FEMA: Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

FEMA is proposing updates to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Beginning on August 5, 2021, community partners from the following municipalities are invited to participate in a 90-day appeal and comment period (a separate appeal period for the remaining municipalities began on July 8, 2021):

* Borough of Carlisle

* Borough of Mechanicsburg

* Borough of Mt. Holly Springs

* Borough of New Cumberland

* Borough of Newville

* Township of Dickinson

* Township of Middlesex

* Township of Monroe

* Township of North Middleton

* Township of Silver Spring

* Township of South Middleton

The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community partners can identify any corrections or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments. An earlier appeal period for the proposed map updates was held in Spring of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, FEMA is offering a second appeal period this summer.

Residents, business owners and other community partners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. They may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect.

To submit an appeal:

Appeals and comments may be submitted by contacting your municipality's floodplain administrator. The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals. Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.

* An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim.

* Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.

* If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information-such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary-they can submit a written comment.

The preliminary maps may be viewed online at the FEMA Flood Map Changes Viewer: http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv. Changes from the current maps may be viewed online at the Region 3 Changes Since Last FIRM Viewer: https://arcg.is/0jn54u.