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Spencer County officials urge residents to review new FEMA flood maps and consider appeals
Summary
County officials told residents Oct. 7 to review updated FEMA flood insurance maps and, if necessary, file coordinated appeals through county staff. Officials said some parcels near Ray Jewell Park appear to be newly mapped into the floodplain, which could raise insurance costs for residents.
Spencer County officials used the Oct. 7 fiscal court meeting to alert residents about newly published FEMA flood insurance mapping and the county’s appeal procedures.
Judge Scott Travis and staff showed published maps and said county staff had received a notice dated Sept. 12 with instructions that the notice be posted twice in the local paper; staff confirmed the posting occurred on Sept. 26. The judge and staff said residents should check maps for their properties — staff noted discrepancies between paper and online maps and advised that appeals be coordinated through county planning staff (citizens should submit information to county staff for consolidation before formal appeal filing).
Why it matters: Entering a regulated floodplain can trigger mandatory flood insurance and materially increase monthly housing costs for affected occupants. Judge Travis told the court that some apartments near Ray Jewell Park appeared to be newly included in the floodplain and that, if the mapping stands, residents could face higher insurance costs which might pose affordability challenges.
Details: Julie Sweazy (staff) said some map areas had been addressed in a local meeting and staff expected corrections in certain locations; she said that if citizens believed the maps were incorrect, they should file appeals through her office so the county can submit a consolidated appeal. The court encouraged magistrates and staff to review maps in their districts and to notify residents.
