FEMA Flood Map Information Open House April 19 2022, from 5PM-7PM via Zoom 

Athens County Residents Invited to Attend Flood Map
Information Open House

Members of the public can review preliminary flood maps and talk to experts
about how the maps can affect communities and property owners

CHICAGO -- Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host aVirtual Flood Map Information Open House in Athens County on April 19, 2022. The open house will give residents the chance to review preliminary versions of a recently completed Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

The FIS and the FIRMs provide base flood (also known as the 1-percent-annual-chance event)
information, designate areas that are subject to significant flood hazards within areas of the county and offer information that public officials may use when permitting development in the floodplain.

At the virtual open house, representatives from various local, state, and federal agencies will provide the most current information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development regulations, and the process for floodplain mapping within Athens County. The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps can also be reviewed at the meeting. Once the maps become effective, they will be used as the basis for flood insurance ratings as well as local flood protection regulations adopted under the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA also intends that they be used as tools to assist planning processes and outreach efforts to quickly respond to and recover from future events.

Details for the Athens County meeting are as follows:
WHAT: Athens County— virtual Flood Map Information Open House
WHEN: April 19, 2022 from 5–7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Visit www.zoom.com and enter the following meeting ID and passcode.
This requires registering for a free Zoom account.

Meeting ID: 160 805 7514, Password: AthensOpen

https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1608057514

You may also call into the meeting using one of the following telephone numbers and entering the meeting ID and passcode shown above. Long-distance charges may apply.
(669) 254 5252 US
(669) 216 1590 US
(551) 285 1373 US
Property owners, Realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are urged to take advantage of this
opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community. Digital files of the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report can be downloaded from
www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata.

If you need a reasonable accommodation (sign language interpreters, Braille, CART, etc.), please send an e-mail to FEMA-Region5-FloodInsuranceOutreach@fema.dhs.gov at least 48 hours before the event. Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to fulfill.

For more information, contact the FEMA News Desk at FEMA-R5-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

Developing in a Floodplain

The main sources of flooding within the City of Athens are the Hocking River, Margaret Creek, and Coates Run. Flooding can occur anywhere along these waterways especially when the ground is saturated and a storm front stalls above the Hocking River watershed. Flash flooding can occur along any small tributary under these circumstances as well, though flash flooding does not occur along the Hocking River within the City of Athens. According to the city's 2005 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, riverine flooding is the highest risk natural hazard for the City of Athens; flash flooding is the third highest risk.

If you wish to develop in the City of Athens' floodplain, you must apply for a permit from the Department of Development:
Department of Development
Enforcement and Facilities
28 Curran Dr.
Athens, OH 45701

Please contact this department at (740) 592-3306 before you build, fill, or otherwise develop on the floodplain. Illegal floodplain development can be reported to this department as well. Permits can also be downloaded from the Department of Development, Enforcement and Facilities webpage.

Drainage Systems

Maintenance of drainage systems is another important part of floodplain management. If drainage systems are blocked or diverted, flooding may result even in areas far from a river or creek. In the City of Athens, regulations pertaining to drainage system maintenance are found in Athens City Code 27.02.04. Violations should be reported to the Department of Development, Enforcement and Facilities.