What can community members do?

What can community members do to prepare for the updated floodplain maps?

 
There are a number of things that individuals can do prior to the new floodplain maps going effective in the summer of 2018. There are a few opportunities for community members to participate in the Risk MAP updates, including participating in one of our Public Open House meetings that will be held during the month of July. At these meetings you will have a chance to get all of your flood mapping, engineering, insurance and other questions answered by experts from Minot/Ward County, the State of North Dakota and FEMA.

Public Open Houses:

Minot Public Open House:
Wednesday, July 19 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Minot Municipal Building Armory
420 3rd Avenue Southwest
Minot, ND 58701


Sawyer Public Open House:

Monday, July 17 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sawyer City Hall, City Pavilion
45 Main Street North
Sawyer, ND 58781

Burlington Public Open House:

Tuesday, July 18 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Burlington Elementary School
201 South Wallace Street
Burlington, ND 58722
 

Get Grandfathered into Your Insurance Premiums

 
Again, timing is the most important factor in being able to be grandfathered into an insurance premium. It is important to remember that most structures have only one opportunity to lock in the current flood zone for future rating. You must purchase this insurance prior to the updated floodplain maps become effective, resulting in being grandfathered into the lower rate.

Obtain an Elevation Certificate

 
If your home or business is in a high-risk area, the Elevation Certificate (EC) includes important information that is needed for determining a risk-based premium rate for a flood insurance policy. For example, the EC shows the location of the building, lowest floor elevation, building characteristic and flood zone.
Your insurance agent will use the EC to compare your building’s elevation to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) shown on the FIRM being used for rating and determining the cost to cover your flood risk. The BFE is the elevation that floodwaters are estimated to have a one percent chance of reaching or exceeding in any given year. The higher your lowest floor is above the BFE, the lower the risk of flooding. Lower risk typically means lower flood insurance premiums.