Flood map in Otero County to be updated

June 07--Changes to a flood map in Otero County could affect insurance policies for Tularosa property owners, a county spokesman said Friday. A flood map in Otero County is in the process of changing and those changes could affect insurance policies for property owners.

Otero County Emergency Services Director Paul Quairoli said Friday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in the midst of updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps in the county.

"The purpose of the map is to identify flood zones and use it for Flood Insurance Rate Maps," Quairoli said.

He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently focusing on the area surrounding the Village of Tularosa.

Quairoli said prior flood maps of the area were outdated and unreliable because the information was based on antiquated data gathering methods.

"FEMA was using old data before now," he said. " Unfortunately, some of those maps where produced back in 1982-1983 or older. So, they are not current maps. The topography on them after 20 to 40 years has changed drastically."

Quairoli said the county felt the inaccurate maps were having a negative impact on citizens in the county. He said he is hoping to remedy the situation.

He said the county requested FEMA to do a new study on the Tularosa area.

"The data they have was flawed and we actually had to get folks from FEMA to physically come out here and show them why it's wrong, because we could not explain to them over the phone, or even by showing them pictures, that it's impossible for it to flood where they say it's going to flood," Quairoli said.

He said it was mandatory for FEMA to review the area and that FEMA paid to get the new research for the maps done. Quairoli said the new findings in FEMA's current preliminary map of the area around Tularosa are more accurate thanks to modern day technology.

"I think they are a lot more accurate this time," he said. "They're not using the old data. They actually came in and they did a true study. So they came in and shot elevations and depths of arroyos and did a hydrologic study."

Quairoli said the new preliminary map shows the flood areas in Tularosa are smaller than previous maps and studies indicated.

"The flood plane in that area shrank dramatically," he said. "The new findings shrank the amount of flood zone to citizens in Otero County and in the Village of Tularosa. They're not required or will not be required to have flood insurance in all the areas previously designated in 2010."

Quarioli said a preliminary map came out in late February but that more information is still being gathered before the map is finalized. He said that before the map is finalized there will be time for the public to review the map.

Quairoli said FEMA would announce when the public could provide input on the map.

He also encouraged residents in the community to view the current preliminary flood map to be more informed about the area so they could participate in a public review of the map.

"They can be reviewed online," he said. "We want the public to go in to look and see that the flood plain is changing. It is actually shrinking in the Village of Tularosa and right outside in the county as well. We also want them to know the areas that remain in the flood plain as well too. It's best to know if you have flood plain on your property or you don't. This is to inform citizens and to protect federally funded or insured loans and mortgages."

Quairoli said once residents have had time for a public review of the maps FEMA would be able to finalize the map.

"After we review the preliminary map there is a period set aside for public opinion and, provided there is no issues, problems or concerns raised with the maps and the study, then shortly after -- and it takes about six months -- once we get through that review all the maps and everything are built," he said.

Quairoli said he hopes the map will be finalized before the end of this year. He said the finalized map is a resource the county will be able to utilize in the future to do hazard mitigation.

For more information about the preliminary flood maps, visit http://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload.

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