City officials work to OK flood plain guidelines

City officials must once again pass floodplain regulations to maintain eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
‘FEMA has drawn up new flood plain maps for McMinnville and Warren County and in order to keep us in the flood plain program, where FEMA provides insurance for the flood plain areas, we have to adopt the ordinance,’ said Planning and Zoning director Jim Brock.
Over a year ago, representatives from FEMA came to McMinnville and asked about changes to the area ‘ places that have ceased to flood and places that have begun flooding ‘ and generated new maps, as the old ones were created many years ago.
The representatives were taken to several areas in town that pose the biggest flooding problems. According to Brock, those areas include the backside of Westwood, where he estimates 90 percent of city flooding problems lie.
Flood plains are low-lying areas adjacent to streams and rivers. These areas naturally absorb the energy of floodwater and reduce the damage to the river channel. Flood plains are mapped by the FEMA for the National Flood Insurance Program.
‘The ordinance lets FEMA know we want to participate in the program. They have certain rules and regulations as to how we can build things in the flood plains,’ said Brock.
Among the numerous rules and regulations, Brock must make sure proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding, advise those who are building that additional federal or state permits may be required, and notify adjacent communities and agencies regarding relocation of a watercourse.
If the ordinance isn’t passed and a flood disaster happens, there will be no federal relief fund. FEMA may provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and communities following a flood if the damage threshold defining a federal disaster is exceeded in the area, or if federal flood insurance is in force.
For uninsured persons, the amount of the relief for a first time flood event is reduced by the amount of the premium that would have been required to insure the building and its contents. Relief for second and subsequent events may not be provided unless insurance has been purchased.
For additional information about the maps, contact the Map Service Center by telephone at 1-800-358-9616, or by e-mail at FEMA-MSCservice@ahs.gov.