The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us is seeking public input to improve identification of flooding risks in the *Buffalo Canal/Frog Creek watershed* of Manatee County.
The District is serving as a cooperating technical partner for the "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)(Federal Emergency Management Agency)":http://www.fema.gov on its national effort to "update and modernize the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)(Federal Flood Map Updates)":/emergency/floodriskprojects/. Most of the current FIRMs are 10 to 30 years old and are outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by land use, development and erosion.
The District is holding an open house in Manatee County to present preliminary floodplain information and explain the basis behind the findings. This information will be used to identify areas of flood risk, which are based on watershed boundaries.
An open house for residents living in the *Buffalo Canal/Frog Creek watershed* will be held *June 15*, beginning at *4 p.m.* at "Buffalo Creek Middle School(Buffalo Creek Middle School)":http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/middleschool/buffalocreek. The school is located at 7320 69th Street E. in Palmetto. District representatives will be available to meet with residents anytime between *4 and 6:30 p.m.*
During the meeting, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented to the public for review and comment. After addressing the comments, floodplain information will be finalized and presented to the District's Governing Board for permission to develop the preliminary FIRMs for submittal to FEMA.
Upon receipt of the preliminary FIRMs, FEMA will begin its FIRM adoption process, which includes:
* A technical review by FEMA
* Review by Manatee County
* Public input
* A 90-day appeals period
* Issuance of a letter of final determination that informs Manatee County and the public of the date when the FIRMs will be considered effective
The floodplain information will be used by the county for land use and zoning decisions, to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, reduce flood risks, preserve land and water resources, and planning for emergencies. It will also provide valuable information to the public for decisions about purchasing and protecting property.
For more information or to find out which watershed you live in, please visit www.WaterMatters.org/floodrisk/. You can also call the District at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4297.
The District is serving as a cooperating technical partner for the "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)(Federal Emergency Management Agency)":http://www.fema.gov on its national effort to "update and modernize the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)(Federal Flood Map Updates)":/emergency/floodriskprojects/. Most of the current FIRMs are 10 to 30 years old and are outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by land use, development and erosion.
The District is holding an open house in Manatee County to present preliminary floodplain information and explain the basis behind the findings. This information will be used to identify areas of flood risk, which are based on watershed boundaries.
An open house for residents living in the *Buffalo Canal/Frog Creek watershed* will be held *June 15*, beginning at *4 p.m.* at "Buffalo Creek Middle School(Buffalo Creek Middle School)":http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/middleschool/buffalocreek. The school is located at 7320 69th Street E. in Palmetto. District representatives will be available to meet with residents anytime between *4 and 6:30 p.m.*
During the meeting, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented to the public for review and comment. After addressing the comments, floodplain information will be finalized and presented to the District's Governing Board for permission to develop the preliminary FIRMs for submittal to FEMA.
Upon receipt of the preliminary FIRMs, FEMA will begin its FIRM adoption process, which includes:
* A technical review by FEMA
* Review by Manatee County
* Public input
* A 90-day appeals period
* Issuance of a letter of final determination that informs Manatee County and the public of the date when the FIRMs will be considered effective
The floodplain information will be used by the county for land use and zoning decisions, to help manage development in and around floodplains and wetlands, reduce flood risks, preserve land and water resources, and planning for emergencies. It will also provide valuable information to the public for decisions about purchasing and protecting property.
For more information or to find out which watershed you live in, please visit www.WaterMatters.org/floodrisk/. You can also call the District at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4297.