Marisa Endicott, PRESS DEMOCRAT
☛ Permit Sonoma webpage with FEMA Flood Hazard & Zoning Update Map
A change to federal flood zones could affect insurance rates, property values and building, especially along the lower Russian River.
Nick Schwanz went to a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting in November to weigh in on a particular agenda item.
He was surprised to learn, however, that another item, which appeared to be a routine and technical set of zoning adjustments, actually carried huge implications for his community.
Schwanz, a board member of the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, quickly pivoted and became one of the few to comment on an apparent change to the federal flood zones that could affect insurance rates, property values and building especially along the lower Russian River.
“As far I know this isn’t on anybody’s map,” Schwanz said.
Supervisors, too, seemed taken by surprise.
“This was sort of framed to me as technical corrections, and honestly the way the data was presented made it impossible to see the bigger picture,” said Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents much of the affected area. “When we have constituents coming to us who received a notice in the mail yesterday and have no idea what it means, that’s a failure of community engagement. That’s a failure of communication, and we need to do better. I can’t in good conscience vote on this.”
At issue was a new study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of flood hazards in the Russian River Watershed, the first update in 30 years. The maps are used to determine flood risks and insurance requirements and must be adopted by counties to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Read more at https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/russian-river-fema-flood-zones/