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On June 30, 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) to communities in Onondaga County for public comment. Since that time, the maps have gone through a period of due process and are slated to become effective on November 4, 2016. The maps provide updated information about the community’s flood risk, inform insurance rates and purchase requirements, and help property owners make decisions about how to protect themselves and their properties against future flood events. The FIRM and the associated Flood Insurance Study (FIS) are the basis for each community’s floodplain management measures.

Some properties in Onondaga County, may, for the first time, be included in a high-risk flood zone, known as the Special Flood Hazard Area. This may result in those affected homeowners being required to purchase flood insurance. Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. It is vital that property owners understand their current flood risk, and take advantage of tools or programs available to make their property and community safer and stronger against future flood risk.

Additional information on mapping is available on FEMA’s Map Service Center and flood insurance information can be found on FloodSmart. You may also contact a map specialist at the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at (877) 336-2627. Or attend a Flood Risk Open House

New Maps and Information

  • FEMA’s website is a great source for information. On the site, there are a number of fact sheets about flood insurance, the Risk MAP program, mitigation actions, and other related information. The website also has a link that enables residents to view the maps that affect their specific location.
  • Paper copies are available in the Town of DeWitt Planning and Zoning office at the DeWitt Town Hall during business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. For more information contact the Planning and Zoning office at (315) 446-3910 x 3 or plan_zone@townofdewitt.com.
  • Regardless of the FEMA flood designation of buildings, if you feel your building is at risk of flooding, you can still purchase flood insurance. 

Flood Insurance

  • Flood insurance requirements are based on current effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).
  • Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federally underwritten program, and is purchased through licensed insurance agents. For more information on flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.
  • The NFIP provides flood insurance in more than 22,000 communities nationwide that agree to adopt and enforce sound floodplain management regulations.
  • FEMA recommends that all residents and business owners purchase flood insurance to help protect their financial investment.
  • Knowing where and when map changes are occurring will help citizens understand what the best insurance options are for their home or business. Preliminary FIRMs can be viewed by visiting the interactive mapping page of Fema Flood.

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