Flood Risk Open House draws a crowd

By Brian M. Boyce
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE June 03, 2008 10:34 pm

— Changes in Vigo County’s flood plain designations prompted state officials to host a Flood Risk Open House on Tuesday evening in the County Annex building.
According to a sign-in sheet at the open house’s registration table, about 100 people had come through between 5 and 8 p.m. to learn about flood insurance and whether or not their parcel would be affected by the designation changes.
“We sent out a little over 1,000 letters,” said David Knipe of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Water.
Each owner of an affected parcel was issued a letter informing them of the changes and encouraging them to attend Tuesday night’s meeting.
Some parcels were switched into the flood plain status while others were taken out, Knipe said, describing it as “an even split,” brought about by “better-detailed topography.”
IDEM co-hosted the project along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and both groups had booths available with flood insurance information.
One of the areas being switched into the flood zone, and thus now requiring flood insurance, is an area north of Lafayette Avenue at Sycamore Street.
Exact locations of the changes can be accessed online at www.floodmaps.in.gov, by selecting Vigo County.
Knipe said links for information on flood insurance are also online there.

Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.