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Portsmouth, Virginia, Code of Ordinances: PART p -CODE -Chapter 14.1 FLOOD PROTECTION Existing construction means structures for which the start of construction commenced before the effective date of the most recent FIRM (August 3, 2015}. "Existing construction" may also be referred to as "existing structures." Flood or Flooding means: {1 } A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: a. The overflow of inland or tidal waters; b. The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or c. Mudflows which are proximately caused by flooding as defined in paragraph b. of this section and are akin to a river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current. (2} The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result or erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels ar suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in subsection (1} of this section. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM} An officio! map of the City on which FEMA has delineated both the special flood hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. A FIRM that has been made available digitally is called a Digital Flood insurance Rate Map (DFIRM}. Flood Insurance Study (F1SJ means a report by FEMA that examines, evaluates, and determines flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an examination, evaluation, and determination of mudflow and flood-related erasion hazards. Floodplain means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source and subject to special restrictions as defned in section 14.1-10 and 14.1-11. Floodprone area means any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source. Ftoodpraaring means any combination of structural and non-structural additions, changes, or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water, and sanitary facilities, structures, and their contents. Floodway means the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more #han a designated height. Freeboard means a factor of safety usually expressed in feet above the base flood elevation for purposes of floodplain management. "Freeboard" tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that 4