2007 Flood Insurance Rate Maps Windsor Park / Effingham Way area Approximate “A” Zone Issues

Windsor Park/ Effingham Issue A new “A Zone” has been identified for this area An “A Zone” is a Flood Zone with no published Base Flood Elevation (Flood Stage) Area residents have been required to obtain Flood Insurance by their mortgage companies Maps may not reflect the actual likelihood of flooding in this area

Map Modernization in GA In 1999, the State of Georgia entered into a partnership with FEMA Region IV Georgia DNR assumed responsibility for digital floodplain mapping for all 159 counties by 2009 FEMA provides funding for this initiative on a year-to-year basis

Map Modernization in Columbus Previous Flood Insurance Study and maps were effective from May 3, 1993 until September 4, 2007 “Flood Zones” were drawn using 10-ft contour USGS Quadrangle maps Several unstudied “A” zones appeared in developing areas

Map Modernization Timeline April 10, 2006 – Received Preliminary FIS and FIRMs May 23, 2006 – Public Meeting at the Government Center Annex, GaDNR and PBS&J in attendance, start of comment period September 5, 2007 – FIS and FIRMs are effective

Map Improvements 2007 vs. 1993 Portions of Heiferhorn, Roaring Branch and Flat Rock Creeks were redrawn using better topography A Limited Detail Study was performed on Lindsay Creek East Branch Aerial Photography serves as the background on all maps Information in GIS format

East Lindsay Branch Limited Detail Study Purpose was to provide the Community with “Better Data” with which the floodplain could be more accurately managed Engineering modeling was performed using the 2-ft topography provided by CCG as well as the field validation of culverts

Lindsay Creek East Branch Limited Detail Study (cont.) Engineers did not incorporate the Spillway of the Lake Heath Dam into the model The model considered the dam to be a wall, or weir, of consistent height An advisory or approximate Base Flood Elevation of 392.4 was determined The 392.4 contour was mapped and new Approximate A Zone defined.

1993 Approximate A Zone

Flood Insurance Residents have been receiving 45-day notices from their mortgage companies Mandatory Purchase Requirement if structure (with active mortgage) is in the “Flood Zone” Most residents qualify for Pre-FIRM rates (subsidized)

Flood Insurance (cont.) Premiums are based on: Rating (from Elevation Certificate) Amount of Insurance for Structure Deductible Contents Coverage Zone Pre-FIRM or Post-FIRM Premiums are normally placed in escrow

Letters of Map Amendment Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) are documents that remove structures or defined parcels of land from the Flood Zone Two Types LOMA - Out as Shown LOMA – Normal (Requires Elevation Certificate) Elevation Certificates are completed by either a Registered Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer

CCG Responses to Date Week of October 8th – Citizens in the newly defined “A” Zone begin receiving letters from their mortgage companies and begin calling CCG for assistance Three Conference Calls with FEMA, PBS&J and GaDNR Two direct mailings to the affected communities

Options FEMA and GaDNR concur that a Full Detail Study will be required to revise the three Flood Maps affected

Option 1 Continue to use current (2007) Flood Insurance Rate Maps Panels 0024F, 0025F & 0037F Residents with active mortgages will obtain Flood Insurance as required

Option 2 Have a Full Detail Study completed for this area Process will require a two-phased approach Existing Conditions Conditions after Effingham Way Project is complete PBS&J is able to supplement the initial work performed with additional surveying, field verification and modeling Estimated Cost - $30-40 thousand dollars

Recommendation Authorize the Department of Engineering to enter into a contract with PBS&J as a “sole-source” to perform the Full Detail Study Sign a contract by year’s end to insure that the surveying, modeling, technical review by FEMA and issuance of the Letter of Map Revision all occur prior to September 5, 2008

Rationale A more Representative flood model and map for this area Validate or invalidate three current (2007) Flood Map Panels If a LOMA or LOMR is obtained within this first Policy Year, residents that obtain Insurance for themselves will be eligible for a Full Refund of the Premiums they have paid in If forced-placed on their mortgage by the lender, those residents will be eligible for a pro-rated refund

Summary A new “A Zone” has been identified for this area that may or may not reflect the actual likelihood of flooding Area residents have been required to obtain Flood Insurance by their mortgage companies Full Detail Study will supercede Limited Detail Study

2007 Flood Insurance Rate Maps Questions?