FEMA Releases Revised Flood-Risk Maps for St. Charles

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued revised flood rate insurance maps for St. Charles which show many homeowners are out of the floodplain. 

The maps show areas in the 100-year flood plain, which have a 1 percent chance of flooding in a year. Homeowners who live in the 100-year floodplain are often compelled by their mortgage-holder to obtain costly flood insurace if they have a federally-backed mortgage.

New maps for St. Charles County were first released in 2009. City and county officials appealed to FEMA that the maps were based on incorrect information.

Evans said David Gipson, former city planner, took information from the Missouri Department of Transportation when it built Highway 370 and private engineering studies and sent it to FEMA. 

FEMA agreed that the maps should be revised, said Evans. 

"They said the maps need to be revised and sent us revised maps," he said. "We didn't get everything we asked for... Most of what we asked for we got."

The revised maps show the area between Elm Street and Cole Creek is 80 percent out of the floodplain, while in the first version, nearly 100 percent of the area was in the 100-year floodplain. 

A portion of the Charlestowne neighborhood, located north of Highway 370, is in the 100-year floodplain, however. Evans said he will set up meetings with the developer of the neighborhood to discuss the changes.

City Council President Mike Klinghammer, Ward-8, said the outreach from the city initially to the community about these maps was perfect. 

"We did everything we could to argue with FEMA," he said. "This is a huge victory."

Several council members requested copies of the maps and said they wanted to meet with community members. Evans said residents are welcome to come to the city and view the newest versions of the maps. He said the maps are not available digitally yet. 

The city has until March 8 to comment on the maps. 

Eventually, the city council will have to accept the maps, but the council typically would be given 90 days to do so. Residents in affected areas will have a chance to purchase flood insurance at a subsidized rate through the National Flood Insurance Program.