18E.70.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Pierce County. Under this Chapter, development is protected from the impacts of flood hazards by establishment of minimum standards for sites which contain or are adjacent to identified flood hazard areas. The standards contained in this Chapter are intended to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in flood hazard areas and provide criteria necessary for regulated activities located within flood hazard areas in Pierce County. The following statements describe the purpose of this Chapter:
A. Protect human life and health;
B. Minimize expenditure of public money and costly flood control projects;
C. Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding;
D. Minimize prolonged business interruptions;
E. Minimize damage to public infrastructure, facilities and utilities;
F. Minimize damage to critical fish and wildlife habitat areas;
G. Minimize net loss of ecological functions of floodplains;
H. Ensure that potential buyers are notified that property is in a flood hazard area;
I. Ensure that those who occupy flood hazard areas assume responsibility for their actions; and
J. Qualify Pierce County for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, thereby giving the citizens of Pierce County the opportunity to purchase flood insurance with particular emphasis to those in flood hazard areas.