A preliminary edition of Lyon County’s new flood insurance rate map has been released.
The FIRM provides an illustration of flood risks for specific areas by depicting its flood risk zones to help develop regulations for each flood zone and give landowners an understanding of whether or not they need to purchase flood insurance. According to Lyon County Zoning and Floodplain Manager Sam Seeley, the current map has not been adjusted since 2008.
The ongoing mapping process is utilizing current data which he says makes the map more precise.
Seeley says the more accurate map will paint a more exact picture of exactly what kind of threat landowners would be facing in the event of a flood. He explains this will allow them to tailor their specific insurance to better address any issues that may arise.
According to Seeley, Lyon County was in the midst of a new mapping project of its own back in 2017 when FEMA decided to include the county in the current ongoing process. Seeley says the remapping project is funded at both the state and federal levels which is a major benefit to the county as the remapping process is typically a “very costly” process.
Seeley reiterates the latest draft is just a preliminary document and the finalized draft will likely not be completed for another year and a half. The next step in the process will be the publishing of a proposed notice followed by a 90-day appeal period.
For more information, go online to www.lyoncounty.org and click on the flood plain management link under the Government drop-down tab. You can also find Lyon County KS Planning/Zoning and Floodplain Management on Facebook.
