Floodplain Management Plan Overview
Floods are the most common hazards in the United States according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Providing residents with information on flooding hazards is the first step to helping prevent the loss of life, disruption, and damage caused by floods.
The City of Los Angeles maintains a Floodplain Management Plan (FMP). The program for developing a FMP is administered by FEMA, under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through their Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that encourages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Communities, such as the City of Los Angeles, to perform floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a reward, flood insurance premium rates within the Community are discounted to reflect the level of reduced flood risk resulting from the Community's activities.
The City of Los Angeles' participation in the CRS has resulted in its receiving a Class 7 rating. A Class 7 means that residents purchasing or renewing their flood insurance policies for properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area within the City of Los Angeles will receive a 15% discount on their flood insurance premium.
The City is conducting the required five-year update to the City’s 2025 FMP. The FMP is intended to:
Identify the City's known flood problem areas.
Establish goals, objectives, and policies and implementation programs to reduce flooding and flood related hazards.
Identify the natural and beneficial functions of our floodplains.
Support a reduction in flood insurance costs to those required to have flood insurance.
For more information, contact:
Chris DeMonbrun, Sr. Civil Engineer, Public Works,
Bureau of Engineering, Chris.Demonbrun@lacity.org