Updated Flood Insurance Mapping
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of updating maps of flood zones. Property owners in flood zones who have mortgages provided by a federally regulated lender are required to purchase flood insurance. The preliminary updated maps indicate that flood zones in Arlington are larger than are shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). Therefore more Arlington residents may be required to purchase flood insurance.
FEMA and State consultants will present the draft maps for your comments and questions at upcoming meetings. The two nearest Arlington are:
Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 7 to 9 PM (primarily for citizens)
at Belmont Town Hall Auditorium, 455 Concord Avenue, Belmont
Thursday, November 8, 2007, 1 to 3 PM (primarily for municipal officials)
at the Medford Public Library, 111 High St., Medford
Maps can be viewed online below or at these Arlington locations:
Fox Library
Robbins Memorial Library
Dept. of Planning and Community Development in Town Hall Annex
Residents are encouraged to view the maps. If you disagree with the designation for your property and have information you believe may persuade FEMA to change the designation or the boundary of the flood zone, you may appeal to FEMA. Appeals must be filed before a date that has not yet been determined (at least 90 days away, likely in January, 2008).
Arlington residents get reduced flood insurance premiums because the Town has joined the National Flood Insurance Program. Accordingly, Town Meeting will be asked to adopt the new flood maps in order to continue the Town’s involvement in the Program. The Town Meeting decision will occur after FEMA has received and responded to all appeals and has issued a final version of the maps.
The Town strongly urges residents who think they may be affected by the new flood maps to review the maps and to comment. Our goal is to present Town Meeting with the most accurate possible representation of the areas in Town subject to flooding.
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