The City of Brownwood has authorized submitting a final report to FEMA on a flood study that could effect home owners and businesses in the near future. The Brownwood city council passed a resolution on Tuesday authorizing Morrison Hydrology Engineering to submit a final report of the study to FEMA for updating of the Flood Insurance Rate Map.
With this new study, many Brownwood residents may now find themselves in the 100 year floodplain and be required to purchase flood insurance, and flood insurance rates will likely increase. The city is looking to help area residents who will now find themselves in the new floodplain by encouraging them to purchase the flood insurance now before rates increase.
“We don’t want to tell you that insurance premiums won’t go up because it’s like car insurance, it could go up any day,” said Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree. “We can’t control insurance companies, but we understand that buying insurance now would be a significant savings.”
The new floodplain map shows that several neighborhoods will be affected by the map such as much of Good Shepherd and Asbury; Hunter’s Glen; Quail Run and Brookhollow; and Valley View and Parkway to name a few.
CLICK HERE for full version of the map showing the new floodplain overlaid on the old one.
Rountree said that the city will launch a media campaign for those living in the new 100 year floodplain. The city will contact residents in the newly affected areas as well as lenders and real estate agents. Rountree said that the city is going to encourage residents who now need flood insurance to not wait until the rates increase.
Officials said that this study was important to the city because under FEMA’s original proposed map, the floodplain was going to be raised 7-8 feet using “best available data”. With this study being submitted by Morrison Hydrology, the floodplain was raised only by 6 inches in some areas Rountree said.
Officials said that it could take anywhere from 6 months to a year before FEMA adopts the new Flood Insurance Rate Map.