FEMA’s 90-day Appeal Process has begun for the Preliminary Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS). This period runs from February 15th
to May 15, 2018. Flood Hazard Determination Notices
have been sent to municipal officials and public notification concerning the
appeal process were placed in local papers on two separate dates (see your
municipal letter for actual dates and papers).
Digital versions of the maps can be viewed at https://fema.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=16bb8a9ebcac47da913e6e9f4ecf30ab;
this website also provides a search function for specific addresses.
Or you can download the GIS files from the FEMA Map Service Center (search for your
community, look under “Preliminary Products” and download the “Preliminary FIRM
Database”.)
Once finalized and adopted,
these maps will be used to determine if flood insurance is required and the
rates that residential and commercial property owners will pay to the National
Flood Insurance Program. The maps will also be utilized when reviewing
development plans and enforcing floodplain management regulations. For
more information on the adoption process see our Map
Adoption webpage.
The flood insurance rate
maps currently in effect are 24-45 years old. Given their long-standing impact,
the County encourages municipalities and property owners to take this rare
opportunity to review, and if necessary, comment on the revised preliminary maps.