Frequently
Asked Questions
What is a FIRM? Flood Insurance Rate Map. A FIRM shows areas of land that are prone
to flooding.
Why does the County have floodplain regulations? The County must regulate
development in flood prone areas in order to be accepted in the National Flood Insurance
Program. Acceptance in this program is necessary for property owners in the county to
obtain less expensive flood insurance.
What is a floodplain? A floodplain is the area that may be covered with water
during a significant rain event. The rain event used to define a floodplain is that which
has a 1% chance of occurrence during any given year. This rain event is also called the
“100 year storm.”
How do I know if my property is in the floodplain? You may review the preliminary
FIRM panels. Contact the Environmental Office
at 674-1393 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
I have lived in my house for a long time and it has never flooded, but the maps show my
property to be in the floodplain. Are the maps wrong? The maps are developed using
statistical rainfall data for the County area along with detailed ground surface
information to calculate the rise and spread of floodwaters through the County’s
creek system. The maps have been reviewed and generally reflect what has been observed
during actual flood events. However, it is possible that certain properties are shown to
be in a mapped floodplain, but may not be at risk due to their actual location or
elevation.
How do I request information regarding the FIRM? Questions may be answered by
Taylor County Environmental Office or Commissioners’ Court.
How
do I request that the map be changed? Appeals process will be detailed
in Public Notice posted by FEMA in the Abilene Reporter-News within the next few weeks.
Requests for changes to the map must be accompanied by supporting technical data in order
to be forwarded to FEMA. This data must be technical in nature and may be in the form of
ground surface elevations or a sealed engineer’s report. Appeals that only provide
subjective statements such as “I don’t believe my house is in the floodplain”
or “my house has never flooded” will not be forwarded. For more information, contact Taylor County
Environmental Office or Commissioners’ Court
Who
created the preliminary Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map for
What
is the purpose of the newly revised FEMA flood map for
Am I required to have flood insurance? Most mortgage companies require flood
insurance for houses that are in the floodplain.
Should I buy flood insurance? If your house is in the floodplain according to the
FEMA maps, you may be required by your lender to purchase flood insurance. If your house
is in the floodplain but you do not have a mortgage, then it is your personal decision
whether or not to buy flood insurance. There may be some advantage to purchasing flood
insurance before the new maps become effective. Certain properties where the floodplain
status has changed may be “grandfathered” and reduced rates may apply for
insurance purchased before the new maps become effective. Contact your insurance agent for
more information.
Can
I build a new house or structure in a floodplain? Generally yes. However, the
finished floor must be elevated higher than the Base Flood Elevation and the structure
must not be located in the floodway without special engineering analysis that has been
reviewed and approved by the Taylor County Environmental Office.
When will the preliminary map become final? The preliminary map will likely become
the official “effective” map sometime in 2010. The date is uncertain due to a
backlog of work on the nationwide effort to update and modify all floodplain maps in the
country. Until the new maps become the “effective maps”, all construction and
development in the County must be in conformance with the County’s current maps and
ordinances.