The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will formally present
the preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps at an Open House on
Monday April 27th, 2009, on the third floor of the AMTRAK Train
Station, Martin Luther King Plaza, 650 Vance Street from 3:30 p.m.
until 6:30 p.m. In addition to FEMA, the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (ODNR), along with City and County officials will present
information and be available to answer questions in the open forum.
At issue, are approximately 1700 homes, most of which are located in
Toledo’s Point Place neighborhood. Last year, the City of Toledo
applied for a provisional accreditation of the Point Place Flood
Control System, but this accreditation will expire in January 2010.
After January 2010, these 1700 homes, previously protected by the
levee system and as such, exempt from flood insurance, will be
included in the Floodplain, and required to carry flood insurance,
unless the City of Toledo can prove compliance.
According to Webb, proving compliance within the timeframe established
by FEMA is nearly impossible. “The City is reviewing proposals to
engage in an engineering study to find out what improvements need to
be made to the dike, but this study will take time and any necessary
improvements will require more time and more money.” Councilwoman
Webb believes that FEMA’s timeframe is unacceptable. “In these times,
to require the City to engage in an expensive study and costly
improvements on an aggressive timetable is egregious,” says Webb.
“We need more time, as well as financial and technical aid from the
federal government, not a fast track approach that encourages the
inevitable inclusion in the floodplain,” says the Councilwoman.
According to her, the additional requirement of flood insurance could
seal the fate of the neighborhood already at the tipping point.
“Adding insult to injury for the good Citizens of Point Place is the
fact that the adjacent property owners were originally assessed for
the installation of the Point Place Flood Control System by the Army
Corp. of Engineers,” notes Webb.
Webb recommends any citizen with questions about the Floodplain maps
attend the meeting. Those who live in Point Place are strongly
encouraged to attend the meeting on Monday, April 27th, between 3:30
p.m. – 6:30 p.m. According to Webb, this is the only chance residents
will have to address this federal agency. Toledo’s District 6
Councilwoman is clear, “if the requirement of flood insurance will
adversely impact your family’s bottom line, or if you paid the
assessment for the Dike the first time, or if you have a business
interest in the neighborhood, or if you just love the community, make
plans to come to the train station on the 27th.”
For more information on the preliminary floodplain maps, visits the
Lucas County website (www.co.lucas.oh.us).
