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Floodplain Map
View the floodplain maps here.
Floodplain Management
The City of Valley Center contains certain areas that are located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as determined by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA has published maps showing the SFHA within and around the City of Valley Center. These maps can be accessed on the following website: http://msc.fema.gov/portal. Once on this webpage, please follow the directions on how to make and print out your own copy of a FIRMette, which is a full-scale section of a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that you create yourself and shows the current SFHA boundaries in relation to any given property.
Flood Insurance
The City of Valley Center has been a member of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since 1977, which means that property owners within the City can buy flood insurance. The flood insurance is backed by FEMA. Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood-related losses.
The City of Valley Center also participates in the Community Rating System (CRS), which is administered by the NFIP. The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:
- Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
- Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
- Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
Currently, the City of Valley Center has a CRS rating of 7, which means that flood insurance policyholders receive a 15% discount on their premiums. For further information regarding purchasing flood insurance, help in finding an agent, or reading other flood facts, please visit: www.floodsmart.gov.
Flood Maps
The present floodplain maps for Valley Center were adopted on December 22, 2016. FEMA has recently finished updating the floodplain maps for Valley Center and all of Sedgwick County. The City adopted the new floodplain maps which are accessible to the public via the Sedgwick County GIS Online Mapping website: https://gismaps.sedgwickcounty.org/portal. Once on the website, find the map layers toolbar and click on the "Land Features" and "Flood Plain" boxes. For additional assistance with any questions regarding floodplains, please contact Community Development Director Kyle Fiedler at (316) 755-7310.
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Valley Center adopted the Region G Hazard Mitigation Plan on October 1, 2024 by Resolution 768-24. The plan can be viewed here.
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Additional Resources
The Valley Center Public Library has copies of educational documents regarding floodplain issues, including, but not limited to: FEMA Guide to Flood Maps, Floodplain Maps of the City of Valley Center, Answers to Questions About the National Flood Insurance Program, Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood prone House, Repairing Your Flooded Home, Protecting Floodplain Resources, Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage, Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding, Homeowners' Guide to Retrofitting and Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards.
Stream Gauge Data for Valley Center, KS
Here is a link to the USGS Stream Gauge at the Little Arkansas River located on the Main Street bridge, west of downtown Valley Center.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ks/nwis/uv?site_no=07144200
The stream gauge measures various aspects of the Little Arkansas River, including the depth of the river. When the gauge height chart reads 11.34 feet, then the Main Street bridge over the Little Arkansas River is in danger of flooding. Homes near this area should take precautions and drivers should not attempt to drive on flooded roads.
Example of the Stream Gauge Chart
When the gauge height reaches 11.34 feet, the Main Street bridge west of downtown is in danger of flooding.
Build Responsibly
Per the City’s Floodplain Management Ordinance (Ord. 1383-22), the City of Valley Center does not allow new construction or significant improvements to existing structures located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) without first obtaining a floodplain development permit. This permit can be downloaded from the City of Valley Center’s website or picked up from City Hall, 121 S. Meridian Ave., Valley Center, KS 67147. All floodplain development permits will be reviewed for approval by the Community Development Department and other City staff, including the City Engineer and Public Works Director. You can report illegal floodplain development by contacting the Community Development Department, either in person at City Hall or by calling (316) 755-7310.
Safety Tips
- Do not walk through flowing water. Six inches of moving water is enough to knock you off of your feet.
- Do not drive through a flooded area. Two feet of water will carry away most cars. One foot of water can displace 1,500 pounds of weight. If a car weighs less than 1,500 pounds it, can be floated off the road by a foot of water.
- Stay away from downed power lines and also electrical lines in your own home. Electrical current can travel through water.
- Watch for animals and snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in your home.
- Prepare an emergency kit in a portable container. Make it small enough to grab quickly and go. Suggested items for such a kit include portable radio, flashlight, spare batteries, spare car keys, spare pair of glasses, prescription medication, nonperishable food items, bottled water, first aid kit, blanket, list of important numbers, and copies of important papers. You can grab this and go in case of evacuation, or take it to the basement in case of a tornado. If the power goes out, the flashlight and radio will be great to have. If your water is shut off for repairs, the bottled water will come in handy.