23.33.010 PURPOSE AND METHODS.

(a) Statement of Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to:

(1) Protect human life and health;

(2) Minimize expenditure of public money for costly flood control projects;

(3) Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public;

(4) Minimize prolonged business interruptions;

(5) Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains; electric, telephone and sewer lines; and streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard;

(6) Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the sound use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future blighted areas caused by flood damage;

(7) Assist in notifying potential buyers that property is in an area of special flood hazard; and

(8) Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions.

(b) Methods of Reducing Flood Losses. In order to accomplish its purposes, this chapter includes methods and provisions to:

(1) Restrict or prohibit uses which are dangerous to health, safety, and property due to water or erosion hazards, or which result in damaging increases in erosion or flood heights or velocities;

(2) Require that uses vulnerable to floods, including facilities which serve such uses, be protected against flood damage at the time of initial construction;

(3) Control the alteration of natural floodplains, stream channels, and natural protective barriers, which help accommodate or channel flood waters;

(4) Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development which may increase flood damage; and

(5) Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers which will unnatu-rally divert flood waters or which may increase flood hazards in other areas.