5 Months Before Flood Maps are Effective in Lawrence Co, AR 

Release Date: July 17, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-121

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — In five months on Dec. 18 new flood maps for Lawrence County, Arkansas 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 #1 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 at City Hall or the local courthouse.

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 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.
• To see changes since the last map, please visit, maps.riskmap6.com/AR/Lawrence/

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.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Jul-2012 10:47:37