2020 FEMA Coastal Floodplain Map Update

Flooding - Mapleton, OR - Jan. 19, 2012 - Image Courtesy Smallman12q/ODOT

UPDATED March 18, 2020

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has updated the Flood Insurance Rate Map for coastal Lane County, including Florence and Dunes City. The last update of these maps for Florence occurred in 1999. More accurate data, provided by improved technology, has allowed more elevations to be determined for properties within and adjacent to floodways in Florence which had previously only been estimated. This, however, has also created a large number of changes in the FIRM. These changes can be viewed at this link.

PROCESS:

FEMA is responsible for preparing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that delineate flood hazard zones and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) in the United States. Because of the importance of understanding the nation’s coastal flood risk, FEMA has updated coastal flood risk studies for the populated coastline as part of its Risk MAP effort. Through the Risk MAP effort, FEMA updates the nation’s coastal Flood Insurance Studies (FISs) and FIRMs, where appropriate, and publishes new FIRMs in densely populated areas that were not previously mapped. For more information, please visit https://www.fema.gov/coastal-flood-risks-achieving-resilience-together.

The State of Oregon identified Lane County as a priority for FEMA's Risk MAP program. The State determines its priorities based on population at risk to hazards, recent events, and community interest. FEMA, State, and Local stakeholders participated in a Risk MAP Coordination/Scoping Meeting held December 19, 2012 where community concerns were identified. These concerns were captured in the Risk MAP Discovery Report and delivered to the communities in the watershed. After the Coordination/ Scoping Meeting, community concerns were researched and analyzed, in order to develop a scope of work that includes multi-hazard risk assessment products and updates to the communities' regulatory flood maps based on community-identified resilience needs.

Project Milestones and Deliverables

Meeting/Deliverable	Date
Public Meeting/Workshop	September 18, 2018
Deliver of Final Risk Report and Risk Assessment Database	Complete as of November 2018
90 Day Appeal Period Starts/Ends	December 18, 2018/March 17, 2019
Letter of Final Determination	December 5, 2019
FIRM and FIS become Active	June 5, 2020

Detailed Update Process

A public meeting was held on September 18, 2018 in Florence, Oregon. Information regarding the regulatory and insurance implications of the new floodplain delineation was provided to the meeting attendees. Subject matter experts were also on hand to answer any questions from the community members. The draft FIRMs were available at the meeting and on the City's website on this page. Corrections were made after the meeting as needed

On October 26, 2018 FEMA published a notice of the proposed flood hazard determinations in the Federal Register and again on December 18, 2018 in the Register Guard. This started the beginning of a 90 day appeal period, when citizens could appeal changes in flood zones, floodways, and base flood elevations, based on scientific or technical issues. FEMA received no valid requests for changes to the FHDs.

FEMA sent the City of Florence a of Final Determination (LFD) dated December 4, 2019. The effective date for the project is six months after the LFD, June 5, 2020. The City has until this date to adopt the new FIRM and FIS and all standards specified in Paragraph 60.3(e) of the National Flood Insurance Program regulations.

On March 4, 2020 the City of Florence mailed property owners affected by the map and study updates notice of the proposed changes to the Florence Realization Comprehensive Plan and City Code to enact the changes made by FEMA.

Public Hearing Dates & Updated Public Hearing Procedures

The first Evidentiary hearing was held by the Florence Planning Commission on March 24, 2020 at Florence City Hall, 250 Highway 101 at 5:30 p.m. The final hearing will be held by the Florence City Council on April 20, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. To learn more about the upcoming meeting including updated public meeting procedures given COVID-19 social spacing requirements, visit the meeting webpage HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How are coastal and riverine flood hazard areas determined?

Both scientific and community-provided data is used to help identify areas with potential for flooding that could put both lives and property at risk during storms and flood events.

WHO IS MAKING THESE UPDATES AND WHY?

The City of Florence, Lane County, and State of Oregon have been working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify the most specific information about the Florence Area. Flood hazard zones are then updated using this more precise topographical and engineering data.

The better information that FEMA is able to gather, the more accurate flood maps will be produced. Our goal is to gather input and perspective from a city, county, tribe, and statewide level to create these tools. The desired outcomes from this process are maps that will be used by community officials for future development, land use mapping, and hazard mitigation planning.