Property Owners Have 90 Days to Appeal FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area Revised Preliminary Maps
For Immediate Release: December 8, 2022
Property owners have 90 days to appeal the revised preliminary Special Flood Hazard Area maps drafted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that determine the obligation for flood insurance.
This is the second round of appeals.
FEMA published preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report on September 30, 2020. The City submitted appeals citing five mapping locations during the appeal process last year. Three of the appeals were accepted by FEMA, and FEMA reverted their proposed changes to the current mapping in those areas. Six individuals submitted appeals through the City, all of which were rejected. Based on the accepted appeals, FEMA revised its preliminary maps and sent them to the City with a second 90-day appeal window that begins on December 15.
The revised preliminary documents include proposed flood hazard information for certain locations in the City that will be the basis for the floodplain management measures the City must adopt and serve as evidence for homeowners to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
According to FEMA’s revised preliminary maps, locations included in the FIRMs are near Holmes Run, Backlick Run, South Lucky Run, Four Mile Run, Marine Drive, Strawberry Run, Cameron Run, Old Cameron Run Channel, Hooffs Run and Union Street.
FEMA last made changes to Alexandria’s effective maps in 2011. About 20% of the City is mapped as a floodplain.
FEMA flood maps help communities to build safely and resiliently by informing communities about local flood risk and setting minimum floodplain standards. Map changes occur to reflect how water flows and drains, such as increased flood risk with natural forces like warming climates and decreased flood risk as communities build levees and dams.
Individuals may submit an appeal to the City if they believe the modeling or data used to create the revised preliminary map are technically or scientifically incorrect. The City will consolidate appeals into one appeal to FEMA.
All appeal submittals will be resolved by consultation with officials from the City, by an administrative hearing or by submission of the conflicting data to an independent scientific body or appropriate federal agency for advice. FEMA will finalize the flood hazard information presented on the revised FIRMs and FIS report and establish an effective date in its Letter of Final Determination after the 90-day appeal period.
Until the revised FIRMs become effective, the current NFIP map in the City will be available for flood insurance policies.
Questions or appeals can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by mail to Brian Rahal, P.E., CFM, Transportation & Environmental Services, 2900 Business Center Drive, Suite B, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Appeals must be received by the City of Alexandria by 5 p.m., March 1, for submission to FEMA.
For inquiries from the news media only, contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at [email protected] or 703.746.3969.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact [email protected] or call 703.746.4990, Virginia Relay 711.
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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4171.
For Immediate Release: December 8, 2022
Property owners have 90 days to appeal the revised preliminary Special Flood Hazard Area maps drafted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that determine the obligation for flood insurance.
This is the second round of appeals.
FEMA published preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and a Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report on September 30, 2020. The City submitted appeals citing five mapping locations during the appeal process last year. Three of the appeals were accepted by FEMA, and FEMA reverted their proposed changes to the current mapping in those areas. Six individuals submitted appeals through the City, all of which were rejected. Based on the accepted appeals, FEMA revised its preliminary maps and sent them to the City with a second 90-day appeal window that begins on December 15.
The revised preliminary documents include proposed flood hazard information for certain locations in the City that will be the basis for the floodplain management measures the City must adopt and serve as evidence for homeowners to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
According to FEMA’s revised preliminary maps, locations included in the FIRMs are near Holmes Run, Backlick Run, South Lucky Run, Four Mile Run, Marine Drive, Strawberry Run, Cameron Run, Old Cameron Run Channel, Hooffs Run and Union Street.
FEMA last made changes to Alexandria’s effective maps in 2011. About 20% of the City is mapped as a floodplain.
FEMA flood maps help communities to build safely and resiliently by informing communities about local flood risk and setting minimum floodplain standards. Map changes occur to reflect how water flows and drains, such as increased flood risk with natural forces like warming climates and decreased flood risk as communities build levees and dams.
Individuals may submit an appeal to the City if they believe the modeling or data used to create the revised preliminary map are technically or scientifically incorrect. The City will consolidate appeals into one appeal to FEMA.
All appeal submittals will be resolved by consultation with officials from the City, by an administrative hearing or by submission of the conflicting data to an independent scientific body or appropriate federal agency for advice. FEMA will finalize the flood hazard information presented on the revised FIRMs and FIS report and establish an effective date in its Letter of Final Determination after the 90-day appeal period.
Until the revised FIRMs become effective, the current NFIP map in the City will be available for flood insurance policies.
Questions or appeals can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by mail to Brian Rahal, P.E., CFM, Transportation & Environmental Services, 2900 Business Center Drive, Suite B, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Appeals must be received by the City of Alexandria by 5 p.m., March 1, for submission to FEMA.
For inquiries from the news media only, contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at [email protected] or 703.746.3969.
For reasonable disability accommodation, contact [email protected] or call 703.746.4990, Virginia Relay 711.
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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4171.
City of Alexandria Expands Stormwater Utility Fee Reduction Program to Include Flood Mitigation Practices
For Immediate Release: November 10, 2022
City Council unanimously approved a measure to adopt revisions to the City’s Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program via updates to the Credit Manual, which simplifies the process, reduces the amount of documentation, changes the application cycle for every other year and expands the types of measures that property owners can claim reductions on their Stormwater Utility Fee.
The fee, which is paid by all property owners as a separate line item on the real estate tax bill, is based on the amount of impervious area, or hard surfaces, on a property. The fee provides a dedicated funding source for the stormwater management program, including 35 current flood mitigation capital projects. Property owners can earn credits to reduce the fee by installing and maintaining eligible stormwater management practices and filing an application to the City. Applications can be submitted by searching for the property on the City’s Real Estate webpage or submitting a hardcopy form. Applications will be accepted from December 1 to February 15.
Revisions were made to the Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program Manual for Residential and Non-Residential Properties to increase participation in the program by making it easier to understand and expanding the list of eligible practices.
Revised updates:
Background: The City of Alexandria adopted the Stormwater Utility Fee in January 2018 to provide a dedicated funding source for the stormwater management program services and costly new capital stormwater infrastructure projects to address the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in urban stormwater runoff that enters local waterways. Following recent flooding events and significant progress made to clean up the Bay, the City shifted resources to increase funding for flood mitigation initiatives under Flood Action Alexandria.
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For Immediate Release: November 10, 2022
City Council unanimously approved a measure to adopt revisions to the City’s Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program via updates to the Credit Manual, which simplifies the process, reduces the amount of documentation, changes the application cycle for every other year and expands the types of measures that property owners can claim reductions on their Stormwater Utility Fee.
The fee, which is paid by all property owners as a separate line item on the real estate tax bill, is based on the amount of impervious area, or hard surfaces, on a property. The fee provides a dedicated funding source for the stormwater management program, including 35 current flood mitigation capital projects. Property owners can earn credits to reduce the fee by installing and maintaining eligible stormwater management practices and filing an application to the City. Applications can be submitted by searching for the property on the City’s Real Estate webpage or submitting a hardcopy form. Applications will be accepted from December 1 to February 15.
Revisions were made to the Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program Manual for Residential and Non-Residential Properties to increase participation in the program by making it easier to understand and expanding the list of eligible practices.
Revised updates:
- Simplified application process that removes duplicate items and streamlines documentation requirements
- Two-year credit applied to two consecutive calendar years – or four billing cycles – for approved applications for eligible practices
- Increased credits for individual eligible practices and increased overall potential maximum credit per application from 30% to 50%
- Previous applicants will be notified via email to reapply for the next two-year credit cycle starting in 2024
- Added credit option for preserving and maintaining existing mature trees and dry floodproofing practices
Background: The City of Alexandria adopted the Stormwater Utility Fee in January 2018 to provide a dedicated funding source for the stormwater management program services and costly new capital stormwater infrastructure projects to address the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup by reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in urban stormwater runoff that enters local waterways. Following recent flooding events and significant progress made to clean up the Bay, the City shifted resources to increase funding for flood mitigation initiatives under Flood Action Alexandria.
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