1. Flood risk, hazard mitigation, and flood insurance information: http://www.floodsmart.gov
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency website for information about all disasters, floods and mappings, and emergency management: www.fema.gov
3. Local, real time gage monitoring -  The ALERT System | MHFD's Real-Time Flood Detection & Prediction 

1. Mile High Flood District - open channels and their natural functions: https://mhfd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/08_Open-Channels.pdf 
2. Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority -  regulation 72 Guidance Document including discussion on stream preservation areas (Chapter VI), here: https://www.cherrycreekbasin.org/files/7d48e6edd/CCBWQA-CONTROL-REGULATION-72-STORMWATER-PERMIT-REQUIREMENTS-GUIDANCE-DOCUMENT.pdf 
3. FEMA - benefits of natural floodplains https://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management/wildlife-conservation/benefits-natural

1. [Federal] Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 44 for FEMA Requirements
2. [Colorado] Colorado Water Conservation Board
3. [Colorado] Rules and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado 
4. [Arapahoe County] Arapahoe County Stormwater Management Manual – Chapter 5 Floodplain
5. [Arapahoe County] Arapahoe County Land Development Code – Section 4-3 Floodplain Management
6. [City of Centennial] SEMSWA Stormwater Management Manual – Chapter 5 Floodplain
7. [City of Centennial] City of Centennial Land Development Code – See Article 7 Open Space, Floodplain Management, and Environmental Quality

1. Flood insurance is mandatory for buildings in FEMA-identified high-risk flood areas, which are called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). This requirement applies to buildings located in SFHAs on FEMA’s flood maps, including manufactured (mobile) homes and commercial buildings. Whenever you make, increase, extend, or renew a mortgage, home equity, home improvement, commercial, or farm credit loan in an SFHA, you must require flood insurance. You may require flood insurance on all loans, even those outside SFHAs.
2. You must ensure that flood insurance coverage is maintained for the term of all the loans on a building. Escrowing flood insurance premiums can help you meet this requirement, and it helps protect you and your borrowers from uninsured flood losses.
3. Flood zone determinations are required to establish whether a building is located in an SFHA. Document your findings on the required Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form (SFHDF). The SFHDF is available on the FEMA website.
4. Know the amount of flood insurance coverage to require. The required coverage is the lesser of one of the following:
   -The maximum amount of NFIP flood insurance coverage available
   -The outstanding principal balance of the loan
   -The value of the building only. (Land values are not covered under the NFIP.)
5. You must notify borrowers in writing of the requirement to buy flood insurance for new and existing loans. New Loans: if you determine that a home or business is in an SFHA before loan closing, you are required to notify the borrower within a reasonable time (defined by Federal regulation as at least 10 days) prior to the loan closing. Existing Loans: if you determine that an existing loan for a home or business is in an SFHA, you are also required to notify the borrower within a reasonable time. The law provides for force placement of flood insurance 45 days after the borrower is notified of deficient flood insurance coverage. The NFIP’s Mortgage Portfolio Protection Program (MPPP) helps you force place flood insurance when necessary.
6. The law requires you to escrow flood insurance premiums for homes in SFHAs when taxes, other forms of insurance, or any other payments are escrowed. Consider escrowing flood insurance premiums for all loans, including loans on non-residential improved real estate to help maintain flood coverage.
7. There is no waiting period for flood insurance to go into effect when it is purchased in connection with making, increasing, renewing, or extending a loan. In most other instances, there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect. For more information about the waiting period and its exceptions, contact FEMA’s Region 8’s NFIP Coordinator, Norm Ashford.
8. Notify the insurance company or agent when the lender or servicer of a loan changes. Notification of a change of lender or servicer must be within 60 days after the effective date of the change.
9. For more information about the mandatory purchase of flood insurance requirements, and other related topics, contact FEMA’s Region 8’s NFIP Coordinator, Norm Ashford.
10. Flood insurance and the mandatory purchase laws help protect your investments, as well as your borrowers, against uninsured flood losses. Floods happen all over the country. Make sure you and your borrowers are protected from uninsured flood losses for their homes, businesses, and belongings by following these requirements. It is just good business.

1. Almost every building in a participating community can be covered by flood insurance. You can sell federally-backed flood insurance to any resident or property owner in a community that participates in the NFIP.

• It doesn’t matter if the property is in the floodplain or not. Almost everyone in the community qualifies for flood insurance coverage and nearly every community throughout the United States participates. Encourage policyholders to insure to value and to buy contents coverage.

2. There is an easy way to write flood insurance policy for low to moderate flood risk areas. We offer an easy-to-write, low-cost flood insurance policy for people in low-to-moderate flood risk areas.

• One option combines structure and contents coverage in one. It’s perfect for people located in B, C, and X zones where 20-25% of all flood insurance claims occur.

3. Coverage is available for both the structure and its contents.

• Single family residences can be covered for up to $250,000 on the structure and $100,000 on the contents.
• Commercial structures can be insured to a limit of $500,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents.

4. Flood insurance is easy to rate with software.

• Several companies have developed flood insurance rating software to save you time, money, and office space.

5. Credit cards are accepted.

• Flood insurance premiums are easier to pay using major credit cards. Check with your WYO Company.

6. Provisional rating makes it easier for you to sell flood insurance.

• Provisional rating makes coverage available before the elevation certificate is complete.

7. Contact SEMSWA (303) 858-8844 for elevation information.

• Both unincorporated Arapahoe County and the City of Centennial participate in the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS). SEMSWA maintains elevation information on structures. Both CRS communities earn premium discounts!

8. NFIP policies cover many basement elements.

• Basement coverage includes cleanup expense and items such as furnaces, water heaters, washers and dryers, air conditioners, freezers, utility connections, and pumps.
• Basement coverage does not include the contents of a finished basement and improvements, such as finished walls, floors, and ceilings.

9. Federal disaster loans and grants will require the purchase of flood insurance.

• Federal disaster assistance declarations are awarded in less than 50% of flooding incidents. The annual premium for an NFIP policy is less expensive than interest on Federal disaster loans. Wouldn’t it be better for your clients to be insured before the loss occurs?

10. Buy now! There is a 30-day waiting period.

• If the initial purchase of flood insurance is in connection with the making, increasing, extending or renewing of a loan, there is no waiting period.
• If the initial purchase of flood insurance is made during the 13-month period following the issuance of a revised flood map for a community, there is one-day waiting period. There is also an exception on the waiting period for post wildfire floods.

It is not just high-risk areas that are flooded. On average, 25-30 percent of all flood insurance claims come from medium or low-risk flood areas. Relying on Federal disaster assistance is not the answer. Federal disaster assistance is only available if the President declares a state of disaster. Even then, disaster assistance is often a loan that must be repaid with interest, in addition to mortgages, other loans, and credit card debts. Advise your client that flood insurance pays even if a disaster is not declared.

Anyone in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can purchase building and/or contents coverage, with a few exceptions. Buildings principally below ground or entirely over water are not eligible for NFIP flood insurance. Both the City of Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County participate in the NFIP.

These are the areas with the highest risk for flooding, shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps as Zones A or V. Over a 30-year mortgage, homes in these zones have a 26-percent chance of being flooded. 

Lenders will notify borrowers if flood insurance is required as a condition of the mortgage loan (National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994). Check with SEMSWA or visit www.floodsmart.gov to evaluate your flood risk. Copies of flood hazard maps can be downloaded at http://msc.fema.gov. Or visit our Determine if a Property is in the Floodplain page.

Yes. Colorado has a disclosure laws for real estate professionals that address all natural hazards, including flood.