As a County which is bordered by two major rivers and comprised of complex topography, we share a legacy of floodplain and drainage issues. Flooding can occur from Ohio River flooding, Licking River flooding, flash flooding from interior creeks / streams, and from overloaded storm systems. Campbell County along with the cities of Alexandria, Bellevue, California, Cold Spring, Dayton, Fort Thomas, Highland heights, Melbourne, Mentor, Newport, Siler Grove, Southgate, Wilder and Woodlawn participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Campbell County Planning office assists the zoning administrators for each of these communities with the administration of both the National Flood Insurance Program and Floodplain Management Program.
Campbell County Planning maintains the current and historical Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), Flood Insurance Study (FIS), Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) and Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA). We regularly assist property owners, surveyors and insurance agents with determining the proximity to flood hazard areas including the floodplain and floodway. We can provide FIRM community number, FIRM panel number, FIRM suffix, FIRM index date, and elevation datum. In many cases, we are able to estimate the ground contour levels as compared to the base flood elevation. Additional data is also available concerning flood inundation and designated wetlands areas.
The flood hazard zones for parcels within Campbell County are available through the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) and our regional mapping system (www.LinkGIS.org).
To encourage communities to establish sound floodplain management programs that go beyond the NFIP minimum requirements, in 1990 the Community Rating System (CRS) was created by FEMA. Unincorporated Campbell County, Melbourne, Silver Grove, Southgate and Woodlawn are participants in this program, which awards residents in the community with a discount on flood insurance premiums.
All new buildings, and substantial improvements to existing buildings, within the special flood hazard areas require floodplain permitting regardless of the community or zone. Our office is able to assist with the local and Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) permitting process. We retain copies of elevation certificates with the building permit and have them available upon request. We also maintain an extensive library of free flood related periodicals in office and the City buildings of Silver Grove and Melbourne.
Should you have questions or need information, please contact us (859) 292-3880 or pzadmin@campbellcountyky.gov. You can also visit us at 1098 Monmouth Street, Suite 343, Newport, Kentucky, 41071.
