Proposed Flood Zones: Review Before Your Premiums Spike
Published Date: 3/21/2025
Notice
Summary
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for certain communities, which could change flood zones and base flood levels. If you live or own property in these areas, these changes might affect your flood insurance and local rules. You’ve got until June 20, 2025, to check the new maps and share your thoughts before they become official.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Flood maps may change your property's status
FEMA proposes changes to Flood Insurance Rate Maps that may add or modify Base Flood Elevations (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways. If you live in an affected area, these map changes could change how your property is classified for floodplain rules and flood insurance.
Communities must meet NFIP floodplain rules
The Preliminary FIRM and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports are the basis for floodplain management measures that a community must adopt or show are in effect to qualify or remain qualified for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under 44 CFR 60.3. Communities that do not adopt the required measures risk losing NFIP qualification.
Saguache County preliminary map listed
The notice lists a Preliminary FIRM project for Saguache County, Colorado: Project 19-08-0036S with Preliminary Date January 12, 2024. Residents and property owners in the Town of Saguache and Unincorporated Areas of Saguache County should review the preliminary maps at the local Community Map Repository addresses or online and may submit comments by June 20, 2025.
You can comment or appeal before June 20, 2025
You may inspect preliminary FIRMs and FIS reports online at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload and submit comments identified by Docket No. FEMA-B-2511 on or before June 20, 2025. If you or your community appeal revised flood hazard information, a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) can be used after FEMA and the community have consulted for at least 60 days without a mutually acceptable resolution.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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