CHAMPAIGN — People who own property in or near a flood plain might want to attend a public meeting this week set to publicize new flood maps scheduled to be adopted next year.
The Champaign County flood insurance rate maps show where and how structures may be built, which properties are at higher risk for flooding, who is required to buy flood insurance and what they will pay for that coverage.
The updated maps will be presented to local government officials Thursday afternoon and will be displayed for residents during a public open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St.
A month-long public comment period and 90-day appeal period will follow the presentation of the new, digital maps before their adoption, which will probably be sometime in mid-2013.
The new maps are part of an effort to modernize the nation's aging flood maps to reflect more current flood risks and areas of recent growth, said Shelly Fuller, post processing specialist with the Illinois State Water Survey. The revised maps replace some that are more than 25 years old and will provide more recent, Internet-accessible information.
Water flow and drainage patterns change over time and the likelihood of flooding in certain areas may have changed as well, according to a press release.
Residents can also view the new maps online at http://www.illinoisfloodmaps.org [2] and submit comments to Fuller at mlfuller@illinois.edu [3]. The Illinois State Water Survey will accept comments through Aug. 31.
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The changes will affect home values for resale. Insurance rates may be higher. If your home is not in the new map zoned, but close to it; you might want to ask questions.