Deadline Nears for Maui Flood Map Changes

By Wendy Osher

Property owners wishing to appeal proposed changes to federal flood insurance rate maps have just four weeks left to meet deadlines.

Federal Flood map showing the Maalaea area of Maui. Detailed mapping is available at the following FEMA flood maping website: http://gis.hawaiinfip.org/fhat/

Changes proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) include the de-certification of multiple levee segments at Iao Stream in Wailuku and Kaunakakai Stream on Molokai.  The changes also include the integration of results from a statewide hurricane study.

Properties placed in special flood hazard areas can be affected in several ways:

• you may notice mandatory flood insurance requirements, if you have a federally-backed mortgage;
• renovation or new construction may require higher building costs and/or compliance with the new elevation and substantial improvement standards.

The County of Maui Planning Department advises the public that the deadline to appeal changes to the flood insurance rate maps (FIRM) is April 19, 2011.

Residents are strongly urged to check whether the changes affect them.  The 90 day appeal period began when the initial notification of changes was issued on January 19, 2011.

Requests for changes to the proposed base flood elevations (BFEs) must be based on scientific or technical data and are called appeals. Requests for changes to the proposed map information other than the BFEs are called protests. Appeals and protests along with all supporting documentation (two copies) shall by the stated deadline to:  Floodplain Administrator, County of Maui, Department of Planning, 250 South High Street, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Changes requested after the 90 day appeal period are called Letters of Map Change (LOMC) and may require an extensive application process and fees.

(Supporting information courtesy County of Maui)