Yuba might have problem with flood map revisions

Yuba County officials are concerned about a flood map timing issue that could affect residents financially.

Completion of a $200 million levee upgrade and the release of a new Federal Emergency Management Agency flood map could overlap, time-wise, in spite of an aggressive construction timeline.

This overlap, according to Yuba County Community Services Director Kevin Mallen, could potentially result in higher flood premiums and mandatory insurance requirements for some residents if the agency's new flood maps do not reflect ongoing levee improvements.

Mallen said a preliminary version of the maps is expected to be released in the fall.

FEMA representatives will be in Yuba County today to announce the agency's overall assessment of the levees' current ability to protect residents against flooding.

Supervisor Don Schrader expressed concern Tuesday about a lack of flexibility in FEMA's timeline.

"The train's left the station and for some reason they are not willing to slow down," Schrader said.

The Board of Supervisors approved the funding last week for a six-mile setback levee along the Feather River. The levee protects Olivehurst and Plumas Lake.

"The actual flood protection will be greater than shown in the preliminary maps," Mallen said.

If the maps do not include current projects, Mallen said, the county can appeal to FEMA for reconsideration.

The setback levee project is expected to begin in April and be completed this fall.

Construction would fall between FEMA's issuance of its preliminary and final flood map versions. FEMA is expected to release final flood maps in fall 2009.

The last version of FEMA flood maps were released in 1982.

Mallen said the county wants to remind residents that remapping will have a financial effect on every homeowner whose property lies behind a levee. All of the county's levees are being reviewed, he said, not just those under construction.

The federal agency is now collecting data about all upgrades and improvements that have been made or planned, in order to help develop the new maps.

"Until we have the preliminary maps in hand," said Schrader, "we don't know what it is going to look like."

County officials are planning to hold town hall meetings and post material via the county Web site in order to help residents understand what flood remapping could mean to them, Mallen said. Dates for those meetings have not been set.

County staff said FEMA is aware of ongoing work on the Feather River levee.

Because of the county's history with floods, county officials encourage residents to remain protected at all times with flood insurance, regardless of remapping.

"There's always a potential risk," Mallen said. "If you're healthy, you're not going to cancel your health insurance."

Contact Appeal reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com

On the web:

For more information about FEMA remapping, visit http://rmc.mapmodteam.com/rmc9/