Harpeth River Watershed Residents Invited to See Preliminary Flood Maps

ATLANTA– People who live in Cheatham County including Pegram, Kingston Springs;  Williamson County including Fairview, Franklin, Brentwood; and Dickson County, Tenn., are invited to look at newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps at a public open house on March 3, 2015. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open house will provide the residents within this watershed and its counties and municipalities with the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding, and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. 

The March 3rd open house will be held between 4-7 p.m. at:

Franklin City Hall
109 3rd Ave South

Franklin, TN 37064

The new maps were produced through a partnership with Harpeth Watershed counties and municipalities, the state of Tennessee, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data and the latest science available have been applied to make the maps more accurate. The ultimate goal is to protect property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Flood risks do change over time due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors—which is why it’s important that maps are updated periodically.

Property owners—both homeowners and business owners—renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house and take advantage of this opportunity to meet with specialists and ask questions, and learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their communities. Residents may also visit their local community’s office to view the maps in person, or call their local floodplain manager with questions about where their property is located on the preliminary maps.

The Harpeth River Watershed preliminary maps will not be officially adopted until after a public comment period for the effected counties and municipalities takes place. This allows property owners to submit comments and appeals if they can show that any part of the maps is in error. Specialists will be available at the open houses to address questions that residents may have about this process. Once all comments are received and addressed, counties and municipalities may adopt the maps. 

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Even people living outside of high-risk areas can have flooding, which is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. That’s why everyone, regardless of their flood zone, should take steps to financially protect themselves from a disaster which affects far too many communities each year. The primary way to do that is by purchasing flood insurance. It’s available at affordable rates through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary program administered by FEMA.

Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. NFIP policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who people already deal with for other property insurance needs. When that isn’t possible, NFIP can put people in touch with another agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov  for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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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Harpeth River Watershed Residents Invited to See Preliminary Flood Maps

FEMA Grants Nearly $4.6 Million To North Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of nearly $4.6 million will be awarded to the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program in support of its efforts to update flood risk information throughout the state.

FEMA will provide $4,591,847 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 North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program will update flood maps and develop watershed reports for the Lower Yadkin Watershed including portions of Rowan, Stanly, Montgomery and Randolph counties; the Lynches Watershed including Union County; the Lumber Watershed including portions of Montgomery and Richmond counties; the Rocky Watershed including portions of Anson, Cabarrus, Iredell, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties; the South Yadkin Watershed including Davie, Iredell and Rowan counties; and the Upper Pee Dee Watershed including portions of Anson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Stanly and Union counties.  This funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Chowan, Upper Yadkin, South Yadkin and Broad River Basins including portions of Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Davidson, Forsyth, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin, Cleveland, Polk and Rutherford 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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FEMA Grants Nearly $4.6 Million To North Carolina To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

FEMA Grants More Than $2.5 Million To Kentucky To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of more than $2.5 million will be awarded to the Kentucky Division of Water in support of its floodplain mapping program.

FEMA will provide $2,521,438 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 Kentucky Division of Water will develop and support production of flood maps and a flood insurance study report for the Lower Kentucky Watershed, including Anderson, Boone, Bourbon, Boyle, Carroll, Casey, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Jessamine, Kenton, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Owen, Rockcastle, Scott, Shelby, Trimble and Woodford counties.  In addition, flood risk data will be developed for portions of the Licking River Watershed, including Bath, Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Elliott, Fleming, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Pendleton, Robertson, Rowan and Wolfe counties.  This funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Lower Cumberland watershed, including Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Todd and Trigg 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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FEMA Grants More Than $2.5 Million To Kentucky To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

FEMA Grants More Than $2.7 Million To Georgia To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a grant of more than $2.7 million will be awarded to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in support of its floodplain mapping program.

FEMA will provide $2,784,000 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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources will develop and support production of updated flood risk data for several watersheds throughout the state including the Upper Chattahoochee Watershed that includes portions of Dawson, Habersham, Hall, Lumpkin and White Counties; the Etowah Watershed that includes portions of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens and Polk counties; the Appalachicola Watershed that includes portions of Decatur County; and the Upper Suwannee Watershed that includes portions of Charlton, Clinch, Echols and Ware counties.  Funding will also be used for the development of coastal flood risk data for portions of Bryan, Camden, Charlton, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and McIntosh 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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FEMA Grants More Than $2.7 Million To Georgia To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

FEMA Grants More Than $2.3 Million To Florida To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

ATLANTA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that two grants, totaling more than $2.3 million, will be awarded to the Suwannee River and Northwest Florida Water Management Districts in support of their floodplain mapping programs.

FEMA will provide $2,308,505 in federal funding 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.

With this funding, the Suwannee River Management District will update flood maps and develop watershed reports for the Ecofina-Steinhatchee Watershed including Taylor, Madison, Lafayette and Dixie counties.  Funding will also help the following communities identify areas at risk for flooding and solutions for reducing that risk: the Waccosassa Watershed, including Levy, Gilchrist and Alachua counties.  Additionally, funding will be used for coastal flood studies for Taylor, Levy and Dixie counties.

The Northwest Florida Water Management District will use funding to develop and support production of flood maps and flood insurance study reports for the Pensacola Bay and Perdido Bay watersheds including portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.  Funding will also be used to develop additional flood risk data for coastal studies recently performed within the District

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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FEMA Grants More Than $2.3 Million To Florida To Update Flood Maps And Flood Risk Data

Federal, State and Local Partners Team Up To Identify Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed Flood Risks in Texas

Federal, State and Local Partners Team Up To Identify Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed Flood Risks in Texas 

Release Date: July 2, 2012
Release Number: R6-12-113

» 2012 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is initiating a watershed approach to identifying flood risk in an area involving nearly a dozen Texas counties.

As this effort begins in the Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed, local, state and federal officials are working together to develop partnerships, share flood risk information and identify opportunities for mitigation action.

The watershed touches a total of 11 Texas counties: Archer, Eastland, Erath, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Stephens and Young.

“It’s important that the whole community be a part of this process in order for the end result to be a tangible mitigation action,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “For a comprehensive picture of a community’s flood risk, FEMA relies heavily on information and data provided by the community itself.”

Presently, FEMA is gathering information from a variety of stakeholders including community officials, flood plain administrators, engineers, watershed council representatives, planners, and emergency managers. This data is being collected through a process called discovery, initiated by discovery meetings recently held in the local area.

Because flood hazards change over time, officials say the watershed approach to identifying flood risks provides a great opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the components that contribute to a community’s flood risk.

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: Monday, 02-Jul-2012 09:11:22

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Federal, State and Local Partners Team Up To Identify Middle Brazos/Palo Pinto Watershed Flood Risks in Texas