Floodplain Management Program

FEMA Releases New Preliminary Flood Maps For Montgomery County

On July 30, 2010 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent out a packet of materials for the Montgomery County communities that included new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels and a new Flood Insurance Study (FIS). 

Montgomery County communities will be notified shortly by FEMA in regard to Community Coordination and Outreach (CCO) meetings, as well as the new FIRM and FIS, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

It is recommended, by FEMA, that in addition to your community CEO, you consider sending your municipal manager, solicitor, GIS staff, floodplain administrator, engineers, public outreach specialist and planners.  FEMA will discuss frequently asked questions during these meetings, as they are working sessions for local officials.  Each meeting will also involve representatives from FEMA, FEMA’s Mapping Partner, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and county officials.   

The three activities that each community must undertake during the upcoming months that will ensure both continued participation in the NFIP and a high quality FIRM are:

·         Each community must review the preliminary FIRM and suggest corrections or comments as soon as possible.  If serious scientific or technical issues with the preliminary FIRM arise, a formal appeal should be submitted during the regulatory 90-day appeal period.  (Dates will be posted when available)

·         Each community is responsible to reach out to those citizens affected by the changes on the FIRM, and inform them of the potential flood insurance implications.

·         Each community must adopt a new or amended floodplain ordinance that meets the NFIP minimum requirements or face possible suspension from the NFIP.

Useful websites:

Federal Emergency Management http://www.fema.gov/

National Flood Insurance Program Website http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/

RAMPP  - Risk Assessment, Mapping and Planning Partners  http://rampp-team.com/pa.htm

 

If you have any questions, please contact: 

Kristina Henderson

Program Specialist

khenderson@montgomeryconservation.org

(610) 489-4506 x25