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County wrestles with federal officials over Orick flood maps

Posted by: Maven on January 8, 2010 at 7:34 am

From the Eureka Times Standard:

“Humboldt County is pushing federal emergency officials to take another look at draft flood maps that project the little town of Orick will be under water during big floods, which threatens to force property owners to buy insurance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency in August aired the new maps to Orick, dramatically changing earlier predictions that a 100-year flood — or one that occurs statistically once every 100 years — on Redwood Creek would be contained by its 1960s-era levees. Landowners are now scrambling to buy flood insurance before the maps become final, so they can buy at lower rates.

But the Humboldt County Department of Public Works told FEMA in a recent letter that it has found significant deficiencies in the technical review by the agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It’s asking that FEMA forgo pulling the levees’ accreditation until it can improve its information and redo its analysis.

”We don’t want special treatment,” said Public Works Environmental Services Manager Hank Seemann. “We just want accurate information that we can give to landowners.” … “

Read more from the Eureka Times Standard by clicking here.

January 8, 2010 · Filed Under Flood Control/Stormwater

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