Pending Floodplain Changes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is updating the Flood Insurance Rate Map for residences north of the South Platte River. This change specifically recognizes that this neighborhood is at a higher risk of flooding than previously mapped. Properties that were once in a mapped “Low to Moderate Risk Area” (Zone X) will be mapped into a “High Risk Area” with mapped floodwater elevations (Zone AE). 

While purchasing flood insurance may have been previously optional, this change now requires all affected properties to purchase Flood Insurance. To ease the financial burden of additional property insurance, FEMA has a policy that provides an opportunity to purchase a policy at a reduced premium rate (which may later increase) as well as insuring under the mapped zone prior to the change. 

This also means that properties that do not conform to the higher risk zone requirements can secure a policy under the lower-risk zone in effect prior to the map change. This provides both advantages and disadvantages to the affected properties.

Please see FEMA’s documents located within the following links. They are also available on FEMA’s website at:  https://www.floodsmart.gov/.

Public Meetings

Weld County is coordinating four open house meetings at which members of the public can get more information about this process and how it may affect them. 

  • Monday - September 14, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Southwest Large Meeting Room - South West Service Center, 4209 County Road 24.5, Longmont, CO
  • Thursday - September 17, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Kersey Recreational Center, 215 2nd Street, Kersey, CO
  • Wednesday - September 23, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Fort Lupton Recreational Center, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton, CO
  • Thursday - September 24, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Administration Building, 1150 ‘O’ Street, Greeley, CO

All four open houses will have the same information. There will be a short introduction at 5:00 p.m. and an opportunity for you to discuss any changes to your property with County Staff.

You may attend these meeting via Skype by going to the following website:

https://www.weldgov.com/departments/planning_and_zoning/floodplain_management/floodplain_remapping_project

Please contact Diana or Angela at 970-400-6100 for more information. Diana’s email is: daungst@weldgov.com; Angela’s is asnyder@weldgov.com

If you have additional questions specific to an Evans address, please contact the City’s Floodplain Administrator, Todd Hepworth, at either thepworth@evanscolorado.gov, or (970) 475-1114.