-30-

FACT SHEET:

FEMA Floodplain Revisions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has remapped the floodplains of Travis, Williamson and part of Burnet counties to determine the risks associated with heavy rains in the Austin-Hill Country region. The revised floodplains become effective Sept. 26, 2008. This project is part of the agency’s nationwide effort to redraw the maps that predict where floods are likely to occur. Local governments rely on the maps to manage development that may affect – and be affected by – flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program uses the maps for flood insurance purposes.

Q: What is the major change in the revised floodplains?

A: The major change is in the floodplain along Lake Travis for a “100-year flood” (also known as a “1 percent flood”).  This floodplain has been raised by 6 feet, from 716 to 722 feet above mean sea level (msl). (A “100-year flood” is a magnitude of flooding that has a 1 percent chance of occurring each year.) The new floodplain becomes effective Sept. 26.

Q: How will this affect property owners along Lake Travis?

A: A Lake Travis resident or business whose property is at or below 722 feet msl will need to check with the local floodplain administrator regarding building requirements.  If the affected house, building or other structure has a mortgage, the property owner will be required to purchase flood insurance for any structure or improvement on the property within the 722 feet msl contour.

Q: About how many structures will be affected by this change?

A: FEMA estimates about 552 structures located between 716 and 722 feet msl will now be included in the floodplain, based on the number of structures that were identified along Lake Travis in a 2001 baseline study.

Q: Why did the floodplain elevation change?

A: The base flood elevation of 722 feet msl was determined through an engineering study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The study used improved technologies and 30 years of additional storm data, including those significant storms that occurred in 1991, 1998 and 2002.  The previous findings that resulted in the 716 feet msl floodplain used older technologies, methods and hypothetical storm events, rather than recent significant floods.

Q: Why did FEMA need to remap the floodplain?

A:  FEMA ranks this region as among the highest at risk for flood damages. The ranking is based on the number of people at risk of flooding, the current population and rate of population growth, the number of homes repeatedly damaged by floods, and the number of homes with flood-insurance policies.  FEMA’s responsibility to local communities is to provide the best available data regarding hazards from flooding.  The purpose is to protect lives and property.

Q:  Was there local support for the remapping project?

A:  There was strong local commitment of technical and financial resources for the project. The City of Austin, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and the Texas Natural Resources Information System, a division of the Texas Water Development Board, are technical partners on the project. Travis County and 12 communities also agreed to cooperate with FEMA on the map project.

Q:  Why was there local support for the remapping project?

A:  Local officials need more accurate maps to manage floodplains effectively and to help protect lives and property. Most of the current FEMA maps are based on data gathered between eight and 25 years ago.

Q:  Weren’t the Highland Lakes and dams built to control floods?

A:  Only Mansfield Dam and Lake Travis are designed for flood control. They were built to reduce the effect of floods on downstream residents and communities and to store water for the benefit of the lower Colorado River basin. Lake Travis can store as much as 260 billion gallons of floodwaters. Through floodgate operations, LCRA releases the floodwaters in a controlled manner to prevent or reduce flooding of downstream regions. The other five dams and Highland Lakes were built primarily for hydroelectricity and water supply. These dams reduce but do not eliminate the threat of heavy flooding.

Q: I am building (or considering building) on property that is located between 716 and 722 feet msl.  How will the new floodplain designation affect my project?

A: If you begin construction of your project prior to Sept. 26 with the proper permits from your community’s local floodplain manager, your project will be “grandfathered” to the current 716 feet msl floodplain. However, depending on your local community’s regulations, you may not be allowed to build within the 716-722 feet msl contour if you have not already completed the permit process.

Q:  How else will the new floodplain affect property owners?

A:  The effect will depend on the location of the property. There may be flood insurance rate benefits to property owners in the newly designated floodplain if they obtain flood insurance prior to the change. Visit FEMA’s Web site www.fema.gov/nfip/avgcost.shtm for more information.

Q: Can LCRA or my local community change the floodplain for my property?

A: No.  Neither LCRA nor local communities set floodplains.  FEMA is responsible for making that determination.  Your local community floodplain administrator can help determine whether your property is in the new floodplain and, if so, your options for building or obtaining flood insurance. You can find your local floodplain administrator on the Texas Colorado River Floodplain Coalition’s Web site at www.tcrfc.org.