Area residents got their first look at preliminary Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) floodplain maps on Monday at Brownwood City Hall which could affect the flood insurance rates of area residents, and many will find that they will be required to purchase flood insurance for the first time.

Brownwood City Engineer Don Hatcher and Staff Engineer Jodie Kelly were on hand Monday afternoon to answer questions about the new maps and said that about 400 residents will now find themselves located in the floodplain.  Those who have a mortgage on their home and are located in the floodplain will now be required to purchase flood insurance for the first time.

“If they are in the new floodplain, they don’t have to get flood insurance, but if they owe money on their home, their lender will require it,” said Hatcher.

Residents and businesses finding themselves in the new proposed floodplain are encouraged to buy that flood insurance soon because rates are expected to increase once the new maps become final.

“Rates are going to go up, but there is time to purchase flood insurance at a lower rate now,” Hatcher said.

The National Flood Insurance Program has a “grandfathering” rule which was created in order to recognize property owners who carried a policy before the maps become effective.  The rule can result in significant cost savings to policyholders compared to a potentially higher premium rate that results from a flood map revision.

Currently, these maps are in a review period and are not expected to become final until late in the year after meetings and appeals.

Those who wait can find a big difference in price.  Currently, a residential home covered for $100,000 can have flood insurance for about $310.  After the map becomes finalized, that rate will be around $1100 through the National Flood Insurance Program.

The City of Brownwood submitted a final report to FEMA on a flood study two years ago.  Brownwood authorized Morrison Hydrology Engineering to submit a final report of the study to FEMA for updating of the Flood Insurance Rate Map.

FEMA’s original proposed map from several years ago showed the floodplain raised 7-8 feet using “best available data.”  Through the study submitted by Morrison Hydrology, the floodplain was raised only by a few inches in some areas.

Property owners can contact Brownwood City Hall at 325-646-5775 for more information about the new FEMA map to determine if they are in the new floodplain.  The maps are also available online at www.riskmap6.com.  Click on “Communities: Know the Risk” then select Texas and then Brown County and then the icon for “Preliminary Interactive Flood Map Index.”

Pictured – City Engineer Don Hatcher (left) shows the map to insurance agent Robert Porter Monday afternoon at City Hall while other residents view the maps.