Submitted report
Property owners, renters and business owners in the Cities of San Marcos and Martindale, as well as the unincorporated areas of Hays, Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties are encouraged to look over newly released Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions as they rebuild after recent flooding.
Using data developed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the State of Texas, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created Advisory Base Flood Elevations to depict a more current picture of flood risk.
There will be a Flood Risk Open House for residents of the Cities of Martindale and San Marcos and Hays, Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties on October 27, 2015. The come-and-go meeting is from 2 to 8 p.m. at the City Park Recreation Hall, 170 Charles Austin Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666.
Local and County officials in coordination with FEMA are presenting the ABFE maps to help leaders and residents identify where flood risk has expanded and use that information to rebuild with less vulnerability to future flood events.
A similar meeting to share new advisory floodplain maps for residents in Blanco County and the northwestern part of Hays County, including the City of Wimberley, was held previously.
A special instructional meeting for insurance agents and real estate professionals in the three counties will be held from 10 a.m. to Noon on October 27, also at 170 Charles Austin Drive in San Marcos.
Following the destructive storms and flooding events during May and June 2015, FEMA used updated flood risk analysis to produce Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) in the affected areas.
ABFEs indicate the elevation to which floodwater may rise during a major flood based on the most current data and latest technology. Property owners can then see where flood risk has increased as compared to the current effective flood map and take informed actions to reduce future flood risk.
Current flood insurance premiums will not increase due to the ABFEs. Flood insurance premiums are based on the elevation of the lowest floor of a structure and the current, effective flood map’s BFE for a property.
However, updated Flood Maps are coming to some areas of Hays County and there is an opportunity for homeowners to invest now and save later on their flood insurance.
Additional information, including links to interactive maps, can be accessed by visiting www.riskmap6.com and clicking on Texas in the map on the right. For more information about flood insurance visit www.FloodSmart.gov.
