SWAN VALLEY - Staff from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and Missoula County presented information to Swan Valley residents about the proposed updates to the Swan River Floodplain and the impacts to individual Missoula County property owners Sept. 20 at the Swan Valley Community Hall.
In 2014, the updated draft floodplain mapping project began. The updated maps will eventually replace maps produced more than 30 years ago. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), DNRC and Missoula County utilized more up-to-date topographical and hydrologic data and engineering methods to ensure more accurate mapping. Close to five structures and properties were mapped in that haven’t been in the floodplain previously and nearly six that previously were in the floodplain were taken out of the 100-year floodplain zone.
DNRC Outreach Specialist Tiffany Lyden told the attendees that a 100-year floodplain doesn’t mean that there will be a flood every 100 years. She said it comes out at a one percent chance of a major flood each year.
Property owners can view their personal property on the county website: http://www.missoulacounty.us/swanfp. Type in the property’s address after clicking on the magnifying glass icon and see the proposed map and view the potential risk of flooding.
The map shows base flood elevations, flood zones and floodplain boundaries.
FEMA will use the draft floodplain maps to produce Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The floodplain map changes will impact insurance rates. A lender must require flood insurance when a building carries a federally backed loan and is in a mapped 100-year floodplain. Properties with newly mapped status may be eligible for a lower-cost Preferred Risk Policy offered by FEMA. After the first 12 months, the rates will begin to transition to a full-risk rate. It must be purchased within 11 months of the date that the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps become effective.
In spring 2017, the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps go to the county for formal review and then for public review. In summer 2017 the FEMA 90-day public appeal and comment period takes place. It is expected by spring 2018, appeal and comments will be resolved and the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps will go into effect in fall 2018.
To view mapping of property along the Swan River in Lake County, Lyden said that Lake County doesn’t have a county map viewer for the public to use. She suggests using the maps on the FEMA Map Service Center: http://www.msc.fema.gov
Type in an address or location in the search bar and then click on the “Interactive Map” icon and the user can mover around the area without having to open different maps. The user can zoom in to get the floodplain information.
For more information about the ongoing Swan River floodplain mapping project, contact: Missoula County Floodplain Administrator Todd Klietz, tklietz@missoulacounty.us, 406-258-4841 or DNRC Outreach Specialist Tiffany Lyden, tlyden@mt.gov, 406-444-0599
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plans to present Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps to Missoula County for formal review and to public meetings for review in Spring 2017. The 90 day public appeal and comment period will begin in summer 2017. When appeals and comments are resolved, the Flood Insurance Rate Maps will be finalized in Spring 2018 and they are expected to go into effect for flood insurance purposes in Fall 2018.
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