Dam-failure Inundation Zone Effective March 1, 1998, Agents and Sellers of real property in California are required to disclose to all potential buyers whether the subject property is in an officially mapped dam-failure inundation zone. A dam-failure inundation zone is DIFFERENT than the "NFIP" flood zone for which a determination is required when borrowing a federally-backed mortgage loan. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood zones are areas along streams or coasts where storm flooding is possible from a "100-year flood." Dam-failure inundation, in contrast, is flooding which could result from the failure of a dam upstream as the result of an earthquake or other catastrophe. This disclosure requirement was signed into law on October 6th, 1997, by Governor Pete Wilson. Based on California Assembly Bill 6X (called the "Torlakson Bill"), this new law outlines the specific procedures for existing natural hazard disclosures, and incorporates dam-failure inundation as an additional mandatory disclosure zone for clarifying flood zone disclosures. A Standardized Natural Hazards Disclosure Statement form must now be completed with the appropriate information and signed by the Buyer and the Seller. PLEASE BE ADVISED: For California properties, the ABS Consulting's subsidiary, JCP Geologists, Inc., provides a Natural Hazard Disclosure ReportTM that is fully updated and revised to accommodate this new legislation! (See also new requirements for Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone disclosure and Seismic Hazard Mapping Act Zone disclosure.) | HOME | ABS CONSULTING | Questions, comments, or problems? ktravers@absconsulting.com Contents © 2001-2002, ABSG Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.