Quincy's new flood map available for online viewing

The city of Quincy has posted on its website the new flood map set to raise insurance rates for thousands of Quincy residents.

A property’s flood zone and base-flood elevation level is indicated in the shaded areas. Visitors can check the existing flood plain by choosing “2012 FEMA flood zones” as the thematic overlay. A copy of FEMA’s flood maps are also available for viewing at the city public works department’s engineering offices at 55 Sea St. The city has also published on its website information about how the city is impacted by the reforms passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The bill includes protections for grandfathered properties and new properties added to the flood plain as well as a cap on rate increases. In Quincy, the new FEMA map is expected to add 1,400 properties to the flood plain and raise existing rates for 2,700 properties. The city explains on its website how it is trying to fight the map’s changes. Although city officials and federal lawmakers are hoping FEMA responds to the legislation by delaying Quincy’s map, FEMA’s website says the new map is still set to go into effect on June 9. FEMA spokesman Dan Watson said in an email that his agency couldn’t speculate on the impact of pending legislation. Click to view the map. Choose “2014 Proposed FEMA Maps” as the thematic overlay and enter your address into the “Select Properties” tab.