FEMA flood zone rules in Fort Smith, AR — also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules — determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.
Fort Smith participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and enforces a flood damage prevention ordinance under Arkansas's Flood Loss Prevention statute (A.C.A. 14-268-101 et seq.). The Arkansas River and tributaries including Massard Creek, Mill Creek, and Vache Grasse Creek create significant Special Flood Hazard Areas, as shown by the record 40.26-foot 2019 Arkansas River flood.
Fort Smith regulates development in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas through a local flood damage prevention ordinance adopted under the Arkansas Flood Loss Prevention Act (A.C.A. 14-268-101 et seq.), which requires every participating community to designate a floodplain administrator (A.C.A. 14-268-106). The city's identified floodplain follows FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Sebastian County and Crawford County and includes the Arkansas River and major tributaries: Massard Creek, Mill Creek, Vache Grasse Creek, Lee Creek, and others. The 2019 Arkansas River flood crested at 40.26 feet on May 29 (flood stage 22 feet), the highest level on record, damaging more than 500 homes and businesses, disabling 12 pump stations, and triggering FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement. New construction and substantial improvements in SFHAs require a floodplain development permit and elevation at or above base flood elevation.
Building, filling, or substantially improving in an SFHA without a floodplain development permit violates the city ordinance and Arkansas law. FEMA can suspend Fort Smith from the NFIP, eliminating federally backed flood insurance citywide and triggering mandatory loan call-ins.
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