FEMA Flood Insurance Map Information

In early November FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) provided the Town of Kittery with copies of the new Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

FEMA conducted a coastal study and generated these new preliminary FIRMs with updated flood hazard risk information and flood zone boundaries. A hard copy of these preliminary FIRMs are available for viewing at the Planning and Development Office at Kittery Town Hall as well as on the Town’s website using our on-line GIS mapping system.  An electronic copy (PDF) of the preliminary maps are also available at FEMA’s website.
 
All property owners in the vicinity of water and wetlands are encouraged to view the information above to determine the impact the proposed maps incur.  The maps may affect the development potential of your property as well as whether you will need to obtain flood insurance.  Congress recently passed legislation (the Biggert Waters Act of 2012) to remove long-standing federal subsidies for owners requiring insurance, which is expected to result in premium increases.  
 

When using the Town’s GIS website, it is possible to view a specific property with the current flood zone information overlaid and compare preliminary flood zone information as well.  

Directions: Start by finding your specific parcel by typing in the address (street name only, no suffix, i.e. Road, Lane, Way) or the Map and Lot (i.e. 22-20A) in the search box under the “Search” tab.

Then, under the “Legend” tab activate “Water Resources” by checking the box to the left.  Then click on the triangle to the left and expand the list of layers nested under “Water Resources”.   

Then check the “Flood Zones” layer (the based on the current FIRM maps) and the “FEMA Draft 2013” layer to show the proposed floodplain maps and zones that may apply.  You can compare the proposed maps to the existing floodplain maps since the “FEMA Draft 2013” layer is in red and is visible over the current flood zones.

Time Line:  The specific timeline for reviewing, appealing, revising, and ultimately locally adopting these updated FIRMs, is not yet established, but the following are the steps the Town believes FEMA will take:

  • It is the Town’s current understanding that FEMA intends to hold a meeting intended for the general public at a later date following the meeting with municipal officials (early January), and that the general public meeting will be a single meeting for all York County municipalities.
  • The Town has asked FEMA to conduct a meeting specifically for Kittery residents. Notice on the Town's website and in local newspapers and other media sources will be provided once the Town is sure of the date and time of a FEMA meeting.
  • The 90-day appeal period is the timeframe allowed for property owners to submit appeals of various aspects of the preliminary FIRMSs, such as the proposed Base Flood Elevations, the extent of the flood zone designations and the like. Any appeals need to be submitted in a manner that follows the requirements as prescribed by FEMA. It has not been determined if the Town of Kittery will submit an appeal of the proposed new flood elevations. Property owners should not rely on or wait for a Town appeal but should determine independently if they wish to file an appeal specific to their property.  Individual appeals need to be prepared by engineers with specific hydrological experience.

After the appeal period and any resolution of the appeals, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination (LFD). The LFD establishes the final FIRMs that the Town must adopt within six (6) months of issuance of the LFD.

Given the above, we anticipate the following steps and associated timelines:

Municipal  Officials Meeting is scheduled in early January; a general Public Meeting could occur late February or early March; a 90-day Appeal process is likely to start around the same time period; a Letter of Final Determination in the spring or early summer of 2014; and FIRM adoption sometime during the first half of 2015. The exact schedule though will be dictated by FEMA as the process unfolds.

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