July 8, 2024 |
Photo – Rawlins FEMA flood map – Courtesy City of Rawlins web page
Rawlins city officials are still planning to fight the federal government’s new flood plain maps.
In 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, began the process of updating flood plain maps across the country. The maps allege to show properties that are vulnerable to a once in a century flood. Landowners in the flood plain must purchase flood insurance or be barred from receiving certain types of federal disaster assistance.
During Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey said preliminary data presented by FEMA in 2020 showed more properties in the flood plain. Sarvey said at that time, the city chose not to dispute the federal agency’s findings.
Two years later, in 2022, FEMA began rolling out its finalized flood plain maps. Sarvey said a letter recently sent to Rawlins by the federal agency demands residents purchase flood insurance before December.
Sarvey said he has doubts about the accuracy of FEMA’s flood plain maps. The city manager said he doesn’t believe the federal agency considered past flood mitigation efforts made on the south side of the city.
Sarvey said FEMA identified where Sugar Creek flows through Hogback Reservoir as a risk factor for the south side of the city. Sarvey said FEMA doesn’t believe that the existing retaining wall will prevent a once in a century flood from affecting the area.
Sarvey said FEMA also mentioned a lack of diversion methods to prevent flood water from reaching the south side of Interstate 80. Sarvey disputed the federal government’s claims, saying the south side of Rawlins is well protected against flooding.
Sarvey said the city has only one recourse against FEMA: a Letter of Map Adjustment, or LOMA, asking the federal agency to reconsider its findings. The city manager said he hired Engineering Associates to investigate existing flood mitigation infrastructure. Sarvey said the consulting firm has already completed a preliminary survey of Hogback Reservoir. However, Sarvey said the Sugar Creek retaining wall is on private property, meaning the city must obtain an easement to allow further exploration.
As of Tuesday’s city council meeting, Sarvey said he had not received the easement required for Engineering Associates to access the retaining wall. The city manager said the consulting firm is asking him to pay the property owner for the easement.
Sarvey said he reached out to land appraisers, but hasn’t gotten a call back yet. Once he receives the appraisal, the city manager said he’ll bring a potential easement agreement to the council for approval.
Even if the city files a Letter of Map Amendment before December, Sarvey said FEMA has indicated that it will not issue a ruling until after the new maps are put into effect.
Sarvey said the new flood maps also came with demands from FEMA. The city manager said the federal agency requires the city to legally accept its findings and require residents to purchase flood insurance. Sarvey said he’ll present FEMA’s recommended changes to the council at a future meeting.
Vice Mayor Steve Sanger asked Sarvey if residents will need to buy flood insurance if the Letter of Map Amendment is accepted. Sarvey said residents must have flood insurance by December. However, if the LOMA is approved, they may cancel their coverage.
Mayor Terry Weickum said he believes that if a resident purchases flood insurance through the federal government, they will receive a full refund if the LOMA is accepted.
Sarvey said he is focused on obtaining the easement to allow Engineering Associates to investigate the Sugar Creek retaining wall. The city manager said he will present the agreement and FEMA’s required ordinance changes at a future council meeting.
