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FEMA Region VI Updating Flood Maps in the Greater New Orleans Area

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Building on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) achievements in flood risk reduction made through the construction and rehabilitation of the Hurricane And Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS), FEMA in cooperation with the USACE is working to determine the flood risk in and around the HSDRRS improvements.  This analysis will be used to update current preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps in the vicinity of the levee system.

With updated maps, communities in the Greater New Orleans area –Orleans, St. Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes will have more precise information about the flood risk in their vicinity and will be better able to make more informed decisions to reduce their personal risk to life and property.

It is important to remember that while preliminary maps are being updated to show the benefits of the HSDRRS improvements, flood risk behind levee systems still exists.  FEMA strongly encourages citizens living and working behind levees to take action to reduce the flood risk to their families, businesses and property.  Remember, anywhere it can rain, it can flood.  In addition to having flood insurance, and informing yourself about the levee system, you should prepare for the possibility of a flood.

Update as of 07/30/2012

FEMA, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local communities, and levee owners has collected up-to-date information for inclusion in the new flood mapping analysis of the Greater New Orleans area.
 
In August 2012, FEMA will meet once again with local and state officials to share the results of their updated analysis. Comments received from local officials will be reviewed for incorporation and a preliminary map issuance date for the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) will be scheduled at that time.
 
The Flood Risk Review Meeting is a technical focused meeting that gives community officials their first opportunity to review the results of the updated analysis and to review the draft flood maps. This meeting allows FEMA to highlight the flood risk associated with the areas of change in the flood data, increases local understanding of the Flood Risk Tools, and gives communities the opportunity to review the results of the analyses for the first time.
 
Local officials will have an opportunity to make comments on the maps before they are issued preliminary. Once comments are addressed, the maps will be available online through a mapping portal. Once Revised Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps are issued near the end of 2012, FEMA will schedule a Consultation Coordination Officers meeting with the local officials, and the maps will be available for the public to view online or with the Floodplain Administrator for the Parish.

 

Hurricane And Storm Damage Risk Reduction System Background

Since 2006, the USACE has worked with its many partners and contractors to design, rehabilitate and construct a perimeter system to defend against the affects of a storm surge that has a one percent chance of happening in any given year.  The HSDRRS is a major investment in public safety and hurricane and storm damage risk reduction.  It is the largest civil works project in Corps’ history and includes over 133 perimeter miles of levees, numerous floodwalls, gates, surge barriers, and other structures that form an integrated system. Construction of system components will continue beyond 2011 for other features, such as canal closures and pump stations.

Flood Mapping Background

In the fall of 2008, FEMA issued preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for the five Greater New Orleans parishes area – Orleans, St. Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Charles. These preliminary maps did not take into account the construction of the HSDRRS.   Now, with input from all stakeholders, including its local, state and federal partners, FEMA is updating the 2008 maps to incorporate the HSDRRS improvements into the mapping for these parishes.  Through flood studies and updated maps, communities in the Greater New Orleans area will get better information about the flood risks in the area.

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Last Updated: 
07/31/2012 - 10:23
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