Public Meetings for New FEMA Flood Maps Start Next Week

Big Island residents and property owners are invited to upcoming public information meetings next week regarding changes in the new Federal Emergency Management Agency Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Hawai’i County.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and County of Hawai‘i are hosting the meetings.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s FEMA is nearing the end of a multi-year effort to update and modernize the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Hawai‘i County.

The updated maps will help community officials and local residents better identify known flood risks and when finalized will be used for flood insurance, land use and development decisions.

Flooding is one of the major natural disasters in America. These maps can help residents make informed decisions about flood insurance options and flood protection measures.

The preliminary FIRM maps serve to revise and update information on the existence and severity of flood hazards in Hawai‘i County. The revised maps reflect the combined efforts of FEMA and Hawai‘i County.

The maps will be available for viewing beginning Aug. 14 at the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works Engineering offices at either 101 Pauahi St., Suite 7 in Hilo, (808) 961-8327, or 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Building D, 1st floor of the West Hawai‘i Civic Center in Kona (808) 323-4850.

They will also be available for online viewing on the State of Hawai‘i’s Flood Hazard Assessment Tool (FHAT) at http://gis.hawaiinfip.org/fhat.

To learn how to view the preliminary maps using the FHAT, click on the tutorial link provided on the Hawai‘i NFIP website www.hawaiinfip.org.

Personnel from FEMA, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawai‘i County will be available to answer questions, concerns, and provide information on the mapping timeline and appeals process. The meeting schedule is as follows:

Monday. Aug. 17, 2015
Aupuni Center (101 Pauahi Street, Hilo 96720)
Doors open 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. presentation 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015
West Hawai‘i Civic Center (75-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg. G, Kailua Kona 96740)
Doors open 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. presentation 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.