For more information
Federal Emergency Management Agency, (877) 336-2627 or www.fema.gov
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, (614) 265-6750 or www.water@dnr. state.oh.us
LEBANON — About 100 Warren County residents recently learned more about how new flood plain maps will affect them and their properties.
The Warren County Commission invited about 4,000 residents to attend a public hearing recently who might be affected by the new flood plain maps in the 100-year flood zone that were prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The new maps will go into effect Dec. 17, according to Jerry Spurling of the Warren County Building Department.
He said FEMA remaps flood areas at their discretion and usually about every 10 years.
However, because FEMA is a federal agency, the commissioners had no authority to accept or reject the new maps. They did have a choice whether to approve the new language to the flood management regulations.
Commissioner Mike Kilburn told the residents if they did not approve the regulations, they would not be able to buy flood insurance or possibly not get a loan for property located in the flood plain.
Assistant Prosecutor Matt Nolan said it would also keep a person from selling a house as well.
“There’s no reason not to pass this,” Kilburn said. “Who’d want to handicap their citizens from buying a home?”
Spurling said residents could contact his office with their tax parcel number and a map can be e-mailed to them or contact him at (513) 695-1290.
After the meeting, some residents said they were not aware of the possible changes that would affect their property or if it was included in the flood plain.
Lucy and Gordon Ashley of McLean Road in Franklin Twp. have lived in their home for the past 45 years.
“I can’t see that it’s making a difference to the average person. We didn’t know anything about being in the flood plain now,” Lucy Ashley said.
“Had we not been contacted, we wouldn’t have known about this,” Gordon Ashley said.
Terry Chandler, owner of a rental property on Riley Street in South Lebanon, said he didn’t know if it would decrease the property value.
He said less than five percent of his property was in the flood plain.
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