Coastal area homeowners should be aware of changes and see if home is in new flood map areas.
Anne Arundel County to Host Open House for Citizens to Review New FEMA Coastal Flood Maps & Learn about Flood Risk. The September 9 event will take place at South River HS Annapolis, Maryland.
On Tuesday, September 9, Anne Arundel County's Department of Planning and Zoning will host an open house in conjunction with the City of Annapolis to educate citizens on their flood risk following the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) recent release of updated Coastal Flood Maps.
Known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), these maps indicate flood-prone coastal areas in Anne Arundel County, and are used by insurance companies to determine flood insurance rates for buildings and contents. County residents and property owners are encouraged to learn more about their flood risk and the updates illustrated on the preliminary maps.
Using interactive flood maps, representatives from the state and county, as well as FEMA and their mapping partners, will be available to answer flood risk and insurance questions, and explain the maps.
The preliminary FIRMs and the associated Flood Insurance Study (FIS) that will be shared provide the basis for flood risk education and floodplain management measures. Anne Arundel County is required to adopt updated maps to continue participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes flood insurance available to the community.
As a result of these map updates, some buildings in the county may, for the first time, be included in a high-risk flood zone, known as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). This may result in mandatory purchase of flood insurance for those property owners who are affected. FEMA staff will be at the Open House and will be available to talk to property owners about these updates and what they mean for them.
The county's Open House will be held at South River High School in the cafeteria from 6-8 p.m. Parking is available onsite. For more information about the event, contact Hope Stewart, Community and Constituent Services Director, by calling 410-222-1527. To learn more about floodplain changes, go to www.floodsmart.gov or www.ready.gov , or to find links to the interactive mapping website, visit www.R3Coastal.com.
