Floodplain questions

EDITOR:

During the last few weeks I have received the following questions from Douglas County seniors concerning the new FEMA floodplain maps.

1. How do I contact FEMA (telephone number) if I have questions concerning their floodplain analysis of my property?

2. Who will notify my mortgage company concerning changes in the floodplain status of my property if I don't notify them?

3. What will happen if my property is designated to be in a floodplain but I decline to buy flood insurance? Will my mortgage company foreclose on my loan?

4. Will I be required to buy flood insurance if part of my yard is in the floodplain but the footprint of my house is not in the floodplain?

5. Dose FEMA have any authority in requiring me to purchase flood insurance?

6. If I am homebound or disabled how can I obtain the floodplain analysis of my complete property?

7. When must I apply for flood insurance in order to take advantage of the "grandfather" insurance rates?

8. Will I be required to obtain a hydraulic engineering analysis of my property before I can obtain flood insurance? How much will this engineering analysis cost?

9. If the change to my floodplain status was caused by a new real estate development, will the developer have any liability for my flood insurance expenses?

10. What will be the total economic impact to Douglas County and its residents if the new FEMA floodplain maps are actually implemented? I am sure that there are many more questions all of which I hope will be answered by the county at their floodplain sessions to be held in October, but I think these are typical of the questions that Douglas County residents might ask.

Paul Lockwood

Minden