Bryan/College
Station/Brazos County
Flood Map Modernization
MAP MODERNIZATION
REMAINING PHASES
From Preliminary Maps to Final Adoption
In May 2009, new preliminary flood hazard maps (DFIRMS) were presented to Brazos County, the City of Bryan, and the City of College Station for review. Open houses have been scheduled at the Brazos Center for Monday, January 18, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM; Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM; and Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM to let the public view the maps and discuss any changes that might have occurred to their property.
Now that the preliminary maps have been released, there are a few more steps remaining before they become effective. The remaining phases include the Community Comment Period (officially known as the Appeal Period) and the Post Preliminary Processing Phase.
90-Day Community Comment Period (officially known as the Appeal Period)
As a mechanism to ensure that residents’ and business owners’ questions or concerns about the new map designations are addressed, the map adoption process includes a 90-day Public Review and Comment Period. To start this period, FEMA places two official notices in the newspaper within 10 days of each other (and one in the Federal Register). The comment period starts on the day the second notice is run. That day shall be March 17, 2010. The review period will run through June 15, 2010. (See the Notice of Publication in the right sidebar menu)
View Preliminary Floodplain Maps
MAP MODERNIZATION MILESTONES
March 17, 2010 – June 15, 2010:
90-day Public Comment Period (appeals and protests must be filed during this time)
Spring-Summer 2010*
Review and resolution of appeals and protests by FEMA.
Fall 2010*
Final Maps issued by FEMA with Letter of Final Determination; county and communities have 6 months to adopt the new flood maps
Late Fall 2010 or Spring 2011*
New digital flood maps become effective
*Dates subject to change pending completion of the review process
For General
Information and Appeals contact:
Brazos County
Kim Hinton
2617 Hwy 21 West
Bryan, Tx 77803
(979) 822-2127
City of College Station
Donnie Willis
1100 Texas Ave.
College Station, Tx 77842
(979) 764-3570
City of Bryan
Paul Kaspar
300 S. Texas Ave.
Bryan, Tx 77803
(979) 209-5030
The review period provides community officials and citizens in the affected communities with an opportunity to correct or add to the non-technical information presented on the Preliminary dFIRM and FIS (Flood Insurance Study) report, including the configuration and labeling of physical features such as roads within or adjacent to the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), bridges, and streams, prior to the formal statutory 90-day appeal period for any new or modified BFEs (Base Flood Elevations) that were identified. Citizens also have the opportunity to submit technical and/or scientific data to support a claim that their property has been improperly placed in a high-risk area or the map shows an incorrect flood elevation. Citizens who feel they have better information, such as an elevation certificate, topographic map or detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data, can protest or appeal the flood risk indicated by the new maps. This period is the only time to protest or appeal before the maps become effective.
Once the review period has begun, any technical appeal must be accompanied by detailed technical data prepared by a Licensed Engineer. All appeals with accompanying data must be submitted to the designated coordinator for each local government entity as listed in the sidebar menu to the right.
Review of Appeals and Protests
Once FEMA receives an appeal or protest, FEMA will request any additional support data through a letter to community officials who will then contact the property owner for the additional data. FEMA will allow approximately 30 days for submittal of the required data. Data submitted within the 30-day period will be considered in resolving the objections. If the data is not provided within the 30-day period, FEMA will resolve the appeals or protests using the data originally submitted.
If appeals and/or protests are adequately supported, FEMA will revise the Base Flood Elevations, floodplain boundaries, regulatory floodway boundaries, and any other information affected by the objections. If appropriate, FEMA will revise the affected map panel(s) and/or FIS report material(s).
If an appeal or protest is denied, FEMA will inform the community or other interested parties by letter and provide an explanation for the denial.
If property owners are unable to obtain and submit the appropriate support data within the 90-day appeal period, they may pursue a formal map revision after the map has become effective through a Letter of Map Change.
Letter of Final Determination
Once FEMA agrees to all changes and to the final DFIRM and the accompanying Flood Insurance Study (FIS), a Letter of Final Determination (LFD) is issued by FEMA; a posting is also made by FEMA in the Federal Register. This is also a 6-month notice for Brazos County, the City of Bryan, and the City of College Station to pass ordinances to adopt the new DFIRM and for property owners to start considering their flood insurance options, depending upon how the new DFIRMs will affect them. Also during this time, FEMA begins to create the final Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Map Effective Date
At the end of those six months, the new flood maps become effective, which is currently targeted for Spring 2011.