Natural Hazard Disclosures

Defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the base flood, the flood hazard is commonly referred to as the "100-year flood." Please note that the "100-year" flood designation does not mean that a flood occurs once every 100 years.

Flood hazard areas are determined by the use of statistical analyses of river flow, storm tides, and rainfall; information obtained through consultation with the community; floodplain topographic surveys; hydrolic analysis; and hydraulic analysis (FEMA, 1995).

In communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program ("NFIP") pursuant to 42 United States Code Section 4104a, et seq. (Participating Community"), federally insured or regulated lenders may require flood insurance for mortgages and other loans secured by structures located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

Special note: If a subject property is identified by a report as being partially located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, the buyer's lender may request a survey or site plan showing the location of the structure within the boundaries of the lot to determine if flood insurance is required

This disclosure is not an opinion as to whether or not a property will be subject to flooding due to dam failure. Rather, it is solely a determination as to whether or not a property is within a dam inundation zone as shown on maps "approved" by the California State Office of Emergency Services.

For more information about dam inundation zones, call the State Division of Dam Safety or your State or your local County Office of Emergency Services. More information can be found on the internet at www.oes.ca.gov

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are generally incorporated areas that are not defined as State Responsibility Areas where a heavy accumulation of tree and/or brush fuels, and possibly steep slopes, may make it difficult to retard or stop the rate of spread and intensity of fire.

Runaway wildfire in these areas can threaten both property and life.

This disclosure is not an opinion as to the susceptibility of the subject property to wildfire risk. This determination is made with reference to maps produced by the California State Department of Forestry, as to whether or not the subject property falls within a Very High Fire Severity Zone. For more information on this zone description and steps to be taken to reduce fire risk, contact your local fire department.

A State Fire Responsibility Area is generally defined as lands exclusive of cities and federal lands, regardless of ownership, which are classified by the State Board of Forestry as areas in which the primary financial responsibility for preventing and suppressing fire is that of the State (see Public Resources Code Sections 4102, 4125).

These zones may contain substantial forest fire risks and hazards, as designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, pursuant to Section 4125 of the Public Resources Code. The owner of this property is subject to the maintenance requirements of Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code.

Except for property located within a county assuming responsibility for prevention of fires, the seller must also disclose that it is not the State's responsibility to provide fire protection services to any building or structure located within the wildlands area unless the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has entered into a cooperative agreement with a local agency pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4142.

Earthquake fault zones are generally a quarter mile or less in width. Faults can be categorized as active or inactive and are subject to continual revision as new findings dictate.

The Alquist Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act was passed in 1972 to mitigate the hazard of surface faulting to structures for human occupancy. This California law was a direct result of the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, which was associated with extensive surface fault ruptures that damaged many residential and commercial structures. Surface fault rupture happens when movement on a fault deep within the earth breaks through the surface. Rupture may occur suddenly during an earthquake or slowly in the form of fault creep.

Just as with FEMA flood zones, lying outside of the fault zone boundary does not ensure that there is no danger from earthquake-generated ground shaking, but it is presumed that there is a greater statistical danger within the zone. More information may be obtained from the California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology through their nearest office or through the world wide web address, http://www.consrv.ca.gov.

The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act of 1990 (Public Resources Code Sections 2690, et seq.) requires the California State Geologist to identify and map areas prone to seismic hazards (Seismic Hazard Zones) in order for cities and counties to adequately address public health and safety concerns.

If a property is located within a Seismic Hazard Zone,local governments may require that a qualified engineering specialist prepare a geotechnical report prior to approving any additional or new construction earthquake fault zones. Based on the findings in such a report, specific mitigation measures and building requirements may be imposed. In some cases, additional or new construction and development of the property may be severely limited. Please be advised that not all properties located within a Seismic Hazard Zone are prone to seismic hazards, and that a single earthquake capable of causing liquefaction or triggering a landslide may not uniformly affect all areas within a Seismic Hazard Zone.

Futhermore, the fact that a property is not located within a Seismic Hazard Zone does not necessarily mean that the property is free from seismic hazards or that geologic or seismic activity will not occur on property in the future.