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National Flood Insurance Program
(Time Sensitive – July 2008)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has completed a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that will become effective on September 26, 2008. These new FIRMs will replace FIRMS that were last adopted in 1978. If the new FIRM shows a structure in Zones A, AE, A1-30, AH, and AO, then the structure is within a high-risk zone known as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Within these zones, flood insurance is mandatory for structures with mortgages from a Federally regulated lender and is strongly recommended for all structures.
Although FEMA reports that no significant changes have been made to Glastonbury Flood Zones, flood insurance may be a new requirement for certain property owners. Because of new digital technology, floodplain boundaries may have shifted. As an effect of this shift, some property owners who were not in the flood risk zone may now be located within a high risk zone. If these property owners have a mortgage, reverse mortgage, or home equity loan, the mortgage lender will be informed of the zone change and will require the owners to purchase flood insurance. The cost of insurance will vary depending on a variety of circumstances such as whether the house was built pre or post-FIRM. For these property owners, a provision exists that allows the purchase of the flood policy prior to the
effective date of the new maps, and creates eligibility to maintain insurance at a cost commensurate with the prior flood zone as shown on the old map. This grandfather status allows the homeowner to purchase at the reduced rate of the old, lower risk zone. In order to obtain grandfather status, property owners must apply for the flood insurance policy prior to September 26, 2008. Go to: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2497 for Saving on Flood Insurance, a fact sheet which provides further details.
To implement these new regulations, the Town of Glastonbury is required to modify certain elements of its existing Flood Management Regulations entitled Section 4.11 Flood-Prone Area Regulations – Building Zone Regulations. In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes changes to Section 4.11 require a Public Hearing prior to adoption. The tentative date for this hearing is August 26, 2008. In advance of the Public Hearing, we urge interested parties to review the proposed Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the associated Section 4.11 regulation changes. Maps and regulation changes are available for inspection in the Office of Community Development at the Town Hall, 2155 Main Street.
July 14, 2008
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