What is the National Flood Insurance Program?
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce loss of life and property, and meet the rising costs of federal disaster relief due to flooding. The Program is voluntary. Los Angeles County entered the NFIP in 1980. Los Angeles County's participation in the program makes federally-backed flood insurance available to the County's unincorporated area residents and allows them access to direct federal relief following federally-declared flood disasters if federal criteria are met. In exchange, the County agrees to manage floodplains in the unincorporated areas and regulated development within those floodplains in accordance with NFIP requirements.
Los Angeles County Public Works manages the County's ongoing floodplain management program for the unincorporated areas. The program includes mapping of flood hazard areas associated with FEMA's Base Flood, which are shown on FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and the County's Capital Flood, which are shown on the County Floodway Maps. The program also includes adopting County Code ordinances associated with flood hazard areas, and regulating and enforcing safe building practices in flood hazard areas. It is the combination of these activities that promote flood protection to our unincorporated areas and maintain LA County's eligibility to participate in the NFIP on behalf of its unincorporated area residents.
Links to various components of Los Angeles County's floodplain management program activities are listed on the left side of this page. A brief activity description is located on each page to provide a better insight of our program and the corresponding value to Los Angeles County's unincorporated areas.
Most of the 88 incorporated cities in Los Angeles County also participate in the NFIP and have their own floodplain management programs. City residents may also find the information on this website useful, and are encouraged to contact their city governments for flood risk information specific to their areas.