FEMA Updates Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek Flood Insurance Maps
By Office of Communication
Posted on June 23, 2017, June 23, 2017

Flood Insurance

The City of Arlington participates in the National Flood Insurance Program which offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if the community agrees to adopt and enforce regulations that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

From time to time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will update the floodplain maps to incorporate new or updated data in an effort to adequately represent flood risk. The City of Arlington submitted the Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek watershed study to FEMA in 2014 in order to incorporate the new technical data into the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) data. FEMA has developed preliminary FIRM and FIS data for the Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek watersheds using the information developed in the City's study of those creeks.

Changes to the floodplain maps will include:

  • Addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations
  • Special Flood Hazard Area boundary changes
  • Changes to flood zone designations
  • Revisions to the floodway boundaries

The City of Arlington has copies of the Preliminary FIRM and FIS data available for public review. Please visit the Public Works and Transportation Department office located in City Hall at 101 W. Abram Street to review copies of the preliminary FIRM map panels and FIS data. The preliminary FIRM map panels are also available to view on the City's webpage at www.arlingtontx.gov/stormwater/fema-flood-insurance-rate-map-revisions/.

You may also review this data on FEMA's interactive mapping site online at http://www.riskmap6.com.

As part of the map revision process, you may appeal the preliminary FIRM and FIS data with any technical engineering data that may better represent the area. The appeals period will commence on or about June 25, 2017. Once the appeals period begins, there will be statutory 90-day period to submit an appeal.

Please visit FEMA's website at www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/bfe or call FEMA Map Information at 1-877-336-2627 for more information about the appeals process.

Once the FIRM map panels become effective, buildings that are newly mapped into a high-risk area or Special Flood Hazard Area will have 12 months from the effective date to still receive the Preferred Risk Policy premium rates. However, after the first year, rates will then increase up to 18 percent a year.

Don't wait to purchase flood insurance! There is a 30-day waiting period for flood policies to take effect. Contact your local insurance agent for more information on rates and policies or visit www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.

For information about the Special Flood Hazard Area and other floodplain definitions visit http://www.arlington-tx.gov/stormwater/flood-hazard-zones-and-online-maps/.

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