East Point has determined it has 1,200 properties at a high risk for flooding, nearly double previous projections, new findings that could bring added costs for some homeowners.
Addressing a concern shared with other metro Atlanta communities, the south Fulton County city spent $194,000 for an updated study of its drainage basin — one that services 45 miles of streams — after watching local water levels rise uncomfortably in recent years.
Previously, 750 East Point parcels had been considered at high risk by Federal Emergency Management Agency mapping, which was deemed sorely in need of an update.
“FEMA had done a study in 2001, but the data they used was from the 1970s and it hadn’t been adjusted to meet the physical evidence of the water mark,” said Alex Mohajer, East Point director of public works. “This new study we have done is state of the art. ... and a more realistic snapshot.”
East Point will begin notifying property owners next year about their change in status. The city will hold six public meetings on flood risks and the appeals process for those who don’t believe their properties are endangered, and property owners can hire a surveyor to challenge the findings, Mohajer said.
The new mapping, which awaits FEMA approval, will be a boon to 186 property owners — their holdings were misclassified and no longer sit in the shifting flood plain, which could lower insurance rates.
However, many more people could be required to pay $500 to $1,000 more for flood insurance policies, coverage not provided by standard homeowner’s insurance, said LaTonya Martin of Tripp Insurance Services in College Park.
“Once that information gets to the mortgage company, they are going to be required to get flood insurance,” she said.
East Point took a more concentrated look at its drainage issues after noting that some areas not included in the FEMA flood-plain mapping continued to flood during heavy rains, Mohajer said.
Metro Atlanta’s flood plain has expanded because of development and its accompanying impervious surface areas, causing creeks to be overrun with discharging water during rains, and the mappings haven’t kept pace with the changes, said Steve Haubner, Atlanta Regional Commission water resources engineer.
“It is common knowledge that maps are outdated, but I think there was more of an incentive after the flooding in 2009 to get these maps updated,” Haubner said. “If you put somebody’s home in a flood plain that doesn’t look like a flood plain, that is just bad public policy.”
East Point is not the only Fulton County city wrestling with changing flood plain issues. Roswell has upgraded its mapping as well, and found inaccuracies, namely more people with properties at risk of flooding.
“The old maps were approximate and this is an actual delineation,” said Alice Champagne, Roswell water resource manager. “We can use these maps to help people understand their risk. It is better than guessing.”
To find out whether a metro Atlanta property is currently listed at high risk for flooding, visit www.floodsmart.gov, which has a search engine that checks addresses.
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