Media Release
March 26, 2018
Contact Information:
Sean O’Callaghan
Gallatin County Planning
sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.gov
406.582.3130
Tiffany Lyden or Worby McNamee
Montana DNRC Floodplain Program Montana DNRC Floodplain Program
tlyden@mt.gov worby.mcnamee@mt.gov
406-444-0599 406.444-1343
Revised Preliminary Floodplain Map Issued for Four Corners Area; Open House to Discuss Impact of Revisions
Background
Gallatin County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) have been working on a project to update the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the West Gallatin River. The project was started in 2012 and will result in new, updated floodplain maps for the West Gallatin River, eventually replacing the existing floodplain maps that were published in 2011, but actually based on study information from 1979 and 2000. “Updating the existing floodplain maps is a key step in providing the best available data to help keep families, homes, roads and other infrastructure safe from future flood events” explained Tiffany Lyden, DNRC Floodplain Outreach Specialist. The project uses high-accuracy topographic information, updated hydrologic data and modern engineering methods to identify and map flood risk areas. Flood Insurance Rate Maps depict those areas at risk of flooding during a 100-year flood event, also known as a 1% annual chance flood event.
Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps were issued for the West Gallatin River in November 2016. Gallatin County hosted public open houses in 2016 and 2017 to review the maps and discuss proposed changes with affected property owners. “Initial review comments for the Four Corners area of the study prompted a review and revision of the map in that area,” explained Lyden. “In mid-February, FEMA issued a revised preliminary map to replace the initial preliminary map produced in the Four Corners area”.
Public Open House: Revised Floodplain Map for Four Corners Area
When: Thursday, April 29, 2018 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Who:
Sean O’Callaghan, Floodplain Administrator & Planning Director, Gallatin County
Tiffany Lyden, Outreach Specialist, Montana DNRC
Where:
Community Room
Gallatin County Courthouse
311 W. Main St., Bozeman
What You’ll Learn
- Which area is affected by the revision
- How the revised map could affect your property
- The status of the Floodplain Mapping Update Project and what comes next
- How floodplain maps provide information to help keep families, homes and infrastructure safe from flood risk
Next Steps:
FEMA will open a 90-Day Appeal and Comment period for all preliminary floodplain maps for the West Gallatin River, expected to start in mid-July 2018. Comments and appeals on the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps and accompanying Flood Insurance Study can be submitted to the Gallatin County Planning Office during the 90-Day appeal and comment period. More information about the project, the appeal and comment period, and the preliminary maps and study information, can be found online: www.floodplain.mt.gov/gallatin
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