City of Urbana Flood Plain Mapping Update Information
Flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster in the City of Urbana. The risk of flooding changes over time due to erosion, land use, weather events and other factors. This risk can vary within the same neighborhood and from property to property. As the county’s flooding in 2008 illustrated, flooding occurs not only in high-risk areas, but in low- to moderate-risk areas as well. Knowing your flood risk is the first step to flood protection.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completed a multi-year project in 2009 aimed at re-examining Urbana’s flood zones and developing detailed, digital flood hazard maps.
In 2014, the City took the initiative to hire EMH&T as a consultant and conduct its own multi-year flood plain study of Dugan Run. Mandatory flood insurance through a homeowner's mortgage adds extra financial burden that some would rather do without. With the addition of larger bridges and extra flow paths in recent years, the City felt reevaluating the flood plain would be helpful to many residents who are currently in the fringe and may subsequently be subtracted from the flood plain. In the spring of 2014, EMH&T had aerial photography/topography taken of the area in and around the flood plain throughout Urbana. By the end of 2015, they finished with the data collection phase. The study resumed in 2016 with the computer modeling phase. In 2017 and 2018, the City through EMH&T completed the project by submitting paperwork (Letter of Map Revision or LOMR) to FEMA for map updates. Official map revisions were effective in September of 2018 and reflect as overlays on the 2009 FEMA maps.
As a result of the revisions, you and other property owners throughout the community have up-to-date, internet-accessible information (see FEMA Map Service Center link below) about your flood risk, on a property-by-property basis.
The following links will take you to information related to flood plains and to FEMA's website for the most up-to-date flood hazard areas. As always, please contact the Engineering Office at your convenience.
Understanding Your Flood Risk
Flood Insurance Grandfather Rules
FEMA Map Service Center
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completed a multi-year project in 2009 aimed at re-examining Urbana’s flood zones and developing detailed, digital flood hazard maps.
In 2014, the City took the initiative to hire EMH&T as a consultant and conduct its own multi-year flood plain study of Dugan Run. Mandatory flood insurance through a homeowner's mortgage adds extra financial burden that some would rather do without. With the addition of larger bridges and extra flow paths in recent years, the City felt reevaluating the flood plain would be helpful to many residents who are currently in the fringe and may subsequently be subtracted from the flood plain. In the spring of 2014, EMH&T had aerial photography/topography taken of the area in and around the flood plain throughout Urbana. By the end of 2015, they finished with the data collection phase. The study resumed in 2016 with the computer modeling phase. In 2017 and 2018, the City through EMH&T completed the project by submitting paperwork (Letter of Map Revision or LOMR) to FEMA for map updates. Official map revisions were effective in September of 2018 and reflect as overlays on the 2009 FEMA maps.
As a result of the revisions, you and other property owners throughout the community have up-to-date, internet-accessible information (see FEMA Map Service Center link below) about your flood risk, on a property-by-property basis.
The following links will take you to information related to flood plains and to FEMA's website for the most up-to-date flood hazard areas. As always, please contact the Engineering Office at your convenience.
Understanding Your Flood Risk
Flood Insurance Grandfather Rules
FEMA Map Service Center
