Property Owners: Check Newly Mapped FEMA Flood Zones
With some re-drawn flood zones, FEMA's preliminary revised flood maps are available to check out now. The changes may affect some Branford and North Branford property owners and impact insurance costs -- which could increase or decrease, based on where watershed properties fall on the new maps.
Preliminary maps are now available to view at Branford and North Branford Town Engineer offices and online at http://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata%20
Have something to say about what you find? FEMA is accepting appeals and comments during a 90 day review period, from Feb. 11 - May 11, 2016.
The following press release was shared by North Branford Town Engineer Kurt Weiss Feb. 26; the news affects North Branford and Branford residents:
Press Release: FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is in the process of revising Flood Maps for the Quinnipiac Watershed, which includes watersheds within the Town of Branford and North Branford, including the Farm River, Burrs Brook, Munger Brook, the Branford River, and miscellaneous tributaries. The hydraulics of the Farm River and Branford River were restudied in detail as part of the Quinnipiac Watershed study. In addition, new topography was acquired and utilized in the study and mapping of the watershed.
Preliminary revised maps based upon the new study and dated Aug. 10, 2015, are available for review in the Town Engineers' offices in Branford and North Branford respectively.
Available maps indicate revised flood limits, the increased or decreased area of the flood zone, and the projected depth of flooding within the mapped area. All residents and businesses currently within or near the designated flood zones are encouraged to inspect the revised maps to see if the revisions will impact their property.
There is a 90-day appeal period to review the maps and studies and to provide comments to FEMA. The appeal period commenced on February 11, 2016 and will end on May 11, 2016.
For more information and directions for submittal of comments please visit the following website:
The revisions may result in a requirement to obtain flood insurance for some properties or eliminate the need for flood insurance for other properties. Also, properties that may no longer require flood insurance may consider retaining flood insurance protection, which should be at a significantly reduced cost. You may visit the following website which contains information regarding insurance premium phase-ins if your property is newly mapped in a flood zone:
