Advisory Maps Available at Seven DRC’s in Miss. Coastal Counties

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the Katrina Flood Recovery maps are now available at seven Disaster Recovery Centers in Mississippi Gulf Coast counties.

Due to the large number of disaster victims without access to the advisory maps online, FEMA has responded by setting up computers dedicated to providing the new Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE) to individuals visiting one of the seven coastal DRCs.

“FEMA recognizes the valuable component the advisory maps are to the reconstruction effort and we want to facilitate public access to these maps,” said Todd Davison, FEMA’s regional mitigation director.

The advisory maps released last month on FEMA’s Web site were produced to serve as a guideline for rebuilding at safe elevations for Mississippi Gulf Coast communities.

Data from the advisory maps for the three coastal counties have shown that the updated 100-year stillwater levels are 3 to 8 feet above the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

“We are encouraging communities to meet or exceed these new elevations from the advisories in order to best mitigate future loss to life and property,” said Davison.

FIRMs are based on the “100-year” flood level. The flood elevation is determined by the height above mean sea level at which there is a one percent chance in any given year that flood waters could reach (or exceed) that elevation.

FEMA and the state of Mississippi will continue detailed engineering studies to produce revised FIRMs in the next 18 months. Whether communities decide to adopt the new FIRMs once produced will determine their eligibility to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The following DRCs now offer access to the Katrina Recovery Maps:

Jackson County
Old K-Mart Building
3164 Bienville Blvd.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Harrison County
Disabled American Vets Hall
2600 23 rd Ave.
Gulfport, MS 39501

Jackson County
Pelican Landing Convention Center
6217 Hwy 613
Moss Point, MS 39563

Harrison County
Snyder Recreation Center
2520 Pass Road
Biloxi, MS 39530

Hancock County
S. Coast Skate Park
118 Anderer Blvd.
Waveland, MS 39576

Harrison County
MS Gulf Coast Community College
21500 B Street
Long Beach, MS 39560

Harrison County
Biloxi Recreation Center
591 Howard Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530

For online access to Katrina Recovery Maps, go to FEMA’s homepage, www.fema.gov and click the link, “Katrina Recovery Maps” in the spotlight section.