TUSCOLA CO. -- The following is a message from Tuscola County:
Did you know that Tuscola County’s floodplain maps are being updated? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing to release preliminary maps of proposed flood prone areas in Tuscola County. These new maps may change whether your property is considered to be flood-prone, and therefore require additional insurance coverage to cover flood damage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “As a County Commissioner I feel it is important to make sure our residents and our local units of government are aware of such significant potential changes. I have watched the developments in Huron County and want the residents of Tuscola County and the local units of government to have as much time as possible to prepare for potential changes. It seems to me that our best opportunity for success is to be proactive and not reactive,” said Commissioner Amanda Roggenbuck. Why would my local municipality join the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)? If your local municipality is not a member of NFIP and chooses not to join NFIP, your local community and you as a property owner will be subject to sanctions from the Federal Government. Those sanctions may include the following: 1) Property owners are unable to purchase or renew flood insurance policies; 2) Grants and loans for development under Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Environmental Protection Association (EPA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) would be prohibited; (3) Federal assistance would be prohibited for flood damaged buildings that could have been insured; (4) Federal Mortgage Insurance or loan guarantees such as those granted by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs are prohibited; (5) Banks and credit unions are permitted to make loans for these uninsured properties but may choose not to. “It is important to make sure that our local units of government have an opportunity to study their options with regards to joining the NFIP, the more time they have to weigh their options the better opportunity they have to make the right decision for their residents,” said Roggenbuck. Commissioner Roggenbuck wants to make the residents and local units of government aware of these potential changes to allow people the most time to review the potential impact of a change in floodplain mapping. For some property owners this may result in additional financial burden. This determination is not something the county has input on or control over. This mapping is generated and controlled at the federal level. Residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed maps but the date, time and location has not yet been provided to Tuscola County as of yet. “I intend to stay active throughout this process and inform the residents and local units of government in District 1 as we are notified of the steps throughout the process,” said Roggenbuck. Check www.tuscolacounty.org for updates as they are made available to the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Roggenbuck can also be reached at aroggenbuck@tuscolacounty.org.
