Floodplain Evaluation Update, January 30, 2007

A professional re-evaluation of the floodplain in Shaker Heights was recently undertaken. The floodplain refers to an area where overland flooding, not basement flooding, can occur if the storm sewers are overloaded. A floodplain has a one percent or greater chance of overland flooding in any given year.

The main reason the City undertook the evaluation was to determine whether the many sewer improvements made over the last few decades have reduced the floodplain area. The result of this independent, professional evaluation is a smaller floodplain area. A map defining it has been submitted to the federal government for approval. In the new floodplain, some homes will no longer be affected, but some homes may now fall within the floodplain.

Homeowners in the floodplain are affected in this way:

• You may be required to obtain flood insurance if you refinance your home.
• In addition, if you decide to sell your home, the buyer may also be required to carry this insurance.

As a result, you may wish to petition FEMA to reconsider this designation for your home. FEMA has online help to guide you through the appeal process.

For additional information to questions, call the Public Works Department at 216-491-1490.