Cumberland County flood insurance maps are changing; public ‘open house’ scheduled

Nov. 5--Cumberland County homeowners will get a chance to meet with FEMA face-to-face ahead of flood insurance map changes that could impact whether and how much they have to pay for flood insurance.

The meeting will have an "open house," drop-in format from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Cumberland County Planning Office at 310 Allen Road. Staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and insurance specialists will be present to answer questions about the proposed changes and let homeowners know how they can appeal changes that affect them, according to Cumberland County Director of Planning Kirk Stoner.

Flood insurance rate maps set mandatory rates for flood insurance based on the risk of flooding in a given area. Homeowners in certain flood-prone areas are also required to obtain flood insurance to receive a federally backed mortgage. They can also be subjected to extra land-use regulations, according to a news release from Cumberland County.

"This can have a big impact on someone's property," Stoner said.

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The maps are controlled by FEMA, although county staff assisted FEMA in their development, he said. They were last updated in 2009.

The maps can be altered because of land development, changes to waterways like the removal of a dam, or new information from flood studies, he said. Hundreds of properties have been added and hundreds have been removed for the proposed new maps.

Homeowners interested in learning about their property are encouraged to visit the Cumberland County Planning Department's website, which contains a link to the draft maps. The county also encourages residents to attend Wednesday's drop-in meeting to ask questions and, if necessary, learn how to file an appeal.

An appeal period to challenge the draft maps will likely be held in early 2020, Stoner said. The maps will likely go into effect in early 2021.

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