Learn about the impact of flood risk to Juneau April 4

Property owners and community residents are invited to discuss the potential impacts of and provide feedback on the proposed community flood map revisions during an Open House on April 4, 6 to 8 p.m. at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School commons (1600 Renninger Street). It will showcase the City and Borough of Juneau’s current hazard mitigation planning efforts and provide an opportunity for community members to learn how to build a stronger and safer community in the face of natural disasters.

FEMA has issued a preliminary map showing revisions to the Special Flood Hazard Areas, which have a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year. These maps will help community officials and local residents identify flood risks. Following adoption, these maps will be used to determine flood insurance rates and inform land use and development decisions. Preliminary maps can be reviewed here. To see the preliminary flood hazard data from 2017 compared to the effective flood hazard data from 2013, check out this map.

At the Open House, property owners and community residents will have the opportunity to learn about the flood mapping process and what the changes mean for them. Residents will also have the opportunity to ask questions about how the map revision will impact their property and community.

CBJ encourages property owners to examine the preliminary maps, attend the April 4 Open House, and ask questions about how revisions could affect them. To request a printed or emailed map before April 4, contact Amy Liu at [email protected] or 586-0764. Additionally, for questions regarding property and how individuals may be affected by the new map, written questions can be submitted to Teri Camery at [email protected] and 586-0755. In the message, please provide the following information: Full name, full property address, parcel number (if available), contact information (mailing address, email address, and phone number), and question(s). For those unable to attend the Open House, the presentation will be uploaded here after April 4.

Flooding is the nation’s most common and most expensive natural disaster. According to national statistics, homes inside high-risk flood areas have a 26 percent chance of being damaged by flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage, compared with a 9 percent chance of sustaining fire damage. To learn more about federal flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

For more information, contact Community Development Department Senior Planner Teri Camery at 586-0755 or [email protected].

(In the photo above, Juneau resident Amy Jenson walks through a flooded parking lot at the Jordan Creek Condominiums on the way to a chiropractor appointment on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Juneau Empire.)