FEMA’s proposed flood zone changes could affect hundreds of homes

May 29--More than 400 structures in unincorporated Morgan County have been placed in a flood zone in preliminary flood maps proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The proposed maps, which are being updated for the first time since 2005, will not affect a significant number of homes and businesses in Decatur, said Wally Terry, the city's development director.

Many property owners whose home or business FEMA proposes to put in a flood zone likely could be required to buy flood insurance. The new maps could become effective late this year or early next year.

"If you live in a newly mapped area, it is very critical that you get flood insurance before the maps are effective," Morgan County Engineer Greg Bodley said at Tuesday's Morgan County Commission meeting. "You might get a better rate by being grandfathered in."

FEMA notified Morgan County, Decatur, Eva, Falkville, Hartselle, Priceville, Somerville and Trinity of the preliminary maps May 13. Residents in each town and in unincorporated Morgan County can contact their local officials for more information.

The preliminary flood zone maps are available online at adeca.alabama.gov/floods and fema.gov/prelimimaryfloodhazarddata.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs' Office of Water Resources will meet with local officials June 29 to discuss revised flood hazard information, flood insurance ordinance adoption, and other concerns.

A 30-day comment period will follow the meeting for local officials and residents to identify changes or corrections to non-technical information such as corporate limits, road names and stream names.

At the end of the 30 days, a 90-day comment period will start for officials and residents to comment or suggest changes to the preliminary flood zone maps.

FEMA will make the maps final seven to 10 months after the 90-day comment period, according to a letter from Leslie A. Durham, chief of the flood management unit in ADECA's water resources office, and Robert E. Lowe, chief of the Risk Analysis Branch of FEMA Region IV.

Bodley said that during the 90-day period the county can submit technical information for areas that county officials don't think belong in the flood zone.

Mostly homes

Bodley said most of the 400 new structures added to a flood zone in the preliminary maps are homes. He said some of the large areas affected include the Cave Springs area of Priceville, Iron Man south of Alabama 36, and the Cotaco/Florette area.

"It's pretty widespread," he said. "I appreciate the work that has gone into this, but there's going to be a lot of people affected."

Bodley said he expects the county to hold one or more public meetings during the 90-day comment period to give residents an opportunity to ask questions, and make comments and suggestions.

Commission Chairman Ray Long said the county will use the quarterly county newsletter that is mailed to residents and the media to raise awareness of the proposed flood zone maps.

"It's important that we get the word out to the people in the affected areas," he said.

Terry said city officials are studying the new maps to find changes FEMA proposes from the 2005 maps.

"Our preliminary review has found little change," he said. "It looks like they've reduced or taken areas out in some cases. We've not seen, at this point, any big changes in the city."

[email protected] or 256-340-2438. Twitter @DD_KeithClines.

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