Commission moves to acknowledge FEMA process after technical review of flood maps

Commission staff and consultants summarized the county's months-long review of FEMA's proposed floodplain remapping. A local engineer, Kirk Wilson, ran the FEMA model with locally provided data and identified disputes about how some flood-control dams and upstream data were treated. County staff said FEMA relied primarily on stream-gauge flow data and would not accept data that originated outside Hardee County for the principal model runs; the county had limited additional data to submit.

The county discussed options: pursue a formal scientific technical appeal, submit a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) if new, project-level engineering data becomes available, or let FEMA continue its public-notice process. Staff noted the county could request additional stream-gauge installation or raise substantial engineering funding if a large project provided new data, but no such project was imminent.

After discussion commissioners moved to draft and send a letter to FEMA stating the county had exhausted available local appeals and that the agency should proceed with its process; the motion passed. The commission also agreed to draft a letter for public distribution and to revisit options if new engineering data becomes available.