Proposed flood insurance rate maps reflect changes to local flood risk; 90-day appeal period for filing appeals and comments underway

Updates to portions of Cook County's and Kane County's Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are nearly complete.

The new maps will provide both counties with up-to-date flood risk information and tools that can be used to enhance local mitigation plans and help officials and residents make better decisions about reducing flood risks and purchasing flood insurance.

Areas of revision are within the Poplar Creek and Spring Creek watersheds and include portions of: Barrington Hills, Cook County (unincorporated areas), Elgin, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Streamwood, Kane County (unincorporated areas) and South Elgin.

The mapping project is part of a nationwide effort led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase local knowledge of flood risks and support actions to address and reduce those risks.

The work has been led by FEMA Region V, in partnership with local community officials and the Illinois State Water Survey.

Before the new Flood Insurance Rate Map is finalized, a 90-day appeal period will give residents and business owners a chance to provide additional technical data or non-technical comments for FEMA's consideration.

FEMA encourages residents and business owners to review the proposed map changes, learn about local flood risks and potential flood insurance requirements, and share any concerns or questions.

If members of the affected communities notice incorrect information that does not involve changing the flood hazard-related information-such as a missing or misspelled road name or an incorrect corporate boundary-a written correction, or "comment," can be submitted.

If members of the communities have concerns about certain areas of the map and have technical and scientific information-such as detailed hydraulic or hydrologic data-that can be used to improve the maps, they may file an appeal during the 90-day appeal period. All comments and appeals must be submitted through the local officials. Because submitting an appeal requires some time and effort, we encourage property owners and renters to review the updated flood maps now.

If you are interested in submitting an appeal, we highly recommend that you first discuss it with your local officials so they can provide guidance on the process. For more details about this process, visit www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp.

Key Mapping Milestones

9/21/2021 - Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map released

11/18/2022 - Revised Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map released

3/30/2022 - Flood Risk Community Open House

8/24/2023 -Appeal Period Began

Fall 2024* - New FIRM becomes effective; new flood insurance requirements are applied

To see or download the preliminary FIRM panels, visit msc.fema.gov or hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload/.

For information about the deadline for submitting an appeal or comments, call S. Fuller, Illinois State Water Survey at (217) 300-0221

For general information, contact a Map Specialist with any questions at 1 877-336-2627 (toll free) between 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET.

*Date subject to change, pending completion of appeal review process.