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. 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).

Prior to the current re-mapping, FEMA reviewed communities separately within their respective city limits to determine the flood ratings for each community. In the recent evaluation, the flood ratings do not consider city limits as the boundaries for potential flood impacts. It has been determined that a section of levee within the City of San Mateo does not meet FEMA’s requirements for adequate protection. This results in portions of San Mateo and all of Foster City being reclassified from Zone X (non-mandatory flood insurance) to Zone A (mandatory flood insurance required).

Foster City and San Mateo officials are working towards getting the levee improved to preclude the preliminary flood zone designation from becoming final in the Spring of 2010. This is important because special flood zone designation would result in the need for mandatory flood insurance and new development and some improvements to properties would need to be constructed to comply with specific flood hazard mitigation standards.

Although the City of San Mateo has already made approximately $5 million in levee improvements, there remains approximately $2.6 million worth of levee improvements that are needed before portions of San Mateo and all of Foster City can be classified as Zone X. The City of San Mateo is proceeding with the design for improving the levee and expects to have the construction of the improvements finished by the Summer of 2010, shortly after the effective date of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Construction of the improvements depends on the permitting processes of various regulatory agencies. Flood zone ratings can be modified once the levee is improved. Foster City and San Mateo officials are working with FEMA to minimize the time required to complete the project and avoid a special flood zone designation, if possible.

Foster City property owners will be receiving a letter in the mail regarding the specific impacts of the revised flood zone designation on properties in Foster City and the steps that need to be taken. Anyone with questions about flood protection insurance should visit the FEMA website at www.floodsmart.gov or contact their insurance representative. For information about construction requirements in flood zones, visit www.codepublishing.com/CA/FosterCity/ Chapter 15.36 Floodplain Management Regulations.

Foster City undertook an approximate $2 million project to improve its levees in the early 1990’s when FEMA was proposing to reclassify all of Foster City into a special flood hazard zone. Upon completion of the project, the Foster City levee was certified by FEMA as providing adequate protection, so that flood insurance was not mandatory. FEMA recertified Foster City’s levee in July 2007. The condition of levees within Foster City has kept the community out of a special flood zone designation.

With FEMA’s new cross-jurisdictional approach to determining flood hazards, Foster City’s flood rating will now be impacted by the condition of parts of San Mateo’s levee system. Questions about Foster City’s flood protection should be directed to Public Works Director Ray Towne at rtowne@fostercity.org or 650-286-3288.