Flood Risk Public Open House

Chickasaw County, Clay County, Itawamba County, Lee County, Lowndes County, Monroe County, Prentiss County and Tishomingo County Upper Tombigbee Watershed Flood Risk Public Open Houses
General public provided opportunity to find out more about new flood maps.

The Mississippi/FEMA Risk MAP Team will host two Flood Risk Public Open Houses scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th and 7th, 2023, at the times and venues shown below.

Upper Tombigbee Watershed Flood Risk Public Open Houses

The Public Open Houses will provide the public with an opportunity to review the recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that include base flood information and identification of areas subject to flood hazards for the following communities: City of Aberdeen, City of Amory, City of Baldwyn, City of Booneville, City of Columbus, City of Fulton, Town of Guntown, Town of Hatley, Town of Hodges, Town of Jumpertown, Town of Mantachie, Village of Marietta, City of Okolona, Village of Paden, City of Red Bay, Town of Smithville, Town of Tishomingo, Town of Tremont, Town of Vina, and portions of the unincorporated areas of Chickasaw County, Clay County, Itawamba County, Lee County, Lowndes County, Monroe County, Prentiss County and Tishomingo  County.  The new preliminary maps covering portions of the above listed communities will also be available for viewing at the local community’s Floodplain Manager’s office. Preliminary Products including Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Preliminary FIRM Database are available for download at the FEMA Map Service Center’s website.

FEMA Map Service Center:  https://msc.fema.gov

The team, which includes representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Geographic Information LLC, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be available to address questions from the public. Local and state officials will also be present to provide information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development requirements, and the process used for floodplain mapping.

Once the preliminary FIRMs become effective, these maps will be used by floodplain permit officials, builders and developers, lenders, realtors, insurance agents, and the general public to determine flood risk.

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation.  Contact a community Floodplain Administrator to learn if a home or business is located within a special flood hazard area which will require flood insurance if there is a federally backed mortgage.