Commissioners hear that missing Trinity County floodplain map is blocking some home loans

A public comment in the June 23, 2026, meeting of the Trinity County Commissioners Court raised concerns that the county lacks a locally accepted floodplain map, a shortcoming residents and builders say is preventing approval of some government-backed home loans.

The emergency management coordinator (speaker who identified the role during the meeting) told the court she and the county judge’s office receive one to two calls weekly from residents and lenders who cannot close loans because the county does not have a floodplain map compatible with lending requirements for FHA, VA and other programs. She said FEMA has maps but the county’s copies do not allow address-level searches that lenders rely on.

Commissioners discussed prior outreach to FEMA and recalled an earlier period when updating maps required a county cost-share that was not funded. One commissioner suggested staff contact neighboring counties that have completed maps to learn how they managed costs and processes. Commissioner remarks also noted the county previously provided letters attesting that specific properties are not in a floodplain to secure exceptions for individual loans.

County staff member Lisa Rogers was identified in the meeting as familiar with FEMA processes; commissioners asked Rogers to research options, estimate costs, and report back at a future meeting. No formal motion or vote on funding appeared in the transcript.

Why it matters: Without a county-recognized floodplain map, some homeowners and builders may be unable to access government-backed mortgages or insurance programs, which can reduce new construction and complicate refinancing.

Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to contact FEMA and neighboring counties for cost and process information and to return with options for how Trinity County might obtain or update an acceptable floodplain map.