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Tompkins County posts expanded flood-information webpages ahead of June 18 FEMA map effective date
Summary
Planning staff added insurance, preparedness and self-help resources to a county web page as preliminary FEMA flood maps approach an effective date of June 18; towns report mixed public reaction to updated local flood-damage rules.
Planning staff rolled out an expanded Tompkins County flood-information web page and urged residents to review materials before preliminary FEMA maps become effective June 18. Abigail, Planning and Sustainability Department representative, led the update at the May 22 Tompkins County Council of Governments meeting and said the county added insurance guidance, preparedness checklists and short explainer videos to the site.
The update "notes that the maps will become effective on June 18," Abigail said during her presentation. The page includes an updated flood insurance section, a new "flood risks and preparedness" tab, links to the online FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map lookup and videos on elevation certificates and claims. The county also placed outreach materials aimed at renters, homeowners, businesses and real-estate/insurance professionals on the page and added a submission form for questions or missing resources.
Why it matters: preliminary FEMA maps change who is mapped into regulated flood zones and can affect insurance requirements and development rules. Several municipal officials at the meeting said the county resource will help local boards and residents navigate questions tied to insurance costs and local flood-damage prevention laws.
Town officials described mixed community reaction to new or revised local flood-damage regulations. Mark Whitmer, who spoke during the meeting, said Caroline will use the materials in outreach ahead of that town’s June 4 public hearing to adopt a revised flood damage prevention law. Valerie (a town official) reported that Enfield recently adopted its flood-damage prevention law and faced vocal public resistance to some proposed restrictions.
Planning staff emphasized preparedness guidance as well as insurance information: the new pages include short videos on what flood risk means, steps residents can take (document protection, emergency supplies, alert signups), links to road-closure and outage maps and guidance about how local shelter locations are set up after an emergency. Abigail noted the county does not pre-designate "blue-sky" shelters; shelter locations are organized after an event and announced through emergency alerts.
Questions raised at the meeting included how towns are handling local enforcement and outreach. Mark Whitmer said Caroline will present the county materials at its hearing and other municipal officials said the consolidated resource should make answering resident questions easier.
The county planning office asked municipalities to review the web page and submit missing resources through the site’s form. Abigail said the planning office will continue to update materials and noted several items were reviewed with FEMA before posting.
The county’s webpages and the June 18 effective date are the immediate, time-sensitive takeaways for residents and municipal officials.
The county presentation and materials are available on the Tompkins County website; residents with questions were directed to use the page’s feedback form.
