FEMA wants input from Winneshiek County about the latest floodplain maps

After the major flooding of 2008 in Winneshiek County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) created a new preliminary floodplain map for the county in early 2010.

However, the agency is still working on creating a new permanent map for Winneshiek County.  The latest map has been sent to county officials, with FEMA giving the county 30 days to send any official comments back to the agency.  The public then will have 90 days to comment to FEMA about the map.

The preliminary floodplain map created in 2010 indicated that there were 455 flood prone structures.  The 2018 updated map includes only 196 structures--122 homes and 74 other buildings.  17 Decorah homes are shown as being in the flood zone.  Another 39 home outside Decorah are listed in Flood Zone A--10 in Ft. Atkinson, 6 in Freeport and 23 in other parts of Winneshiek County.

City and county officials got a chance to review the maps on Monday and to ask questions.  They will continue to work on their response to FEMA over the next four weeks.