you have flood insurance, and your home is partially or completely destroyed and you need to make a claim, photos of the event (from a safe distance) can help expedite your claim.
OTHER ANSWERS: Where
can I get information on rainfall, reservoirs, and rivers? The Hydrology Section maintains a website for information on rainfall for many locations throughout Santa Barbara County. The website also discusses water storage in the county's major reservoirs, information on Santa Ynez River flows and flood history, and other technical data related to precipitation and runoff. Where
can I find information about my water bill? Although the County Water Agency conducts water management studies and provides public information on water, it does not sell water. For information about your water service or your water bill, please contact your local water district. Check your water bill for this information or use the list below. Carpinteria Valley
Water District 684-2816 How can I save money on my water bill? The County Water Agency and your water providers offer many water conservation programs that can help you to save water and money.Go to the water conservation webpage at www.sbwater.org to find information on efficient landscape watering, tips on saving water and available rebate programs for businesses. How can I report water pollution? To report illegal dumping or water pollution in storm drains, creeks or the ocean, call the county-wide water quality hotline at 1-877-OUR-OCEAN (1-877-687-6232) How
can I get the quality of my water tested? All water purveyors are required by state law to provide information on the quality of the water they serve. This information is mailed annually to all water customers. If you would like a copy of the most recent water quality report from your water purveyor, please call the appropriate purveyor listed above. If you would like your tap or well water tested by an independent laboratory, check the yellow pages of the phone book under "Laboratories." I
have a well on my property. How can I find out historical groundwater
levels for my area? The County Water Agency measures water levels in test wells throughout the county on an annual basis. This information is contained in the Santa Barbara County Groundwater Resources Report. For a copy of the report or for specific questions about groundwater levels, please call 568-3543. My
daughter is writing a report on water resources in the county. Where can
she get information? The Water Agency publishes
information sheets that provide information on water resources in the
county. Fact sheets include information on reservoirs, groundwater, desalination,
the State Water Project, water recycling, water treatment, water efficiency,
cloud seeding, and water demand. For more information, please call 568-3545
or email: For more information, or to request a flood hazard determination, contact the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District at 805-568-3440 or write to: Santa Barbara County
Flood Control and
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