Laser Imaging Helps Nebraska County Map Flood Plains

A new map shows fewer square miles of flood plains in eastern Nebraska’s Lancaster County.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that a laser imaging detection device attached to an aircraft was used to scan the county and other parts of southeast Nebraska. The scan showed 117 square miles of flood plains in the county, compared with 125 square miles found on flood plains maps done in the 1970s that have been revised over the years.

The changes will let some property owners drop flood insurance. But the owners of property now shown to be in a flood plain may have to acquire flood insurance.

The new flood plain areas are mostly farmland east of Waverly and west of Roca.