FEMA releases revised flood map in Quincy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released a revised flood map for Quincy after city leaders successfully challenged the original map.

The public can view the new map by visiting the city’s engineering department at 55 Sea St. The city is working to have an electronic version of the revised map posted on the city’s website by April 24.

Mayor Thomas Koch’s office has said the new map will will benefit more than 1,500 property owners who were affected by FEMA’s original map, which went into effect last summer. The original map added 1,400 properties to the flood plain and raised risk rates for about 2,700 properties already in the plain.

Property owners in the flood plain with mortgages are required to pay flood insurance.

Several days after the map went into effect, Koch filed what’s called a letter of map revision in which the engineering firm Woodard & Curran, hired by the city, used scientific and technical data to argue that the map was flawed and overstated the risks of major flooding in a number of city neighborhoods.

In January, Koch’s office said FEMA agreed to revise the map.

Koch’s office said a legal notice about the revised map will be posted on April 23, setting off a 120-day public comment period – which includes 90 days to submit comments and 30 days for the federal government to respond.

Koch’s office said it will be scheduling workshops and providing assistance to help residents understand the new map. Koch’s office is encouraging the public to wait, if possible, until the electronic version of the map is available for viewing in order to get a better understanding of the changes.