The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, released new flood insurance rate maps for Dare County, including the Town of Duck. The preliminary maps, issued in the spring of 2005, were presented at local public hearings during the summer of 2005. An appeal or protest period ended in August 2005. The official maps became effective on September 20, 2006. The new maps will affect many property owners in terms of building new homes or additions in flood zones and will affect flood insurance rates.

FEMA regulations apply to all man-made activities in flood zones, from construction of buildings, pools, and fences to installation of driveways and patios. The majority of construction in Duck is impacted by these FEMA rules and a floodplain development permit is required for all development activities in flood zones to ensure compliance and to allow the Town of Duck to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes limited federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, whether they are in a floodplain or not.

Owners of property affected by flood map revisions should be aware of the NFIP’s “Grandfather Rules” (see Quick Reference link - page 4) under which flood insurance premiums for many properties can be determined based on the flood map in effect when a home was built, even though a new map places it in a higher risk flood zone. Owners should ask their insurance agents to look for the lowest cost option when rating their property since the adoption of the new flood maps.

Paper copies of the complete set of official maps for Duck are also available in the Town offices.