Montgomery County Gets New Flood Hazard Maps

Montgomery County Gets New Flood Hazard Maps
Journal Review 8/5/2009
by Frank Phillips

Flood hazard maps for Montgomery County that are provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have been updated for the first time in 11 years.

Flooding can be a problem in Montgomery County, particularly along Coal Creek in Wayne Township along Sugar Creek and in and around Crawfordsville.

The new maps “Use state-of-the-art technologies and risk modeling techniques,” according to a press release from the DNR.

“They give us a visual of where to watch and where not to build,” said Fred Davis, the county’s director of emergency management.

“Coal Creek at Waynetown is one of the creeks I watch pretty closely. I went out a little while ago (on Tuesday) to look at Sugar Creek. It is up a little bit, but not bad yet. We keep an eye on places in the flood plain in case they have to be evacuated.”

The maps are important for home owners with federal or federally insured loans, who are required to carry flood insurance, according to a press release from the DNR.
The flood hazard maps, known as flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) identify property as having high, moderate or low flood risk. The information makes it possible for builders and other interested parties to determine where and if buildings should be constructed to avoid the risk of flooding.

An open house has been scheduled 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Crawfordsville District Public Library to review the maps and discuss concerns with engineers.

The Montgomery County project is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s larger effort to modernize the nation’s aging flood maps, according to information from the DNR.