FEMA UPDATES FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS

On April 18, 2008, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released preliminary drafts of revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the County of San Mateo. It has been determined that a section of levee within the City of San Mateo does not meet FEMA’s requirements for adequate flood protection. Because of changes in the methodology used to generate flood plain data, the revised maps show all of Foster City to be in a Special Flood Hazard Zone (Zone A).

Foster City and San Mateo officials are diligently and proactively working towards getting the levee improved to preclude the preliminary flood zone designation from becoming final in the Spring of 2010.

Resources

• Regarding the South Bayside Levee Improvements Project:  www.cityofsanmateo.org
• Regarding Flood protection insurance: www.floodsmart.gov or call Jana Critchfield, FEMA Regional Flood Insurance Specialist at (510) 627-7266
• Regarding Construction requirements in flood zones: www.codepublishing.com/CA/FosterCity/ (Chapter 15.36 Floodplain Management Regulations)
• Regarding Foster City’s flood protection: Foster City Public Works Director Ray Towne at rtowne@fostercity.org or 650-286-3288

For More Information

• Federal funding may become available for this project.  View Proposed Funding List on Congresswoman Jackie Speier's website; View April 15, 2009 newspaper article.
• The City of San Mateo has sent out a survey regarding this project.  View it at www.cityofsanmateo.org/index.asp?NID=1633
• The City Council received an update at its meeting on November 3, 2008.  Follow this link to view the report (report starts on page 73)
• View April 28, 2008 Press Release
• Read Initial Notice to Property Owners Dated May 9, 2008