Preliminary Flood Maps in Socorro County, NM Ready for Public View

Knowing flood risks allows for more informed decisions

Release Date: January 5, 2012

Release Number: R6-12-008

2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas -- Homeowners, renters and business owners in Socorro County, New Mexico are encouraged to look over newly released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

Socorro County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are presenting the preliminary maps to communities and unincorporated areas in order to help leaders and residents identify known flood risks and use that information to make decisions about buying flood insurance and how the community should move forward with any development.

"As we work together with our state and local partners to bring this critical information to the county, we ask that everyone review the maps to understand what flood risks are involved," said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. "The role of the community as an active partner in the flood mapping process is very important."

To view the new flood maps, please contact your local floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located at City Hall or the local courthouse.

*To learn more about your maps visit: www.riskmap6.com.

*To use a live chat service, visit go.usa.gov/r6C. Click on the "Live Chat" icon.

*To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to [email protected].

Once a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to gather information about this relatively low-cost federally backed insurance. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in your area.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.