Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Floodplain Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rhea County workshop reviews FEMA-reviewed flood damage prevention resolution
Summary
Staff presented an updated county flood damage prevention resolution that FEMA returned for commission approval. The draft makes the building official the ADA administrator and retains a 1-foot freeboard; staff warned that delay could jeopardize FEMA coverage. Commissioners placed the item on the agenda for action.
Unidentified Speaker 2 presented an updated county flood damage prevention resolution, noting the last version on file dated 07/21/2008. Speaker 2 said the county submitted the updated resolution to FEMA, received FEMA’s approval to return it for commission action, and asked commissioners to review the draft for minor changes.
Key edits described included making the building official the ADA administrator role (removing a named individual) and retaining a 1-foot freeboard above base flood elevation (BFE). Speaker 2 also noted a $50 fee for notice processing and that affected parties would have up to 30 days to appeal the set height. Speaker 2 cautioned that if the process is not taken through the planning commission and back to the commission in a timely way, the county could risk losing FEMA coverage.
Why it matters: Adoption of FEMA-reviewed floodplain measures preserves the county’s participation in FEMA-managed programs and flood insurance eligibility for residents. Staff said timely adoption is important to maintain the county’s standing with FEMA.
What happened at the workshop: The updated resolution was noted as already submitted to FEMA and returned for commission approval; commissioners agreed to place the item on the commission agenda and asked staff to report back from the planning commission meeting.
Next steps: Staff will present the planning commission findings and return the FEMA-reviewed resolution to the commission for final action; failure to act promptly could affect FEMA coverage and community eligibility for federal flood-assistance programs.
