STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
PHIL BRYANT, GOVERNOR
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
TRUDY D. FISHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2012
Contact: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277



DeSoto County Flood Risk Open House
General public provided opportunity to find out more about floodplain management

(Jackson, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Flood Map Modernization Initiative Team will host a Flood Risk Open House from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2012, at the Department of Road Management, located at 2373 Gwynn Road in Nesbit. The team, which includes representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and Mississippi Geographic Information LLC, will be available to address questions from the public.

The open house will provide the public with an opportunity to review the recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that include base flood information and identification of areas subject to flood hazards within the county. The new maps covering portions of DeSoto County, Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, and South Haven, are also available for viewing at the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality web site at: http://geology.deq.ms.gov/floodmaps/Projects/FY2009/?county=DeSoto

Local and state officials will be present to provide information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development requirements, and the process used for floodplain mapping. Once the preliminary FIRMs become effective, these maps will be used by floodplain permit officials, builders and developers, lenders, realtors, insurance agents, and the general public to determine flood risk.

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within your community.

The maps can impact you directly. Please contact your community Floodplain Administrator to learn if your home or business is located within a high hazard area, which will require flood insurance if you have a federally backed loan.


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