Flood Insurance Rate Maps

New flood plain maps have residents upset at mandatory insurance

FEMA's top priority is the safety of the communities we serve. A central part of our commitment to protect lives and property is to ensure that people are aware of the natural hazards and risks that exist in their communities. FEMA is constantly encouraging communities to take steps now to protect against those natural risks, including flooding. Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the country and costliest natural disaster in the United States each year. Even those in lower-risk areas should consider investing in flood insurance; flooding can happen anytime, anywhere, in any flood risk zone. Under congressional guidance and direction, FEMA continues to update its flood hazard maps. This process ensures that communities have solid data when making decisions on how to mitigate and insure against the risks posed by floods. Flood hazards are constantly changing due to natural as well as man-made factors and, as with any measurement, additional information can improve the product. That's why during this collaborative process we work closely with local communities to ensure that any verifiable data that will strengthen the flood maps is included and incorporated. Local communities always have the opportunity to supply additional data and engineering analysis for consideration for inclusion or map updates. The revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are the result of an effort spearheaded by Congress in 2004 to update the nation's flood-hazard maps known as Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod) and since Federal Fiscal Year 2009 (FFY09) has continued through Risk MAP (Mapping, Assessment, Planning). Map Mod and Risk MAP are multi-year efforts to update and transform flood maps into more reliable, easy-to-use, and readily available digital products. The new digital FIRM, released on a countywide basis and sometimes across county lines for broader basin-wide coverage, enables communities and citizens to more efficiently obtain flood hazard data, and make informed decisions about development, floodplain management, and mitigation projects. FIRMs show areas of high flood risk within a community. Areas of high risk are those areas that are susceptible to the one-percent-annual chance flood. Community officials are invited to scoping (Discovery) meetings which are held at the beginning of each mapping project.

New Hawaii flood maps may change insurance rates | Big Island ...

Results of the Kona and Puna Flood Studies are not included in the preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for Hawai‘i County.

To ensure affected property owners understand the preliminary DFIRM map change process, open houses will be held on August 9 at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., and on August 10 at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Conference Room A, in Kailua-Kona from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Personnel from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), FEMA, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawai‘i County, Department of Public Works will be available to answer questions.

Also taking place at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center on August 10, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., will be a workshop on the topic of Substantial Improvement / Substantial Damage. This workshop provides a valuable training opportunity for engineers, architects, planners, and community officials.

If you require additional auxiliary aids and services for effective communications at these meetings, please contact Department of Public Works at 961-8321 as soon as possible, but no later than five days prior to the meeting date, to arrange for accommodations.

Link to FEMA Post-Preliminary Process Digital Flood Map Fact Sheet .

Public Works notes the following as locations that will be affected: Pu’ukapu, and Lanimaumau Stream in Waimea, the coastal areas from Upolu Point in North Kohala to Cape Kumukahi in Puna, Palai Stream, Piakuli and portions of Waiakea Stream

Ka’u district councilwoman Brittany Smart later wrote in a follow up email, “Coastal areas especially near Honaunau, Ho’okena, Ki’ilae, and Miloli’i should be aware that their insurance rates may increase.

How Flood Insurance Rate Maps Help FEMA to Decide the Calamities?

How Flood Insurance Rate Maps Help FEMA to Decide the Calamities?

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