MONROE COUNTY: Flood Insurance Maps online
Especially with the Federal Emergency Management Agency decertifying the area levees, which has caused quite a stir recently as Columbia, Waterloo and other surrounding towns decide what they will do to update their flood protection.
So in hopes of allaying some worry, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-in conjunction with FEMA-has completed new county-wide Flood Insurance Maps. An open house will be from 5-8:30 p.m. Tuesday (July 29) at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo so property owners can learn more about their flood risks."The maps are used to decide a number of things, including deciding local government legislation and deciding flood insurance premiums," Kelly Veronico, post-preliminary officer with the IDNR, said. "They will also be incorporating the Upper Mississippi River System Flow Frequency Study, which is the best study done on the topic."
These new digital maps are replacing the old paper maps, making them easier to access and easier to update. They are available for viewing at illinoisfloodmaps.org.
Another important feature of the maps is they will indicate the Restoration Zone (AR) in the American Bottoms, a designation that indicates the increased flood hazard is considered temporary because a restoration of protection is underway.
The reason this designation is so important is threefold: The required flood insurance premium rates would be significantly lower in an AR Zone, the elevation requirements for new structures in the AR Zone are more relaxed and the designation of AR Zone encourages communities expeditiously to restore base flood protection in at-risk areas.
After the public hearing, an official comment period will be from July 29-Aug. 27, with comment forms available at the open house or from dnr.state.il.us/Flood/Forms1.htm.
"The comment period is for non-technical things like street name changes or misspelled names," Veronico said.
For more information people should call (847) 608-3100 ext. 2059.
