On letterhead from the Town of Christiansburg dated May 28, received in today's mail was the following: "Notification of Special Flood Hazard Area Changes" -- How timely, given all the recent rain and flooding. Sent March 25 to our local governments, this is official notification of FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area map changes which will be effective on 25-Sept-09.
This affects flood insurance rate maps and requires insurance is purchased when anyone has a federally backed mortgage. Since most mortgages today are repackaged and sold as commodities, and with all the recent bank and mortgage company bail-outs, does this include your mortgage?
New flood maps will be available for community members to inspect, once in Blacksburg on June 17th, once in Elliston on June 11th, and once by the county at the Government Center on June 25th.
Presumably, Christiansburg residents should plan on seeing this information at the June 25th open house but our community contact is listed as the town's Planning Director (rwringfield@christiansburg.org). Attend any of them and see whether the Town of Christiansburg has officials present.
Watch for your letter to arrive and read the details carefully. Christiansburg residents won't find a copy of this notice posted on the town's website .... look instead to www.floodsmart.gov and http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip for full information.