FEMA Flood Insurance Forum Scheduled for Provincetown and Surrounding Communities
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Release Number: R1-09-091
BOSTON, Mass. -- Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will meet with officials and residents of Provincetown, and surrounding communities at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 12, 2009, for a public forum on flood insurance and updated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The forum will take place at The Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown.
Towns throughout Barnstable County, including Provincetown, are receiving updated flood maps as part of FEMA's nationwide Map Modernization Program. The Barnstable County maps, previously scheduled to become effective in June, 2010, are not scheduled to go effective until summer, 2011. With flood map changes underway, this is an important time for residents to gather information about flood insurance options and map changes that may affect their flood insurance rates in the future. Those who have a federally backed mortgage, or plan to refinance with a federally backed lender, will be required to purchase flood insurance, if they find that their home is located in high-risk flood areas. Purchasing before the flood maps become effective will lock in the lower-risk zone and save significant money.
Residents are urged to look at the new preliminary flood rate maps to both become familiar with the flood risks in their community and to see whether their flood zone has changed. The maps can be viewed at their city or town offices and in many cases on their town's website or library. Each town received both a paper copy and a digital copy of the new maps to share with their residents for review before they become finalized. The link to the proposed new maps for Provincetown can be found at www.provincetown-ma.gov/Floodplain.html or www.ptownlib.com/ .
According to Ivy Frances, Chiefof the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch in FEMA's Boston office, "A structure located within a special flood hazard area shown on a flood map has a 26 percent chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30-year mortgage. It makes sense to manage that risk with the insurance."
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Modified: Thursday, 19-Nov-2009 23:40:10