Grenada County will serve as the host city for an Open House offering property owners in five counties the opportunity to review a recently completed flood study.
The Mississippi/FEMA Risk MAP Team will host the Yalobusha Watershed Flood Risk Open House from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 1240 Fairground Rd., Suite G, in Grenada, to provide the public with a chance to review the recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study and accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). According to officials, the study and maps include base flood information and identification of areas subject to flood hazards for Bruce, Calhoun City, Grenada, Derma, Pittsboro, Big Creek, Slate Springs, and portions of the unincorporated areas of Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Leflore and Montgomery counties.
Studies of this nature are of “great importance” because flooding damages properties and endangers humans and all other living things’ lives. Floods are among the most frequent natural disasters that cause greater economic losses and difficulties to human activities.
“The team, which includes representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Geographic Information LLC, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be available to address questions from the public,” officials said. “Local and state officials will also be present to provide information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development requirements, and the process used for floodplain mapping.”
The meeting is open to the public.
The new preliminary maps covering the above listed communities will also be available for viewing at the local community’s Floodplain Manager’s office. Preliminary Products including Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels, Flood Insurance Study (FIS), and Preliminary FIRM Database are available for download at the FEMA Map Service Center’s website at https://msc.fema.gov
Once the preliminary FIRMs become effective, these maps will be used by floodplain permit officials, builders and developers, lenders, realtors, insurance agents, and the general public to determine flood risk.
“Property owners, realtors, lenders and insurance agents are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation,” officials concluded.
Contact a community Floodplain Administrator to learn if a home or business is located within a special flood hazard area which will require flood insurance if there is a federally-backed loan.
