[StBernard] Public can view revised St. Bernard Parish flood maps during open house Aug. 10

[Westley Annis]

Public can view revised St. Bernard Parish flood maps during open house Aug.
10
by The Times-Picayune 
Monday August 03, 2009, 11:46 AM
The public can view newly-revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate
maps for St. Bernard Parish at an open house Aug. 10 at the St. Bernard
Parish Council chambers in Chalmette.

The open house will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the council chambers at the
St. Bernard Government Complex, 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive, FEMA said in a
news release Monday.

Specialists will be on hand at the open house to answer citizens' questions
about the maps, also called DFIRMS, and to provide additional information.
Citizens are encouraged to view the maps, which will be available in both
digital and paper formats.

The preliminary flood maps were developed as part of the nationwide map
modernization effort spearheaded by the FEMA, which administers the National
Flood Insurance Program, the news release said. 

The new maps are in a digital format, providing greater detail and making it
easier for citizens to view the information. 

The flood maps will help residents and business owners understand their
current flood risk and make more informed decisions about protecting their
property, the news release said. In addition, community planners, local
officials, engineers, builders and others will have the tools to make
important determinations about how to maximize safety for new structures and
developments. 

While adoption is voluntary, it is a requirement for participation in the
National Flood Insurance Program. Final maps will not become effective until
adopted by the Parish Council, the news release said.

St. Bernard Parish is not required to adopt the preliminary DFIRMS at this
time. Once the federal levees are completed, new maps will be issued for the
parish's review and adoption.

Extensive information about the Louisiana Mapping Project and the map
adoption process is available online at www.lamappingproject.com, the news
release said.

Assistance is also available through the LaMP Call Center, 1-866-751-3989
open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.