Well, new flood maps could change what you think you know about your home’s risk. Rice University’s Baker Institute is hosting a conference today breaking down new draft FEMA flood maps for Harris County, and you can watch that online. They’re not final yet, but experts warn more homes could fall into flood zones. Jilissa Garza explains. Experts say homeowners should check to see if their property is impacted because if a home is newly added to a flood plain, that could eventually matter for things like flood insurance, property requirements, or mortgages.
The new draft FEMA maps were released earlier this year. These maps help show which areas are considered at higher risk for flooding. Experts say they use updated rainfall data, changes to the landscape, and improved flood modeling to show where more properties may be at risk. New flood models coming out hasn’t changed anybody’s real risk. You’re in exactly the same risk of flooding as you were before.
It’s just now that you have more information about what that risk is. Bill King, a fellow at the Baker Institute, says that information could eventually affect homeowners whose mortgage companies require flood insurance if they’re in a flood zone. So, there are literally going to be hundreds of thousands of families that are going to have now go buy flood insurance that they didn’t have to buy before. King also says some new construction or major renovation projects could eventually face more stringent requirements. But, as of right now, the maps are still drafts, so nothing is final just yet.
If you want to check your own area, Harris County Flood Control has a Map Next Navigator online where you can search by address. The important thing to remember, this is still draft information. It can help you better understand your flood risk, but it does not change any insurance or regulatory requirements right now. Reporting in Southwest Houston, Jilissa Garza, KHOU 11 News.
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