Town of Cranberry Isles
Minutes of Public Hearing
Floodplain Management Ordinance
23 May 2006
Islesford Neighborhood House

In Attendance:

Phil Whitney, BOS Chairman	Tom Marcotte, Planner II
Denise McCormick, Town Clerk	Brigitte Ndikum-Nyada, Planning and Research Associate
Nanette Hadlock, Deputy Clerk	(above from State Planning Office)
Bill McGuinness, Facilities Supervisor
Richard Ramsey
Cindy Thomas

Call To Order: 5:23 PM by Phil Whitney

Warrant Article 21 for the Town of Cranberry Isles Annual Town Meeting on March 13, 2006 asked the voters:

"Shall an Updated 'Floodplain Management Ordinance' for the Town of Cranberry Isles be enacted?"

• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a Nationwide Voluntary Program, of which The Town of Cranberry Isles is a member. Our current Floodplain Management Ordinance is not consistent with our maps or changes that have been ruled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since 1991, when the current ordinance was updated last. If we fail to update our ordinance, the Town will be put on a probationary period by FEMA, and then eventually suspended from the NFIP Program. If a natural disaster should occur, and a town is in not in compliance, we might expect to not receive federal disaster monies, pursuant Executive Order 1988. Flood insurance under the NFIP would not be available in the community. Also, Section 202(a) of Public Law 93-234, as amended, prohibits Federal Officers or agencies from approving any form of financial assistance for acquisition or construction purposes in a Special Flood Hazard Area, in other words, lending agencies may not approve mortgages in these areas.
  
  
• Communications from NFIP were first sent to The Town of Cranberry Isles in 1999, in reference to the updating.
  
  Flood Insurance Maps are available for viewing at the Town Office, or you may order the maps (there is a cost) by contacting:
  
  Federal Emergency Management Agency
  Map Service Center
  PO Box 1038
  Jessup, MD 20794-1038
  Phone: 1-800-358-9616
  Fax: 1-800-358-9620
  www.msc.fema.gov
  
  There is also additional information, compliments of the State Planning Office, available at the Town Office. The State Planning Office informs us that new maps are being assembled, but we should not expect them until sometime after 2008. This updating of maps stems from mapping concerns all over the country.
  
  
• Communities are divided into different flood zones on the maps. Run up is defined as how far the overland water could go over the mean high tide mark in any given area. Maine has more stringent rules than some other states, so we must add one extra foot to the published run up numbers.
  
  
• Homeowners Insurance does not cover overland flooding of any kind.
  
  
• Homeowners Insurance usually has a rising water policy.
  
  
• Flood is defined as: "A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area, or of two or more properties (at least one of which is your property) from overflow of inland or tidal waters, from unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, or from mudflow."
  
  
• One hundred year flood: a 1% chance of flood in every year
  a 23-25% chance of flood in 30 years
  a 69-70% chance of flood in 100 years
  
  
• If your property is listed in a special flood hazard zone, and you feel that this is questionable, a survey is needed and a letter of map amendment (LOMA) can be filed with FEMA. Soon the application will be available online. "Any questions should be directed to one of FEMA's Flood Map Specialists."
  
  FEMA LOMA Depot
  Michael Baker, Inc.
  Suite 600
  3601 Eisenhower Avenue
  Alexandria, VA 22304
  
  
• Contact information for the State Planning Office personnel in charge of the Floodplain Management Program is available at the Town Office.
  
  
• There is a good chance that this warrant article will be presented again to the voters at a special Town Meeting sometime this year.

Return home___