Appeal Period Ends May 3 Flood Insurance Map Changes

The following press release was issued by Clark County at http://www.clark.wa.gov/

Vancouver, WA – The Board of County Commissioners is reminding Clark County property owners and renters that they have only two more weeks to appeal changes to federal flood insurance rate maps.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 90-day appeal period started on Feb. 2, and will end on Tuesday, May 3.

Flood insurance rate maps identify flood hazard zones in Clark County, including “base flood” areas that have a 1 percent chance of being inundated in any year. The final maps will indicate properties where mortgage lenders may require flood insurance and where floodplain development regulations may apply.

The revised flood insurance rate maps are available on the Clark County Public Works website: www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks. Paper maps also are available for review at the Vancouver Community Library, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., and the Battle Ground Community Library, 1207 S.E. Eighth Way.

Only property owners and renters along certain stretches of streams, lakes and rivers can appeal, typically in areas where FEMA has updated hydrologic and hydraulic computer modeling. A link to maps showing appealable areas can be found in the same location on the Clark County Public Works website.

Under federal regulations, appeals must include information indicating that a proposed base flood area is scientifically or technically incorrect.

For the specific regulations, go to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations at: ecfr.gpoaccess.gov. Scroll to “Title 44 – Emergency Management and Assistance” and proceed to “Part 67 – Appeals From Proposed Flood Elevation Determinations.”  Even though not all map changes can be appealed, revisions still can be made through a separate process known as a “letter of map amendment.”

More information is available by calling FEMA’s Map Information eXchange, (877) 336-2627, or by going online to: www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_main.html.

Appeals should be submitted to the city where the appellant lives or owns property or to Clark County if the site is not inside any city limits. Each jurisdiction will forward appeals to FEMA for review.

Appeals for property in unincorporated Clark County should be submitted to:

Tom Grange, Engineering & Design Supervisor
Clark County Public Works
1300 Franklin St.
PO Box 9810
Vancouver, WA 98666-9810