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Portsmouth, Virginia, Code of Ordinances: PART II -CODE -Chapter 14.1 FLOOD PROTECTION EXHEBIT Chapter 14.1- Ft_OOD PROTECTION Sec. 14.1-1. -Purpose and Statutory Authorization. (a} StatutoryAuthorizafian j44 CFR 59.22(a)(2)J. This ordinance is adopted pursuant to the statutory authority granted to localities by Code of Virginia § 10.-604, et seq. (b) Findings of fact. The flood hazard areas of Portsmouth are subject to periodic inundation which results in loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, disrup#ion of commerce and governmental services, extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief, and impairment of the tax base, all which adversely affect the public health, safety, and general welfare. These flood losses are caused by the cumulative effect of obstructions in floodplains causing increases in flood heights and velocities, and by the occupancy in flood hazard areas by uses vulnerable to floods or hazardous to other lands which are inadequately elevated, flood-proofed, or otherwise protected from flood damages. Trends in tide data aver the last 100 years suggest that Portsmouth is facing an increased danger of flooding caused by both sea level rise and subsidence. The data also suggest that Portsmouth may experience a rise in base flood elevations greater than 4 feet in the next 100 years. (c} Statement of purpose. The purpose of these provisions is to reduce the loss of life and property; to reduce the creation of health and safety hazards; to reduce the disruption of commerce and governmental services; to reduce the extraordinary and unnecessary expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief; and to reduce the impairment of the tax base by: (1) Regulating uses, activities and development which, alone or in combination with other existing or future uses, activities and development, will cause damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights, velocities, and frequencies. {2) Restricting or prohibiting certain uses, activities and development from locating within districts subject to flooding. {3) Requiring all those uses, activities and developments that do occur in flood-prone districts to be protected andlor flood-proofed against flooding and flood damage. (4) Protecting individuals from buying land and structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood hazards. (5} Controlling the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers which are involved in the accommodation of flood waters. (6) Preventing or regulating the construction of flood barriers which will unnaturally diver# flood waters or which may increase flood hazards to other lands. Sec. 14.1-2. -Applicability. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all privately and publicly owned lands within the jurisdiction of the City of Portsmouth and (a} identified as areas of special flood hazard according to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM} that is provided to the City of Portsmouth by the Federal Emergency