By Jay Taylor | InMaricopa
Hundreds of residents, primarily in Maricopa Meadows, will have their floodplain status changed as a result of a FEMA study completed Aug. 12. Residents will be notified this week of their new status.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) that redefines the boundaries of the Heritage District floodplain. Hundreds of properties, most of which are in Maricopa Meadows, are being removed from the floodplain as a result.
And in a move of no small consequence, more than 100 others are being reclassified as in the floodplain.
The moves carry significant weight, according to Mayor Christian Price.
“In the end, we removed 528 parcels from the floodplain,” Price said. “Some were in Maricopa Meadows and some in the Heritage District. It’s a way of saying that some of the things upstream have changed with what the county has done and other flood prevention measures that have been taken, so this is no longer the Maricopa that flooded in ‘92 and ‘93.”
Price said there will be tangible benefits for those whose homes are moved out of the floodplain as they will no longer be required by mortgage companies to purchase flood insurance. He added that as a precaution, they may want to continue to do so as they still are close to the floodplain.
City Engineer Eduardo Raudales said the city is in the process of notifying the affected residents and property owners.
