Flood zones, insurance will be discussed

Kenneth Ma

New flood plain maps, flood insurance and who needs it will be the topic

of two public meetings Tuesday held by U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

(R-Huntington Beach).

Between 50% to 60% of residents in Huntington Beach reside in areas that

are subjected to the 100 year flood threat, said Susan Pierce, a city

associate planner. That means there is a 1% chance that a major flood

could occur in those areas.

In Fountain Valley, 72% of the city lies within special flood zones, said

City Manager Ray Kromer.

During the public meetings, officials from the Federal Emergency

Management Agency, the county and Rohrabacher’s office will discuss

issues such as the guidelines that determine a need for federal flood

insurance and which neighborhoods are in the revised flood zones.

Pierce said federal flood insurance is mandatory for home and business

owners who have taken out a mortgage or loan with financial institutions

that are backed by the federal government.

Flood insurance is optional for residents who are renters in the flood

zones.

Nearly half of Huntington Beach’s residents live in flood zones because

much of the city’s topography is flat, added Pierce, making it

susceptible to heavy rains.

In 1998, a section of Huntington Beach was flooded after heavy rains, she

said. In 1997, a mobile home park suffered damages from flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mandatory flood insurance

ranges from $200 to $800 a year depending on the amount of the loan or

mortgage.

The federal agency last week released new maps designating certain

sections of Orange County safe from floods.

Kromer said 99% of Fountain Valley used to be in the flood zones before

the maps were revised.

Improvements to the Santa Ana River, which was a source of flooding to

many areas of North County, has helped reclaim some areas of Fountain

Valley from flood zones, he said. The improvements included adding

concrete to the river’s banks and last year’s completion of the

$250-million, 550-foot-high Seven Oaks Dam in San Bernardino County.

The public meetings will be held at two locations: 3 p.m. at the

Huntington Beach City Council Chamber, 2000 Main St.; and 7:30 p.m. at

the Fountain Valley Civic Center, 10200 Slater Ave.