The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is asking for public comment or appeal on proposed Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) within Fayette County. BFEs are used by FEMA and the Fayette County Engineering Department to delineate land that has a one percent chance or greater of flooding in any given year.
As part of the on-going process to digitize existing Flood Insurance Rate Map panels, BFE changes are proposed for the area at the confluence of Tar Creek and Whitewater Creek. These proposed elevations are the basis for floodplain management measures that Fayette County has in effect in order to qualify for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Public review and comment is encouraged since BFEs are used to determine whether land is considered within or outside a floodplain. Accurate floodplain delineations are important for public safety, the protection of structures, and obtaining mortgages and hazard insurance. Inaccurate delineations may result in properties having unjustified flood hazard areas, and thus the owner must expend time and money to prove their property is outside a flood hazard area (i.e., above the BFE).
Conversely, properties may be within a flood hazard area but not shown as such on the Flood Insurance Rate Map panels. These property owners may have a false sense of security that they are safe from the dangers and impacts of floods.
Scientific or technical data needs to be submitted with an appeal in order to substantiate an incorrect BFE at the Tar and Whitewater Creek confluence. Fayette County will then consolidate these appeals and present all evidence on behalf of the owner(s) to FEMA in the form of a written opinion.
In addition to this specific Public Comment Period for the Tar and Whitewater Creek confluence, Letters of Map Amendments and Letters of Map Revisions may be submitted to the County regarding established BFEs at any time.
Proposed BFEs are shown on the preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map panels. These may be viewed publicly at the Fayette County Engineering Department, located at Suite 203 in the Stonewall Administration Complex, 140 Stonewall Avenue West, Fayetteville, GA. The public comment and appeal period ends March 26, 2008. Please call the Engineering Department at 770-460-5730 ext 5410 for additional information on this subject.