FEMA Grants Nearly $2.7 Million To Alabama To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of nearly $2.7 million will be awarded to the Alabama Office of Water Resources in support of its floodplain mapping program.

FEMA will provide $2,696,310 in federal funds toward projects to improve existing flood insurance rate maps and flood risk data, which will strengthen local communities’ ability to understand and communicate their flood risk and make informed decisions about flood risk reduction.

The Alabama Office of Water Resources will develop and support production of flood maps and a flood insurance study report for the Wheeler Lake Watershed including portions of Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Cullman, Madison and Jackson counties in Alabama as well as portions of Lawrence, Giles, Lincoln, and Franklin counties in Tennessee.  Funding will also be used to develop topographic information for the Cahaba River Watershed including portions of Jefferson County; and to update flood risk information along the coast including Baldwin and Mobile counties.

Flood maps and flood risk data are being updated for communities across the country with the ultimate goal of protecting property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. This is a collaborative process, during which FEMA works closely with states and local communities to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into flood risk products.

Flood risks can change over time due to factors such as construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other natural or manmade changes—which is why it’s important that flood maps and flood risk data are updated periodically to reflect these changes. Additionally, the information developed for these projects will be more precise because the latest science available is applied in gathering flood risk data and creating flood maps.

Updated flood maps and flood risk data will ultimately assist local area governments in planning for future development and rebuilding efforts.

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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