From The Greeley Tribune (Sherrie Peif):
Dawn Gladwell, a mapping specialist with FEMA, and Jerry DeFelice in FEMA external affairs both say if everyone understood FEMA’s role and what the expansion really means, there would be no problems. The plan says that in the event of a big storm, more water will flow into Severance faster than was originally anticipated.
The new plan could cause long-term development problems, some say. “I don’t want to say it will stop development all together,” longtime Severance Developer Stan Everett said recently. “But it will have severe consequences for the future of the town.”[…]/p>
Federal Emergency Management Agency’s preliminary map to expand the flood plain in the Severance area should be done by the end of the year. A final plan is then, on average, another 14-month process that includes public comment and appeals.
More floodplain rule coverage from Bill Jackson writing for The Greeley Tribune. From the article:
Several county commissioners and officials from cities and towns first heard of the proposal last month in a meeting. They were told a rulemaking session on the proposal would be conducted next month. Several of those officials said they were led to understand the state intended to expand flood plains from the current 100-year flood to 500-year-flood levels.
But that’s not the intent of the plan, said Theo Stein, communications director for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Instead, Stein said, the plan would require only critical facilities, such as hospitals, schools and fire stations, to be built with stronger flood protections than other buildings. It would not require homeowners to purchase flood insurance, and only those facilities designated by local officials would be included. The new rules would not prohibit development in either the 100-year or 500-year flood plains.
More South Platte Basin coverage here.