Floodplain Management & Natural Hazards
Introduction
Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risk of current and future flooding, resulting in a more resilient community. The City of Hobbs participates in the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) since 1992 and CRS (Community Rating System) since 1992. Currently the City of Hobbs is a Class 8 Community, which saves the community 10% on their insurance premiums.
The City of Hobbs works to follow FEMA guidance to ensure we are providing the community technical expertise and assistance with disaster preparedness information.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address: 200 E. Broadway St, Hobbs, NM 88240
Phone Number (Engineering Dept.): (575) 397-9232
Fax Number (Engineering Dept.): (575) 397-9227
Maps
FEMA’s Map Service Center
To view, print or order the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) please visit FEMA’s Map Service Center.
To view interactive FEMA flood maps, visit FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer Map.
City of Hobbs Maps
Downloadable Maps: https://www.hobbsnm.org/gis.html
Interactive Maps: https://coh.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html
Regulations & Resources
- City of Hobbs Floodplain Management Ordinance (CH15.36)
- FEMA Flood Insurance Information
- Lea County Hazard Mitigation Plan – January 2008
- Flood Hazard Awareness Brochure
The following FEMA resources offer more information about mitigation measures. For technical assistance on any of these FEMA resources, you may contact FEMA’s Building Science Helpline, a technical assistance hotline, at 1-866-927-2104 or FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov
- Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Buildings (FEMA P-259)
- Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting (FEMA P-312)
- Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage (FEMA P-348)
- Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings (FEMA P-936 / July 2013)
- Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings that Cannot be Elevated (FEMA P-1037 / September 2015)
Elevation Certificates
If your home or business is in a SFHA (Special Flood Hazard Area) or flood zone, you may need an elevation certificate for insurance purposes. Any new Construction in a SFHA, the City of Hobbs will require a pre-construction and post-construction Elevation Certificate (EC) to ensure the new development is elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). The City of Hobbs keeps copies of all EC’s and we can provide a copy if it exists by contacting the Engineering Department of use the Look-Up below.
[Download .pdfs to your computer and use a PDF viewer for full functionality such as bookmarks]
FEMA Elevation Certificate & Instructions (2019 Edition) ›
NATURAL HAZARDS & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
As the City of Hobbs continues to make community improvements and manage growth, we all have a responsibility to be aware of Natural Hazards. In addition, we can and prepared for any natural disaster, which damage homes and devastate livelihood of families every day.
[Be prepared and make a plan!›]
Flood Hazards
One of the biggest hazards that citizens of the greater Hobbs area have to deal with is flooding. Flooding can occur with little to no notice and presents a hazard to vehicles, property, and structures. If you find yourself on the roads during a flash flood or while the waters are still high after a storm, if you come across water you do not know the depth of remember “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”. However, protecting your property and structures is not as easy as avoiding the water, it requires understanding the Hazard and planning beforehand.
To determine if your property or structure is in a flood zone, information regarding flood insurance, Special Flood Hazard Area regulations (SFHA), or need a copy of an elevation certificate, you can call the Engineering Department at 575-397-9232. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center is available to the public for you to use to look up addresses in a flood zone. You can find the links at the bottom of this page for more flood information.
City of Hobbs participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. This program allows the citizens of Hobbs to receive flood insurance at a discount. If the flood zone touches the property line, you could qualify for a reduced cost on flood insurance, but flood insurance may not be required.
National Flood Insurance Program
Severe Weather
Server Weather comes in many forms on the high plains of eastern New Mexico; Thunderstorms, Hail Storms, lighting, tornadoes, and flooding. Being prepared for each of these natural disasters require a basic understanding of the hazard and how to respond when it happens. Below you will find links that will assist you in being prepared for the next severe weather event.
National Weather Service Midland Office
Extreme Heat and Drought
If Hobbs is known for one thing weather wise, it is our hot summers. Extreme heat can be a hazard to anyone that is out in it and everyone that is outside should be aware of the risk and how to mitigate them. The hottest part of the year in Hobbs is in June, July, and August; which are also the months with an average daytime high in the mid-90s.
Along with the extreme heat, Hobbs is a semi-arid environment getting on average ~12 inches of precipitation a year. It does not take much of a reduction of rainfall for the region to find ourselves in drought conditions. With drought conditions comes increased risk of wild fires (More information below). For more information on preparing for extreme heat and drought see the links below.
US Drought Monitoring Webpage for New Mexico:
Wild Fires
With Hobbs being on the high plains of eastern New Mexico, a semiarid grasslands that can experience high winds, the area is prone to grass/wild fires. While these wild fires do not occur often, when they do they can easily spared out of control over our vast open spaces quickly. Wind driven wild fires can travel fast and can jump barriers like roads and fire brakes. Being prepared for wild fires requires being aware of weather condition, and preplanning an evacuation in case your location is threatened by a wild fire. Wildfires are unpredictable and it is always best to be prepared in case of an emergency. See the links below for further information on wildfires
New Mexico Fire Information Webpage
Nation Fire Protection association Wild Fire Tip Webpage
Power Outages
Please head to the links below if you experience a power outage:
Lea County Electrical Coop Website
City of Hobbs Power Outage Brochure
Be prepared and make a plan!
Keep your family and pets safe by being prepared! You can find many helpful tips through the links below.
Flood Smart
Fema's Flood Insurance
Additional Information
Flood Hazard Awareness Brochure