Mayor Announces Progress with Floodway Mapping Issue Affecting Residents Near Gardena Park

michigan-city-sealMayor Meer is pleased to announce that the City has recently moved one step closer to revising the Floodplain boundary of the existing Cheney Run Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) that is affecting many residents near Gardena Park. On February 15, 2016, the City received formal approval from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on the City’s proposed revised Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS). The new proposed Floodplain boundary shows a significant reduction in the overall size of the Cheney Run Floodplain. The bulk of this work is being performed by the City’s consultants, Haas and Associates, Michigan City and Smith Group JJR, Madison, Wisconsin.

The next step in the process will be to submit the proposed revised FIRM and new FIS flood model and analysis of the Cheney Run Special Flood Hazard Area to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their review and consideration. The Mayor is hopeful that FEMA will agree with IDNR and approve the revised FIRM. The Mayor is asking for all residents to remain patient as the FEMA review and anticipated approval is expected to take at least six months.

If the new floodplain map is approved by FEMA, most property owners affected by the current Cheney Run Floodplain mapping boundary would see a reduction in premium and, in many cases, complete elimination of the requirement for flood insurance policies.