Welcome to Skagit County

September 20th, 2007

FEMA DELAYS RELEASE OF PRELIMINARY FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY MAPS
Concerns raised by Skagit County GIS to be remedied

SKAGIT COUNTY – Skagit County Commissioner Sharon Dillon received a letter yesterday from Mark Carey, Acting Director, Mitigation Division, for FEMA, announcing that the agency had decided to delay releasing the preliminary maps for the ongoing Flood Insurance Study(FIS).

According to Carey, several key pieces of information and new data have been shared with his office relating to the study. The original timeline for release of the FIS results was set for mid-summer, however the new revised schedule delays preliminary map release until late November to early December 2007 at the earliest. “Depending on this year’s flood season, this timeline may be extended into early 2008 if necessary,” said Carey.

According to the letter received by Dillon, following the public release of FEMA’s study contractor’s “draft” maps and study data last spring, concerns were raised by Skagit County Geographic Information System (GIS) staff related to the accuracy of the floodplain boundaries shown on the maps. To remedy this issue, FEMA acquired new, more accurate, LiDAR topographic maps. County GIS staff and FEMA worked jointly to re-delineate areas subject to the 100-year flood based on the new maps.

Additional new data has also been provided by the U.S. Geological Survey published in a recent report to re-evaluate the 1921 peak discharge at Skagit River near Concrete.

“We are pleased with FEMA’s cooperation and willingness to closely examine all available information during this process,” said Dillon. “It’s important to our communities to have the best information available.”

“We will continue to evaluate data relevant to this study submitted by Skagit County communities and interested parties,” said Carey. “Should the submitted information warrant, we will modify our study and maps accordingly.”

Skagit County’s GIS Department was recently recognized for excellence in their field with a 2007 Special Achievement in GIS Award at the 26th annual ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, California. “We’re proud of our staff in GIS and thankful that FEMA is working hand in hand with us to get the most accurate information we can,” said Dillon.

For further information, contact:
Dan Berentson
Communications Director
360-419-3461