Open house offers look at preliminary flood map changes

Nov. 30--MOHAWK -- Local officials and area residents had a chance to find out where properties fall in the preliminary updates to flood risk maps and to learn about flood insurance options during an open house Thursday at the German Flatts Community Center.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which sponsored the event, had specialists available to call up individual addresses with an overlay of the preliminary updated flood map on laptop computers, to show homeowners where their property stands.

There were no paper maps to be seen. The maps are and will all be digital, according to Kevin Sullivan, of external affairs, FEMA Region 2.

On the opposite side of the room, attendees could ask about flood insurance. It was noted that with changes to the map, the status of some areas that were not considered at high risk for flooding on the current map could fall into the high risk area on the new map while others that were considered at risk could possibly fall into a different category as well.

The next step in the process to finalize the flood map will be a 90-day period during which appeals and comments may be submitted. During this time anyone may submit an appeal with supporting information to their community officials to request a change in the maps. Officials will submit these appeals to FEMA, which will issue a letter of final determination to the community after the appeals are resolved.

The Letter of Final Determination will kick off a six-month adoption and compliance period after which the new flood map will become effective for insurance and development purposes.

Once the new flood map takes effect, residents who think their property should not be within a high-risk flood zone because of the building's elevation can request a letter of map amendment and provide elevation data and survey information to FEMA for review. While the map would not be redrawn, an amendment could be granted.

The entire process to finalize the new maps could take up to 18 to 21 months.

Preliminary maps can be viewed by visiting https://bit.ly/2r91lbJ.

Once the new maps become effective, they will be available through FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. FEMA will work with state and local officials and other partners to identify and review resilience strategies and possible actions to reduce risk.

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