REVISIONS TO FLOODPLAIN ORDINANCE, FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY AND FLOOD INSURANCE MAPS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION - STEPS ENABLE PROPERTY OWNERS TO OBTAIN NFIP FLOOD INSURANCE

VILLAGE FLOODPLAIN IDENTIFIED BY FEMA
Throughout the Village, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified different areas of floodplain. Floodplain is a low lying area near rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of water that will most likely be covered by water during a regional or 100-year (large) flood event. Each year, there is a 1% chance that a large, regional or 100-year flood can occur.

FEMA identifies floodplain as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Areas of floodplain are identified in order to help property owners financially protect themselves from a flood-related disaster. In order to protect human lives, health and property, no new structures, wells or septic systems are allowed to be built within a floodplain. FEMA also offers flood insurance to property owners in or near a floodplain if their community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.

DOCUMENTS FOR VILLAGE RECENTLY REVISED
Every several years, FEMA will revise both a Flood Insurance Study and a Flood Insurance Rate Map for a community. The revised documents help FEMA better administer the Flood Insurance Program. FEMA recently revised these documents for the Village of Pleasant Prairie. The last time a Flood Insurance Rate Map was created for the Village was December of 1996.

PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
Pleasant Prairie participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. In order for the Village to maintain eligibility for residents to purchase flood insurance from NFIP, the Village is required to update our Floodplain Zoning Ordinance to meet the minimum federal and state requirements and to adopt FEMA's revised Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map by June 19, 2012.

During the month of May, approximately 2,600 letters were mailed to those living within a certain distance of a Village floodplain. An Open House was also held in May related to the updated Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Map. The Village will host an official public hearing related to a revised Village Floodplain Zoning Ordinance and the revised FEMA study and map on Wednesday, May 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Village Hall (9915 39th Avenue).

Following the public hearing, the Village Plan Commission will consider adoption of the revised ordinance, study and map. These steps will help ensure that Village residents will continue to be eligible to purchase lower cost flood insurance from the NFIP. To learn more about floodplain and the National Flood Insurance Program, please click here.