The re-mapping of flood areas in Davidson County may require residents to secure flood insurance, according to a report by
The Tennessean.
Revised flood maps by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have added more than 4,000 properties to high risk zones.
Mortgage companies typically require buyers to purchase flood insurance if their property falls into the 100 year flood plain, which has a 1% chance of flooding each year.
The maps were last updated in 2001. For this year’s revision, engineers used laser instruments over a wider area of Davidson, which are expected to improve base maps, Metro Water Services assistant director Tom Palko said in
The Tennessean report.
“The intent of the flood maps is to identify risk. If an area was previously unstudied, then we did not know the risk associated with living or building in that area,” Palko was quoted as saying in the report.
Residents whose homes fall into the floodplain can claim subsidized policies through the National Flood Insurance Program. However, they will need to sign up before the maps come into effect in April.
Flood insurance premiums average $700 per year, federal officials said, while the professional surveys needed to determine the exact premium cost $500.
Related stories:
Pennsylvania Department of Insurance issues flood claims reminders
FEMA announces new appeals procedure for flood claims
