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Pike Road holds first reading of flood-plain ordinance update requested by FEMA; engineers say it won’t cover flash flooding from clogged drains
Summary
At first reading, the council reviewed a FEMA-requested update to the town’s flood ordinance intended to qualify residents for federal flood assistance after qualifying events; the town engineer clarified the update would not apply to flash flooding caused by clogged drains or similar local drainage failures.
Pike Road — The Town of Pike Road held the first reading of Ordinance 2026, a flood-plain ordinance update recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at its Jan. 28 meeting.
Town Engineer Brad Flowers told the council the update is important to align local regulations with FEMA requirements so residents affected by qualifying flood events may be eligible for federal financial assistance. Flowers clarified that the ordinance’s scope would not cover flash flooding events resulting from clogged drains or similar local drainage failures — issues he said would be addressed through local maintenance and drainage work rather than through the federal flood program.
Councilwoman Mim Whatley asked whether the ordinance would help residents who had experienced flooding in existing neighborhoods; Flowers said it would not apply to flash flooding caused by stormwater backups or obstructed drains. The ordinance was recorded as a first reading and is scheduled to return on the council’s next agenda for further consideration and potential adoption.
Context and next steps: First readings initiate formal consideration; the council did not vote to adopt the ordinance at this meeting. Any final adoption would appear on a future agenda and would contain the ordinance text and any findings required to meet FEMA criteria.
