Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRM, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will change the floodplain status and potentially, the flood insurance rates for many property owners in Queen Anne’s County. Those affected have until July 3, 2013 to appeal.
The county will host public outreach sessions which will be open to all interested citizens. The first meeting will be held Monday, June 24, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Queen Anne’s County Department of Planning & Zoning, located at 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville. Queen Anne’s County waterfront property owners, those who own land in or near a floodplain, and those who are paying flood insurance, are encouraged to review the preliminary FIRM to see if there is a proposed change in their floodplain designation.
The preliminary FIRM are available for viewing at the Queen Anne’s County Department of Public Works, located at 312 Safety Dr., Centreville, MD 21617. Alternatively, citizens may visit FEMA’s Map Service Center athttps://msc.fema.gov, or the County’s website at http://www.qac.org, for further information.
Appeals regarding the accuracy of the preliminary FIRM shall be submitted to Queens Anne’s County Department of Public Works and must be based upon data that show the new or revised flood hazard information is scientifically or technically incorrect. Upon completing their review, FEMA will issue a Final Determination and the county will have six months to adopt the new effective floodplain maps and floodplain ordinance.
A CoastSmart Communities Initiative grant awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Chesapeake and Coastal Program supports the county’s effort in adopting the new FEMA maps and floodplain ordinance.
The towns of Millington and Templeville are to be included in the maps for Kent County and Caroline County, respectively.
Questions may be referred to the Queen Anne’s County Department of Public Works at (410)758-0925.
To stay up to date with county news you can subscribe to the press room on the www.qac.org homepage so news and alerts will automatically be sent to your email.