City of Belt actively participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in order to enable property owners to purchase flood insurance and have opportunities for disaster assistance and mitigation if needed.  As part of this partnership with FEMA, the City must actively enforce the rules and regulations set forth in Belt’s Floodplain Hazard Management Regulations.

As part of the City of Belt’s effort to comply with state and federal floodplain regulations, the Belt City Council has appointed a Floodplain Committee consisting of three City of Belt Alderman – Becky Gorton, Sally Miller, April Wells and Rolf Johnson, a Citizen member of the City of Belt Planning Board & Floodplain Administrator’s Assistant. 
 

In Montana, a floodplain is a low-lying area of land that's prone to flooding from a nearby waterway: 

Definition -  A floodplain is the area that would be covered by floodwater from a 100-year flood event, which has a 1% chance of happening in any given year. 

Formation - Floodplains are made up of nutrient-rich river sediments and are formed when rivers overflow their banks after heavy rains or snowmelt. 

Risk - Floodplains are prone to repeat flooding, which can be damaging to communities. 

Mapping - The Montana floodplain mapping program works with FEMA and local communities to identify flood risks. Floodplain maps are updated regularly to account for changes in flood risk. 

Building - To avoid flooding, buildings and permanent structures should be built outside of the 100-year floodplain. 

Permits - A floodplain permit is required for any development or activity within a floodplain.