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Flood Protection and Management Program
Areas within Monroe that are located along the Skykomish River, Lake Tye, and other local streams can be prone to flooding. High water and flooding most commonly occur from October through April during times of heavy rainfall and rapid snow melt. Flooding conditions typically occur when rainfall exceeds about 4-inches in a 24-hour period paired with a saturated ground from prior rain events. Floods impact both commercial and residential areas and can cause significant damage to a property. Flooding also tends to occur in the same areas year after year due to a properties location within or near a flood plain.
Flood management efforts
Monroe actively participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA). The NFIP was established by Congress in 1968 as a part of the National Flood Insurance Act. The program enables property owners and renters in participating communities to to purchase insurance against flood losses in exchange for those communities adopting and enforcing regulations to reduce flood damage.
Ways we manage flooding and reduce flood hazards through our Flood Protection and Management Program include:
- Adopting city regulations that support floodplain management and protection.
- Participating in FEMA's Community Rating System which results in a 25% discount on flood insurance for property owners.
- Investing in our stormwater system by inspecting, installing, maintaining, and repairing our pipes, catch basins, ditch lines, and stormwater ponds.
- Maintaining mapping data to better manage floodplain hazard areas.
- Educating the community on potential flood hazards and ways they can be prepared for flooding.
- Encouraging property owners to flood proof homes and purchase flood insurance.
- Purchasing open space in floodplains to preserve undeveloped land.
- Ensuring any development activity in the SFHA is built to specific standards.
Flood insurance
Flood insurance is required on a property if the owner gets federally-backed financing to buy, build, or improve a structure in a 100-year flood plain. Lending institutions that are federally regulated or federally insured must determine the structure is located in 100-year floodplain (also commonly referred to as a Special Floodplain Hazard Area or SFHA).
In addition to insuring structures, flood insurance can also insure building contents for both owners and renters. The federal government subsidizes flood insurance to make it more affordable. To learn more about flood insurance, please visit FEMA's Flood Smart webpage at: https://www.floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance-provider.
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