In the APRIL NEWSLETTER we will ask, "What is a flood?". The Federal Emergency Management Agency, helping the public in the recovery from disasters since 1803, states that flooding can occur from overflow of inland or tidal waters, accumulation of surface runoff or mudflow. They state that Mitigation, activities to prevent flooding impacts, is the only true way of avoiding flooding emergencies.

Construction projects must be researched to determine if flood risks exist. FEMA maintains maps that show flood risk areas and actively promotes risk reduction programs and activities and disaster assistance. These maps, Flood Insurance Rate Maps, showing 100 and 500 year flood boundaries, base flood elevations and flood designation zones are available from FIRM and show city streets, streams, corporation lines and other features with illustrated 100 and 500 year flood limits. Based on these maps flood insurance can also be bought to protect your home and business from financial loss due to flooding.

An Elevation Certificate must be issued as part of the process to buy flood insurance. This certifies the elevation of the structures on the parcel, which then can be used by the insurance company to determine the cost of the policy.

WEB LINK of THE MONTH: http://www.fema.gov/hazards/floods/ Data on floods and other natural and man made hazards. Links to NOAA, fact sheets and historic flooding events.

As always, you can count on McSteen and Associates, a multi-faceted second-generation family business that has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1970 to help you better design your project. The McSteen & Associates Engineering and Surveying Departments will design a quality product, using the experience gathered over many years of dealing with government agencies, in a manner readily accepted by the City Councils, County Engineers Office and the Recorders Office. The management team consisting of Terry Feller, President and Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor, Tim Feller, Vice President and Registered Professional Surveyor and Debbie Feller CFO and Certified Public Accountant and the 62 employees in the offices in Cuyahoga, Lake, Summit, and Franklin counties will handle your project needs. A new office in western Cuyahoga County has recently been added to allow us to provide even more effective services. Local knowledge of the area, extensive records and experience with the area governments allows McSteen & Associates to go the extra mile to protect your investment.