Flood Insurance Maps

New Flood Insurance Maps Go into Effect in 2016

The current “Effective” Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) will be in effect until June 30, 2016.  A new set of maps, presently denoted “Preliminary”, will become effective July 1, after Town Meeting votes this spring, in all towns but Chilmark. Chilmark doesn’t participate in the federal flood insurance program.

The towns will receive official notice of this at the end of December and will then have six months to vote in the new maps. The timing is planned to cover spring town meeting season.  Voting on the new maps is a simply-worded warrant article that replaces the map references in the floodplain bylaws.

There are, however, big changes in the maps. Flood insurance studies were made, including use of new and improved LIDAR topographic data.

Outreach on the new maps was done when they were first released as “Draft” two years ago. Voting on the new maps is essential for those property owners who are covered by subsidized NFIP flood insurance.  FEMA will only insure properties covered by an up-to-date floodplain bylaw. 

For more information:

• Eric Carlson [email protected] official contact at MEMA (Mass. Emergency Management Agency)
• Jo-Ann Taylor [email protected] 508-693-3453 (MVC is not directly involved in the floodplain regulations, but is willing to help the towns upon request.)
• https://msc.fema.gov/portal