New FEMA flood maps expand risk zones in Ukiah, could raise costs for homeowners

MENDOCINO CO., 9/20/25 – New Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps that took effect Friday in Ukiah could impact low-income property owners who may have to buy flood insurance for the first time.

The new FEMA flood maps have been issued for both Mendocino County and the city of Ukiah, but the maps, city staff have said, significantly expand flood risk areas in Ukiah that are not accurate based on localized research conducted by city staff.

FEMA's flood maps identify which sections of a city, or unincorporated areas, are at a higher risk of flooding. These maps designate areas with a 1% or higher annual risk of flooding as high-risk zones.

In 2022, FEMA shared preliminary flood maps with the city of Ukiah that estimated an increase in flood risk areas, called "special flood hazard areas." The city disagreed with the maps and told FEMA that the increased flood hazard projections are inaccurate, based on the city's own research and the councilmembers' experiences of living in Ukiah.

Former mayor and current Councilmember Mari Rodin, as a representative for the city of Ukiah, appealed FEMA's flood maps by sending a formal letter to U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman's office. The letter specifically pointed to FEMA's designation of flood hazard areas along Orrs Creek, Doolin Creek and Gibson Creek.

In that letter, Rodin wrote, "Unfortunately, those most impacted by these revisions will be least able to absorb the associated costs. For middle-class and low-income homeowners, even slight changes to monthly expenses could have substantial budgetary consequences."

BCN-20250918-FEMAFLOODMAP-01-1

Homeowners who have a federally backed mortgage or whose home is in a special flood hazard area are legally required to purchase flood insurance. Due to the revised FEMA flood maps, several Ukiah homeowners who didn't need insurance before will now need to find a policy.

"We hired an engineering firm, because we believed that FEMA didn't have good data to plug into the model," Rodin said in an interview. "We did get new analyses and new data and FEMA almost entirely rejected everything that we showed them."

In 2024, FEMA released the preliminary flood map, but only with minor corrections. Rodin, who was heavily involved in challenging the increased flood zones identified in the FEMA maps, said the city is continuing to work with an engineering firm to track data on creeks throughout Ukiah to further analyze flood risk.

"It's important that people understand the implications of these maps," Rodin said.

The FEMA flood maps for the city of Ukiah, which went into effect Friday, can be viewed by clicking this link.

To learn more about the city of Ukiah's dialogue with FEMA on the updated maps, people can go to cityofukiah.com/flood-maps/.

The post New FEMA flood maps expand risk zones in Ukiah, could raise costs for homeowners appeared first on The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA.