Faced with rising prices of just about everything, some Clarkston residents might catch a break ? a new federal floodplain map may mean they no longer have to buy flood insurance.
‘The new revision reduced areas that were originally in the flood zone in what I think pretty significant fashion,? said City Manager Dennis Ritter. ‘It has the potential of making a lot of difference in terms of having flood insurance, which is very expensive.?
The Flood Insurance Rate Map adopted by Federal Emergency Management Agency in September 2006 was questioned several times over the past couple years, Ritter said.
‘Many properties were placed into the flood plain for the first time. Properties partially in the zone saw their property enlarged or in some cases completely engulfed,? said Ritter.
The city requested attorney Gary Tressle, of Hubble, Roth, and Clark, to review the matter. Tressle found mistakes and called for a review by FEMA, using topographical maps used by the city to install its new water system.
These maps are more accurate than Oakland County aerial maps used originally, Ritter said.
‘The aerial maps were good representations of the area map, but I think when FEMA applied the flood zones onto that, that’s where the error occurred,? he said.
FEMA issued its revised map, June 26.
‘The rate map helps the insurance company determine those properties that lie within a flood zone and have the potential of being flooded,? Ritter said.
‘As a result, the home owner is generally required to have flood insurance by their mortgage company.?
As a participant of the National Flood Insurance Program companies are required to insure people in need to flood insurance, he noted.
Ritter said property owners need to check with their insurance and mortgage companies to see whether they need flood insurance, based on the new map.
‘They should provide them (the mortgage company) with this letter of map revision, so they can officially remove them from that obligation,? he said. ‘The letter of map of revision itself is a very important document. I think it’s just as important as a deed. They should get a copy of it and keep it in a safe place.?
Copies are available at city hall. For more information, call 248- 625-1559.