New Flood Insurance Rate Maps Effective Soon

Property Owners Encouraged to View Maps, Know Risk

Communities throughout Middlesex County, Mass., including Medford, are receiving updated flood hazard maps as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s nationwide program to modernize Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The Medford maps, currently in draft form, are scheduled to become effective on June 4, 2010.

There will be a public information meeting for interested residents and property owners on:

Wednesday, May 12th at 7:00 pm
City Hall, 2nd Floor, City Council Chambers
85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford

The meeting will allow attendees to view the new maps, understand how their properties may be affected and learn more about financial steps that they may need to take to protect their investments. Residents and property owners will have an opportunity to discuss recent flooding events.

Flood hazard maps, also known as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, indicate whether properties are in areas of high, moderate or low flood risk. In reviewing the new Medford maps, property owners may find that their risk is higher or lower than they thought. If the risk level for a property changes, so may the requirement to carry flood insurance.

Those who have a federally backed mortgage, or plan to refinance with a federally backed lender, will be required to purchase flood insurance if they find that their home is shown in a high-risk flood area known as a Special Flood Hazard Area on the updated maps. Purchasing flood insurance before the flood maps become effective will lock in the lower-risk zone and could lead to significant savings. Residents are urged to contact their insurance agent or visit www.floodsmart.gov to learn more about how and where to get a policy.

Residents should look at the new preliminary flood maps to become familiar with the flood risks in their community and to see whether their flood zone has changed. The maps for Medford can be viewed at the Engineering Office at Medford City Hall, or online at www.msc.fema.gov. Digital copies of the draft maps have been ordered and will be available on Medford’s website soon.

Staff from FEMA and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will provide a short presentation and will be available to answer questions. For more information contact Cassandra Koutalidis, Medford City Engineer, at 781-393-2476 or via email at ckoutalidis@medford.org.

– Information submitted by Mayor Michael McGlynn’s office