New FEMA Maps May Have Your Home In A Flood Plain

New FEMA Maps May Have Your Home In A Flood Plain
Posted: Aug 24, 2009 4:55 PM CDT Updated: Aug 25, 2009 4:40 PM CDT
Featured Video and full article at http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=10982605

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6 edited by Gary W. Breisch
New FEMA Maps May Have Your Home In A Flood Plain

Neighbors in Freedom Park in Sapulpa were surprised to learn their homes were possibly now located in a flood plain and their insurance rates would be going up.

See the video at

http://www.newson6.com/Global/category.asp?C=121535&clipId=4069496&autostart=true

New FEMA Maps May Have Your Home In A Flood Plain

Surveyor Gary Breisch says the flood statistics and conditions of the development have changed. That is indicated by the new FEMA maps that  updated the flood zones and shaded areas there published dated May 18, 2009.

Breisch says it’s not just Freedom Park. He’s received calls from Jenks, OK to  Stillwater, OK from people wanting Elevation Certificates (EC).

SAPULPA, OK — Creek County homeowners who once were high and dry may find their houses are now in flood plains.

And, flood insurance may be raised thousands of dollars a year which could leave many home owners under water. As some homeowners in Sapulpa are learning, whether you live in a flood plain or not, really is a gray area.

Surveyor Gary Breisch says the flood statistics and conditions of the development have changed. That is indicated by the new FEMA maps that updated the flood zones and shaded areas there published dated May 18, 2009.

Neighbors in Freedom Park in Sapulpa were surprised to learn their homes were possibly now located in a flood plain and their insurance rates would be going up.

“They told us the amount they were quoted which was $4,500 for a year which to a normal person that’s kind of high,” said Daniel Robinson.  (Engineer for AEP in Tulsa, OK)

Based on FEMA’s newest maps, Daniel Robinson’s Sapulpa home is now on the shady side.

“It says it’s not based on calculations so, they don’t really have a whole lot of data there and I’m not sure who they are supposed to get it from,” said Daniel Robinson.

Robinson took a proactive approach and hired a registered land surveyor.

“It’s the equivalent of taking a map and laying it in front of a third grader and saying shade this area between these lines,” said surveyor Gary Breisch.

Breisch says he typically see one to two calls per year for elevation certificates, but says he literally started getting a flood of calls.

Breisch says it's not just Freedom Park. He's received calls from Jenks, OK to Stillwater, OK from people wanting Elevation Certificates (EC).

Breisch says the flood statistics and conditions of the development have changed. That prompts FEMA to update the flood zones. He says the shading is based on general and outdated topo maps or data.

“It may show it’s way up here. But, the people making the maps didn’t have enough survey contour or current topo information to determine where the actual shaded area should be at the time of the new map composition,” said surveyor Gary Breisch.

As for Robinson and several homes in Freedom Park, the FEMA map shows their homes are in the flood plains, but the data says they are in the clear.

“I’d like to see my neighborhood get out of it if the houses are indeed out of the base flood elevation because then it would look good for if and when we ever decide to sell our homes. It would look good that way,” said Daniel Robinson.

See if your home is still high enough or if it may now be considered low and risky due to the new maps and data revised by FEMA.

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