New Flood Maps to be Discussed in Dec. 6 Session with Norfolk Planner Robert Tajan

December 01, 2016

Do you own property in an area of Norfolk that floods or is impacted by nearby flooding? Do you want to know more about how Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps work in Norfolk? Do you want to find ways to mitigate your risk?

To provide answers to these and other questions, Old Dominion University will host a question-and-answer session with Robert Tajan of the Department of City Planning in Norfolk about recent flood map changes.

The session will be Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Newport News Room of Webb University Center.

The event is presented by the ODU Resilience Collaborative and the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, as part of the Race 2 Monarch Ready resilience program.

"ODU is committed to engaging with homeowners and residents to increase awareness and knowledge of issues such as flooding that can affect their resilience," said Wie Yusuf, associate professor in the School of Public Service and chair of the ODU Resilience Collaborative steering committee.

"Through this event, our goal is to connect homeowners and residents with the City of Norfolk expert who can answer their questions and address their concerns."

This event is part of a larger initiative to build community resilience through the Commonwealth Center and the ODU Resilience Collaborative. Though the Race 2 Monarch Ready program is targeted to the Old Dominion community, the event is open to all Norfolk citizens and property owners who want to learn more about the flood maps.

Shortly after Hurricane Matthew impacted the region, more than 100 citizens and property owners attended an information session about the implications of the new maps, approved by the Planning Commission on Nov. 10. This session will provide another opportunity for citizens to learn how the maps may impact them and ask questions about this sometimes confusing subject.

The City of Norfolk and many other cities in Hampton Roads participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which allows residents to purchase flood insurance.

Participation in the NFIP requires cooperation with FEMA in terms of flood plain management ordinances and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), which show Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA).

The new maps, which will go into effect on Feb. 17, are designed to reflect a more accurate picture of the city's flood risk. The map changes could impact the cost of flood insurance. However, there may be cost-saving options available.

For more information, visit the website for the City of Norfolk Flood Insurance Rate Map update and the National Flood Insurance Program.

Online RSVPs are recommended but not required. Parking is available in the metered spaces in the 49th Street garage on the Old Dominion University campus.