District Accepts $1.7 Million for Flood Mapping

Havana, Florida—Flood map updates will continue across northwest Florida following recent action by the Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.  It accepted $1.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue its technical partnership, which recently resulted in a web portal open to the public. 

“The new funding will help us update and improve flood hazard maps in the Chipola River and New River basins,” said Ron Bartel, Director of the District’s Division of Resource Management.  “It will also fund updates and conversions to Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning (MAP) products in coastal counties from Escambia to Jefferson.  Funding will also help us add inland non-coastal counties to the District’s recently opened Map Information Portal.  Some of the new risk MAP products to be developed are depth of flooding maps, risk of flooding over a 30 year mortgage and risk of flooding as one moves away from the 100 year flood hazard boundary.” 

“The map information portal allows individuals to click and zoom on their property  view flood hazard boundaries and produce flood risk reports,” said Executive Director Douglas Barr.  “It is also designed to compare old and new draft maps of the 100 year flood boundary, comment and act on this flood risk information and, in some cases, use the new information before it is finalized.”  

            The District will match this grant with existing data, in-kind services of District staff and local government funding and services.  Cash match by the District, if necessary, will not exceed more than five percent of total funds and may include staff salary and contractual expenses.  The new portal can be found at http://portalnwfwmdfloodmaps.com/

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments