FEMA Flood Risk
Mapping Project:
Santa Rosa Creek Watershed
Climate Action Subcommittee | February 7, 2024
Presentation by:
• Claire Myers, Storm Water and Creeks Manager
• Jesse Oswald, Chief Building Official
• What is flood mapping?
• Why is it important?
• Why now?
FEMA Flood Risk Mapping Project
Project Impacts
• Some properties may be mapped within a Special Flood
Hazard Area (SFHA), also referred to as a high flood risk area. • Properties in the SFHA, may be subject to more stringent building standards and/or insurance requirements.
• Properties in the SFHA with mortgages from government- backed lenders are required to have flood insurance.
• Temporary and ongoing impacts to staff workload
Project Benefits
• Assessing flood risk will help our community make
informed decisions about where to live, what to build, and how to protect homes and businesses.
• The revised flood maps will also help City officials develop strategies for improving our resiliency, such as
infrastructure improvements and future development, thereby contributing to a safer city.
Project Timeline
FEMA gathers information about local flood hazards and their risk in close coordination with the community to prioritize future mapping, risk assessment, or mitigation planning assistance.
Santa Rosa, Sonoma Water, and County of Sonoma provided local flood data to FEMA.
• Information about the Santa Rosa Creek Flood Study was presented to City Council on Nov.16, 2021.
Discovery
FEMA analyzes the information gathered during Discovery phase to develop preliminary flood maps.
Estimated to begin work in Feb. 2024 and take 1 year to complete.
Analysis & Mapping
FEMA releases preliminary flood maps.
City will coordinate with FEMA to host a community meeting(s) and share the preliminary flood maps with the community.
Community members will have the opportunity to submit
technical data to request revisions during the 90-day
public appeal and comment period.
Estimated preliminary map release: Summer 2025
Preliminary Map Release &
90-Day Appeal/Comment Period
FEMA sends a Letter of Final Determination, including effective date, for new flood maps.
New maps are available through FEMA’s Flood Map
Service Center.
Community members may submit data to amend or revise flood maps through FEMA’s Letter of Map Amendment process.
Estimated Effective Map Date: Spring 2026 – Spring 2027 Flood Map Adoption
Community Resources
FEMA Mapping and Insurance
eXchange (FMIX) Customer Care
Center
Phone:
877-FEMA-MAP (877-336-2627)
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
fema.gov/flood-maps
City of Santa Rosa
• SRCity.org/FEMAFloodMapping
• E-Newsletter sign-up for project
updates
• Updates on project timeline
• FAQs
• Contact Information
Questions?