An Important Nationwide Initiative
In Georgia, flooding is the number one natural disaster. To identify flood hazards, the risks they pose to people and property, and the regulatory boundaries of floodplains, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) develops flood hazard maps, officially known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps or FIRMS.

In 2003, FEMA embarked on a comprehensive, five-year initiative to update the nation’s flood maps to reflect current flood risks, working with local governments, water management districts, and other partners. The new maps are digital, rather than paper-based, and easily viewable online. Today, Flood Map Modernization (or Map Mod) continues and is transforming the way flood maps are created, viewed and used.

Why Alpharetta Flood Maps Need Updating
Alpharetta current flood hazard data dates from 1998 and are out of date. Drainage patterns have changed dramatically due to land use, surface erosion, and other natural forces. As a result, the likelihood of flooding in some areas has increased significantly. Moreover, the technology used to estimate flooding has been much improved. Up-to-date maps will much more accurately represent the risk of flooding; they are an important tool too in the effort to protect lives and properties in Alpharetta.

Map Modernization Efforts in Alpharetta
Georgia’s Map Modernization Project is a comprehensive effort to remap Fulton County’s flood risks using the latest flood modeling and digital mapping technologies. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) under the Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) partnered with FEMA to ensure local input into the process. This has allowed GA DNR to have a direct hand in working with the counties and communities within the state. GA DNR will be guiding the remapping process and providing support and direction for the outreach that is performed by the local counties and communities.

The new digital flood maps will provide detailed, property-specific flood risk data to guide construction and flood insurance decisions. With the planned release of these maps in summer 2012, Alpharetta residents and business owners will have up-to-date, reliable, Internet-accessible data about the flood hazards they face.
 

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