Less Than 6 Months Before Flood Maps are Effective in St. Helena Parish

DENTON, Texas – In less than six months, on April 2, 2013, new flood maps for St. Helena Parish, La., will

become effective.  Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view

the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood. Floods can place people at risk of uninsured

loss to their businesses, homes and personal property if they don’t have either a private flood insurance policy or

coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary protection program administered by

the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is the predominant natural disaster in the United States and only flood insurance covers these

unexpected, damaging and sometimes fatal events. “Where there is rain, there could be flooding,” said FEMA

Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “Everyone lives in a flood zone.”

To learn if your community participates in the NFIP and to review the new flood maps, please contact your local

floodplain administrator (FPA) who may be located in the St. Helena Parish Offices or in your City Hall.
 
FEMA Map specialists and Flood Insurance experts also are available to answer questions. They can be reached

by phone and online chat:

• To contact a FEMA Map Specialist, call 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) or send an email to

FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com
• To use the live chat service, visit http://go.usa.gov/r6C.  Click on the “Live Chat” icon.
• For more information on estimated rates for flood insurance, flood facts and to locate an agent in your

area, visit www.FloodSmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.

FEMA encourages communities not currently participating in the NFIP to look at the benefits of joining the

program. Participation in the NFIP can assure a faster recovery in the event of a devastating flood.  

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to

build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate

all hazards. 
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