Floodplain Information

About Us

The City of Harrisburg has a long history with our waterfront along both the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek; a connection that has complemented (by enabling and supporting industry and recreation) and complicated (major flooding events) development in the city. In order to improve its management of these natural resources and their adjacent land – what is known as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or the 100-Year Floodplain – the City entered the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) program.

In exchange for voluntarily managing development in the SFHA in excess of the minimum NFIP requirements, owners of property in the floodplain receive discounts on their flood insurance. Currently, the City of Harrisburg is a Level 6 community, meaning property owners in the 100-Year (AE, A & AO zones) floodplain receive a 20% discount on their flood insurance, and owners of property in the 500-Year (Zone X) floodplain receive a 10% discount on their flood insurance.

Services

Documentation and services available to the general public include:

• Elevation Certificates (EC), if on file
• Letter of Map Amendment – Change (LOMC)
• Floodplain Development Permit Application
• Zoning Verification Letters identifying relation of property to SFHA, including: Specific category (AE, A, AO, or Zone X), Base Flood Elevation (BFE), the level of a 100-Year flood event, and Flood depth
• Brochures and pamphlets: In The Event of a Flood: Tips to Reduce Loss & Damage, Flood Facts, Flood Safety Tips, You Are in the Floodplain: A Guide, NFIP CRS Brochure, CRS Fact Sheet, Know Your Flood Stage: Silver Jackets Flood Inundation
• Information on the City’s High Water Mark Initiative

Resources

Additionally, the City coordinates with a number of different agencies at the local, regional, State, and federal level to provide current information in regards to flooding, extreme weather events, and river basin tracking.  Many of the tools available from the following organizations track real-time measurements of local river basins, including the Susquehanna River:

• The Susquehanna River Basin Commission
• The Susquehanna Flood Forecast & Warning System
• The Silver Jackets Website
• The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service
• Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance
• FEMA Website
• Flood Event Brochure
• Flood Facts Brochure
• Flood Safety Tips Brochure
• Floodplain Guide
• Protect Against a Flood Flier 
• Silverjackets Flood Inundation Brochure
• 2020 Utility Bill Outreach Mailer
• Freeboard CBA Flyer
• Living with Dams – Extreme Rainfall Events 
• Living with Dams – Know Your Risk