HARLINGEN — New flood maps for Cameron County that went into effect in February may have changed risks for homeowners or business operators.
HARLINGEN — New flood maps for Cameron County that went into effect in February may have changed risks for homeowners or business operators.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hosting an open house from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Brownsville Event Center to educate county residents about how their risk factors may have increased or decreased.
The information could have an impact on whether flood insurance is needed or whether the new risk map, called Flood Insurance Rate Maps, means a homeowner or business owner could suspend flood insurance with relative confidence.
The flood risk map issued earlier this year found that a large portion of the county was behind a non-accredited levee, which means this area does not meet federal minimum standards.
A decision was made to separate out or “seclude” the area impacted by the levee.
The new flood maps indicated that high-risk flood zones covering many of the resacas on the map in this secluded area did not match resacas on the new aerial photo base map used to come up with the new flood map.
The new patterns indicated in the map found some buildings were now in a high-risk area known as a Special Flood Hazard Area, and banks and other lenders began requiring flood insurance, FEMA said in a statement.
The open house will explain the realignment in the new flood risk map.
FEMA representatives, along with state and local officials, will be on hand to answer questions about individual properties and what the new risk map means for residents and business owners.
To view flood maps online, visit https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home.
For more information on flood insurance, visit www.FloodSmart.gov.
