July 20, 2023 |
Photo – FEMA Flood Map – Courtesy Carbon County Planning and Development
Saratoga and Carbon County officials are asking the public for data that refutes the latest FEMA flood map.
Every five years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency redraws its flood insurance rate maps. The maps are used to determine who is required to purchase flood insurance through the government. Earlier in the year, FEMA sent copies of its draft flood plain map to county officials.
As reported by Bigfoot99 in February, former Saratoga councilman Jon Nelson explained to the sitting council that FEMA’s new flood insurance map was obviously inaccurate.
Nelson, who is also the owner of North Fork Engineering in Saratoga, explained that FEMA appeared to use incorrect measurements in their computer models. Nelson said the new maps showed more homes at risk of flooding, with lines seemingly drawn arbitrarily between property boundaries. The former council member said he brought his objections to FEMA’s attention.
FEMA has responded. In a letter sent to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners and the town of Saratoga last week, the federal agency said it is accepting appeals to the flood insurance rate map. County Planning and Development Director Sarah Brugger said the appeal process was brought about by the county’s objections to the new flood map.
Brugger said officials from Saratoga and the surrounding unincorporated land have 90 days to present scientific evidence that disputes the federal agency’s conclusions. The FEMA letter says it will publish notifications about the appeal process in local newspapers beginning this week. Brugger said the clock starts ticking when the final notification is published next Thursday.
Brugger said the appeal process doesn’t extend to the entirety of Cabon County. The planning and development director said only Saratoga and the surrounding area are subject to review.
Back in February, Nelson explained to the Saratoga town council how the computer models used to generate the new flood insurance map used subjective values to represent how water flowed through the North Platte River. He said even a small change to the measurements has a large effect on the computer’s output. Brugger said FEMA admitted its computer map of the area around Saratoga was flawed.
The FEMA letter tells residents to send any “scientific or technical data” that refutes the proposed flood map to either the FEMA region eight headquarters in Denver, Colorado, or to the local government. Brugger said she doesn’t know exactly what type of data FEMA is looking for. Just that the letter says, “scientific or technical.”
Brugger said anyone who wishes to participate in the appeals process to send whatever data they may have to her office. She asked people to email her at sarahbrugger@carbonwy.com or call her office at 307-328-2752.
At Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said he received a copy of the same FEMA letter the county did. Since Saratoga is at the epicenter of the disputed area, Mayor Davis said he will hold a public meeting about the flood map.
Mayor Davis said the public meeting to appeal the FEMA flood plain map will begin at 4:30pm on August 22nd, before that day’s town council meeting at the town hall. The mayor asked residents to bring their appeal evidence to the town’s attention. Mayor Davis said he’ll compile the data and send it to FEMA.
County Planning and Development Director Brugger said the map of the proposed FEMA changes is available on the county’s website. She directed people to examine the map and contact her with any questions or concerns.
Bigfoot99 will provide the link to the county’s FEMA map when this story is posted to our website later today.
FEMA’s proposed changes put more Carbon County residents in the flood danger zone. Expanding the flood zone means more people will be required to purchase flood insurance through the government. Both county and Saratoga officials are asking citizens to closely review the new map and bring any discrepancies to their attention.
To view the Carbon County draft Flood Insurance Map, go to: Carbon County DRAFT Flood Insurance Rate Map (arcgis.com)
