Aldridge Creek Flood Study

The Floodplain and Floodway map revision resulting from the physical improvements made by the City of Huntsville and subsequent request to FEMA has been published as of 5/20/10.  To view the updated mapping got to the City of Huntsville’s interactive mapping website at http://maps.hsvcity.com.  Following is guidance for use of the interactive mapping.

“Accept” the “Disclaimer” shown on the screen, and you will be taken to the mapping.  Check the “FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map” box in the “Layers” list under the “Map Contents” section on the left side of the screen to display the 100-Year (yr.) Floodplain. Select “Find Address” near the top left of the page. Enter the address number only in the “Address contains:” field. Similarly, enter the street name only in the “Street Name Contains:” field. Do not include words or abbreviations like Road, Dr., Circle, etc… that follow the specific street name nor directional distinctions like North, S, Southwest, etc….  Once both are entered, then click the “Find” button. The specific address or a list of addresses meeting the entered criteria will be displayed on the left side of the screen in the “Results” section under “Find Address” “Building Address Point.” Right-click on the appropriate address and choose “Zoom To.”  If the 100-yr. Floodplain is within the area of the address searched, it will be shown in light and dark blue (the Flood-Fringe and Floodway, respectively).

Recognize that although improvement of flooding conditions in general occurs over the studied area, there are some areas that actual conditions were adversely impacted, based on the updated and more accurate data, than that demonstrated by previous mapping.  Additionally, mapping is not necessarily exactly as it may have previously shown in DRAFT format via this website or at public meetings and as submitted to FEMA.

Although some areas remain in the Floodplain, including those where physical improvements were done, there is generally a decrease in Base Flood Elevations (BFE); that decrease may be enough to reflect a decrease in Flood Insurance rates, although new Elevation Certificates will likely have to be secured to demonstrate the change to insurance companies/FEMA on an individual basis.  If you hire a Professionally Licensed Surveyor (PLS) to produce an Elevation Certificate for your property, the City would be happy to review a DRAFT and provide comments to your Surveyor prior to his production of a final signed and stamped original.  Additionally, the City would like to keep at least a copy of the original on file if you or your surveyor would be willing to provide it.  Elevation Certificates can be e-mailed to Beth Carroll at beth.carroll@hsvcity.com, faxed to her attention at 256-427-5325, or dropped off downtown at the Engineering Department 2^nd Floor 320 Fountain Circle.