NHDIRECT REQUIRED DISCLOSURE
NHDIRECT PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
The full descriptions of all elements delivered in the required disclosure portion of the basic NHDirect product package are listed below the product samples.
REQUIRED HAZARD DISCLOSURE ITEMS
FEMA Flood Hazard
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains maps delineating Special Flood Hazard Areas. A property lying within a SFHA in a participating community is eligible for low cost flood insurance through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Properties identified to lie within the SFHA (usually A and V zones) are identified in this report.
Dam Inundation
Dam inundation hazards are areas affected by the failure of a dam or levee. While these areas are usually protected from flood by the dams and levees, in the case of failure due to earthquake or erosion, these areas become the drainage basin. The State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) regulates areas of Dam inundation susceptibility. Inundation maps for the entire state are available via the internet from the OES web page. Maps can also be obtained from the individual counties themselves, however inundation areas often span multiple counties while maps are only available from the county containing the dam. Very High Fire Hazard Area - The State of California has mapped areas of high fire risk. Included are areas which are windy, dry, difficult to access, or contain abundant fuel. Maps for High Fire Susceptibility are available digitally through the Department of Forestry. Paper maps are also available or can be reproduced using the digital data. Wildland Fire Hazard - The California Department of Forestry Fire Protection Services are responsible for extinguishing fires in areas delineated as State Responsibility Areas. These areas usually contain large areas of rural, state-owned land containing grasslands, brushlands and forests. Generally, Federal land and incorporated communities are not included. Maps for State Responsibility Areas are available digitally through the Department of Forestry. Paper maps are also available or can be reproduced using the digital data. Areas not included in the State Fire Responsibility Areas maintain independent fire protection services.
Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
In 1973, the Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone Act began the creation of the maps known as of January 1, 1994, as the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone Maps. These maps were created to prohibit the location of most structures for human occupancy across the traces of active faults, preventing the hazard of fault rupture. In most cases the zones include areas within 600 feet of known active faults which displacement has occurred in the last 11,000 years. These maps are available through the Department of Conservation- Division of Mines and Geology. More detailed information is available from the state in Special Publication 42. The information in this publication is technical and provides specific information as well as an overview and history of the Alquist-Priolo acts.
Seismic Hazard
Seismic Hazards are defined as areas subject to strong earthquake shaking, liquefaction, landslide or other earthquake related ground failures. In 1992, the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act was enacted which mandated the creation of Seismic Hazard Maps by the Department of Conservation - Division of Mines and Geology. These Seismic Hazard Maps include Liquefaction and Landslide Zones which must be differentiated on the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHDS).
Liquefaction
Liquefaction is a phenomenon where soils, usually water saturated, exhibit water-like properties when subject to the ground shaking forces of an earthquake. Soils such as unconsolidated sands and silts are likely candidates to show effects of liquefaction. During liquefaction, soil is incapable of supporting structures. This causes structures to settle or sink and soil to boil up through cracks in the ground or pavement.
Landslide
Landslide areas are defined as areas which exhibit displacement during seismic events. These areas are often located on hillsides with grades exceeding 25 degrees and contain unconsolidated bedrock. These areas are delineated on the State Seismic Hazard maps and, like Liquefaction, must be reported specifically within the Seismic Hazard section of the NHDS.
Very High Fire
The State of California has mapped areas of high fire risk. Included are areas which are windy, dry, difficult to access, or contain abundant fuel. Maps for High Fire Susceptibility are avail¬able digitally through the Department of Forestry. Paper maps are also available or can be reproduced using the digital data.
Wildland Fire
The California Department of Forestry Fire Protection Services are responsible for extinguishing fires in areas delineated as State Responsibility Areas. These areas usually contain large areas of rural, state-owned land containing grasslands, brush¬lands and forests. Generally, Federal land and incorporated communities are not included. Maps for State Responsibility Areas are available digitally through the Department of Forestry. Paper maps are also available or can be reproduced using the digital data. Areas not included in the State Fire Responsibility Areas maintain independent fire protection services.