The City of Henderson has been actively involved since 1991 with the Federal Emergency Management Administrations (FEMA’s) Community Rating System (CRS) which is administered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program under the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum program requirements.

By implementing good floodplain management practices, Henderson has received a Class 5 rating. This rating allows property owners within a Special Flood Hazard Area up to a 25-percent discount on their flood insurance premiums.  

It can flood anywhere it rains.  Approximately 30% of all flood insurance claims occur outside of the mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA). Property owners can insure their buildings and contents, and renters can insure their possessions to protect property and belongings regardless if they are in a SFHA or outside of the mapped area.  Structures with a mortgage from a federally regulated institution and located within a mapped Special Flood Hazards Area (SFHA) are required to carry flood insurance. 

Before a Flood

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:  

During a Flood

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:  

After a Flood

• Listen to the authorities for information and instruction. 

A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)is a boundary established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify an area subject to increased risk due to flooding for flood insurance purposes.

For most types of development within the City of Henderson, submitting a drainage study is one of the first steps in the permitting process. A drainage study is a technical document prepared by a registered civil engineer. Storm runoff that impacts the site is identified and is used to design flood control facilities to ensure that any new homes and other buildings are protected from flooding. Once the drainage study and other prerequisites have been met, the developer may submit civil improvement plans for approval. After the civil improvement plans have been approved, then building permits may be reviewed and approved so that construction may begin.   

Development in a floodplain requires additional steps before permits for construction are issued:

• Increases of the 100-year floodplain’s water surface elevation (Base Flood Elevation) to are limited to 1–foot or less.  

• All building floor elevations must be elevated at least 18-inches above the Base Flood Elevation.  

• Upon completion of a development, the developer must notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the floodplain has changed, and the flood map must be updated by submitting a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) application with components of the drainage study, plans, and new maps showing the changes. When FEMA has accepted the application the LOMR is issued and the floodplain is changed. The City does not allow a building in a floodplain to be occupied before the LOMR is issued.  

Floodplain areas and adjacent waters combine to form a complex, dynamic physical and biological system found nowhere else. When portions of floodplains are maintained in their natural state (unlined), they provide many benefits to both human and natural systems. These benefits range from aesthetics to reducing the frequency and severity of flooding, and can reduce pollution.

In response to severe flooding problems in Clark County, the Nevada Legislature authorized the creation of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) in 1985. Among other activities, the CCRFCD is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive flood control master plan to alleviate flooding within Clark County.  

A unique feature to the Las Vegas Valley and the City of Henderson is the Las Vegas Wash. Once seasonally active with broad floodplains, the Las Vegas Wash has become a perennial stream with a constant flow of water. Stretching approximately 12 miles, the Las Vegas Wash begins at the southeastern portion of Las Vegas and ends at the Las Vegas Bay.  

The Las Vegas Wash carries water to Lake Mead in the form of urban runoff (excess water from overwatering landscape areas, car washing activities, etc.), shallow groundwater, rain, and treated water discharged from wastewater treatment facilities operated by the local governments.  

The Las Vegas Wash is a thriving wetland ecosystem that hosts healthy and diverse plant life; many species of animals, reptiles, and birds, and is a temporary home to a variety of migratory birds that use the wetlands as a stop-over on their yearly migrations.