July 17, 2024 |
Photo – Example of a FEMA Flood Map – Bigfoot99 file photo
Carbon County will continue to follow federal flood insurance guidelines.
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 the July 2nd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Planning and Development Coordinator Kristy Rowan explained that the county has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program for 40 years. Rowan said the county may adopt all or part of FEMA’s flood plain recommendations.
Rowan explained the benefits of participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. The planning coordinator said opting into the federal program comes with many financial incentives.
Rowan said failure to take part in the National Flood Insurance Program limits the amount of federal and local disaster assistance available to the community.
Rowan said Encampment, Hanna, and Sinclair are the only municipalities in Carbon County that do not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The three towns join 27 other Wyoming municipalities opting out of the federal flood program.
Rowan said the FEMA flood plain maps are used extensively when reviewing building permit applications. The planning director said over the past 39 years, Carbon County has issued 21 building permits for construction projects in the flood zone.
The new FEMA flood plain maps are set to go into effect this December 20th. Rowan said the planning and development board will review the federal government’s requirements in late September and suggest ordinance changes to the commission in November.
Rowan said any ordinance change requires a 45-day notice prior to being formally adopted.
The new FEMA flood plain maps are not without controversy. Last year, former Saratoga councilman Jon Nelson pointed out perceived errors on the federal government’s map. Nelson said if the town adopts the new flood map, properties unaffected by major flooding in 2011 will be required to purchase flood insurance.
At Nelson’s behest, Public Works Director Emery Penner hired a Colorado-based engineering firm to examine the federal government’s proposed map. After a lengthy review, the engineering company was unable to find substantial errors with the FEMA flood plain maps and advised Saratoga officials not to fight for changes.
Rawlins City Manager Tom Sarvey also disagrees with FEMA’s findings. During the July 2nd Rawlins city council meeting, Sarvey accused the federal agency of not taking existing flood mitigation structures into account when designing the new map. The governing body has hired a local engineering firm to examine a retaining wall to ensure it is sufficient to prevent flood damage. If the wall is sound, Sarvey said he will submit a Letter of Map Adjustment, or LOMA, to FEMA in the hopes that the federal agency will amend its flood plain map.
