Thousands could be forced to buy flood insurance

Sept. 15--Hundreds of Toledo residents will soon receive a letter informing them they may be living in a flood zone.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Aug. 13 completed a preliminary Flood Insurance Study and redrew area flood maps based on its findings. About 2,000 properties, mostly residential, were affected in Lucas County by the changes.

Nearly 700 of those are in Toledo, with the bulk of affected properties in Point Place, said Abby Arnold, deputy chief of staff for the Kapszukiewicz administration. Others are largely located along Swan Creek.

But local officials aren't panicking. City crews have been working with FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get their levy systems accredited. It's their hope they'll have everything in place before the final flood maps are published in 2019.

"We feel confident that what we're doing should be included in the final maps, which would show that the majority of these properties do not need to be included in the floodplain," Mrs. Arnold said.

In the meantime, city staff are mailing letters to every Toledo property owner affected by FEMA's preliminary report, encouraging them to attend a public meeting on the topic slated for Sept. 20. The latest floodplain maps will be on display, and federal, state, and local officials will be on hand to answer questions about flood risk and flood insurance.

The meeting runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Toledo Train Station's lobby, 300 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive.

Toledo City Councilman Chris Delaney, who represents District 6, which includes Point Place, said he was "in a panic" when he first saw the new maps because he worried hundreds in his district would need to purchase costly flood insurance.

"These folks need to know that there is the potential, and we're doing everything we can to keep that from happening," he said.

Learning the city is on track to get its levy systems accredited eased Mr. Delaney's fears. He has asked the city to appeal the preliminary maps, which he called "a warning shot" from FEMA.

"I think we're going to be OK in the long haul," he said.

Mrs. Arnold said city crews have been working to ensure that necessary physical barriers are in place to prevent homes and businesses from being damaged in flood-prone parts of the city. Ensuring properties aren't needlessly added to a flood zone is another way they can help citizens avoid flood-related costs.

"It's an expense that, especially if unanticipated, can be significant," she said of flood insurance.

More information about the public meeting and FEMA's preliminary flood maps can be found online at co.lucas.oh.us.

Contact Sarah Elms at selms@theblade.com, 419-724-6103, or on Twitter @BySarahElms.

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