Maui County Set to Receive New Flood Maps
 On December 11, 2008, Maui County, Department of Planning
hosted a public open house to provide Maui County property
owners with an opportunity to view the preliminary flood maps
that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will
be finalizing in the Fall of 2009 and advise affected residents of
the insurance and regulatory implications of the map change.
The updated maps will convert the existing Flood Insurance
Rate Maps (FIRM) into a digital format. The new Maui County
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM) will include updated
flood studies for Waikapu Stream, Kamaole Gulch, Kaluaihakoko
Stream.
Staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department
of Land and Natural Resources also participated in the open house. Presentations by both agencies on
the National Flood Insurance Program, Levee Safety, and an on-going project along Iao Stream was conducted.
The newly released preliminary revised maps are part of a national FEMA effort to modernize the nation’s aging
flood maps to reflect the most current flood risks and areas of recent growth. The updated, digital maps will provide
online access to a property’s flood risk and allow community planners, engineers, builders and others to determine
where and how new structures and developments should be built. The proposed revised maps may be
viewed online at http://gis.hawaiinfip.org/fhat/.
In a recent Maui County press release, Maui County’s Floodplain Manager, Mr. Francis Cerizo said, “Water flow
and drainage patterns have changed dramatically in Maui County over the last 20 years, which affects the likelihood
of flooding in certain areas” and “The proposed FEMA map revisions will provide homeowners and potential
home buyers with a more accurate-and realistic-view of a property’s flood risk.”
It is important that the affected property owners understand that if the new maps show their structure to be located
in a different flood zone designation from the currently affected FIRM then the following implications apply:
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IF THE MAP SHOWS |
THESE REQUIREMENTS, OPTIONS, AND SAVINGS APPLY
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Change from low or moderate flood risk to high risk |
Flood Insurance is Mandatory.
Grandfathering offer available.
Regulatory implications for new construction or substantial improvements. |
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Change from high flood risk to low or moderate risk |
Flood insurance is optional.
Conversion to a PRP offers savings. |
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No change in risk level |
No change in insurance rates. |
The Grandfathering Rule, allows property owners to maintain flood insurance rating prior to the new maps
becoming effective. FEMA has published a fact sheet which provides an overview of the grandfathering rule and
the options it can offer property owners in reducing flood insurance costs. To view this fact sheet, visit:
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3423.
For more information on the proposed FEMA map changes which may affect a future project or flood insurance requirements,
contact Francis Cerizo or Carolyn Cortez at the County of Maui Department of Planning at (808) 270-7735.
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