PARSONS – Charles Baker, Tucker County Floodplain Administrator, met with local residents to discuss issues surrounding permits and the National Floodplain Insurance Program during a special meeting Thursday evening. The meeting was sponsored by the Tucker County Commission.
“”The purpose of the Tucker County Floodplain Administration is to ensure proper precautions are taken to eliminate, or reduce injury or death of people and damage to property due to flooding. This is accomplished by a permitting process which is used to determine the floodplain status of any development in the county,” Baker said. “If it is determined that the development is not in, or near, the Special Flood Hazard Area, development can continue following whatever other ordinances or regulations may apply. However, if the development is within, or near, the Special Flood Hazard Area, additional requirements of the county’s Floodplain Ordinance will apply – in addition to any other ordinances or regulations that may be applicable. These additional requirements are what we hope will save lives, injury, and property in the event of flooding.”
“All development in the County requires a Development Permit before proceeding with development. For development within a municipality (Davis, Hambleton, Hendricks, Parsons, and Thomas), permitting should be done through your town. Any development outside a municipality (including Canaan Valley Zoning District) will require a Development Permit from this Office.”
Baker said the Tucker County Commission has no say in the matter about permits.
“It is required by Federal Code 44-CFR,” Baker said. “What this leads to is for Tucker County to receive any type of disaster assistance, they must participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. That program requires these permits.”
Baker said the Commission could opt out of the National Flood Insurance Program.
“However, if Tucker County were to experience any type of natural disaster, the residents of Tucker County would not be eligible for any Federal Disaster Assistance,” Baker said. “What that means if we would still be eligible for low interest loans, but if you owe a mortgage on your property and you lose your entire home, would you want to take out another low interest loan to buy your house? It would be a hardship.”
Baker said to contact him before making any changes.
“Our job here is to help you,” Baker said. “We are here to work with you, not cram regulations down your throat. Our job is to help you with these regulations, not just to enforce them.”
Baker said if Tucker County residents do not comply with regulations they would not be eligible for flood insurance, nor would residents be eligible for federally backed mortgages.
“The really wonderful thing is Charlie is really accessible,” Tucker County Commissioner Diane Hinkle said. “He is just a phone call away. He has been so helpful in so many circumstances, so those of us who do not do this on a daily basis don’t have to struggle through this. He really works to assist people as opposed to creating roadblocks that make it difficult for them. He has been a real asset to the county.”
Baker said it is his job to answer questions and help as much as he can.
“Yes, I have to enforce an ordinance,” Baker said. “But I am here to help.”
“I think it’s important that the people understand the Tucker County Commission participates in this so they have FEMA coverage,” Tucker County Commissioner Lowell Moore said. “It’s a must that we do this. We really want to thank Charlie Baker. He is for us and not against us. We want the community to know we are doing this for them.”
Additional information is available by contacting Baker at 304-822-7018.
