Your Property May Now Be In The Floodplain?
February 4, 2008
Beginning the last week of January and first two weeks of February, the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), in partnership with the Bexar Regional Watershed Management (BRWM), will host a series of public meetings to officially distribute the updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain maps, otherwise known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). These public meetings will be the start of FEMA’s official 90-day public comment period for appeals and protests.
During this period, the community and/or other interested parties may refute the data shown on the DFIRMs with a formal objection. This formal objection is known as an appeal or protest. The main focus of these meetings will be to provide information to the public about the creation of the DFIRMs and explain how to formally appeal or protest the new floodplain maps.
In addition to disseminating information, the public meetings will include a discussion on the relevance of the maps as they help to prioritize future capital improvement projects. Bexar County will provide an update of the County’s new 10-year Bond Program with a 3-year rolling Capital Improvement Program and the City of San Antonio will also give an update about the flood mitigation projects included in the May 2007 bond election. Both the County and City used the new floodplain maps, in cooperation with SARA, to develop these capital improvement programs.
A total of 12 public meetings will be held. The first six public meetings will take place from January 29th through January 31st with meetings held twice daily. The morning meetings will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and the evening meetings will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A FEMA representative will attend the first six public meetings. (Engineers, insurance representatives, real estate professionals and suburban city floodplain administrators are encouraged to attend one of the first three morning meetings.)
The remaining six public meetings will be held throughout the first two weeks in February, Tuesday through Thursday, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All nine evening meetings will have a similar agenda and all Bexar County residents are encouraged to attend one of the evening meetings.
Technorati Tags: Floodplain, San Antoino River Authority, Bexar Regional Watershed Management, San Antonio Floodplain Maps
Comments
2 Responses to “Your Property May Now Be In The Floodplain?”
Part of my property is included in the new Flood plain map made of the Stone Oak area. I disagree with this and am in contact with Cude Engineering, who did sight plan work in the area. I intend to protest this matter. It appears that the current up dates were done by pictures take from airial photos. A more thourough ground level look it required to make this valid in opinions of the Engineers.
Do I have to present these studies by May15th, which is 90 days from the last meeting, or do I have more time? Please advise.
Alfredo Flores
Mr. Flores,
Very good question and not being 100% sure, I would recommend contacting the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) asap at (210) 227-1373.
Good Luck,
Daniel Gaitan