Flood Plain Meeting Planned for Property Owners

A public meeting to discuss newly-drawn Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood plain maps that include approximately 80 borough buildings will be held at on Thursday March 22 at 7pm, Borough Engineer Bryan Smith announced at Borough Council's March 5 meeting.

Borough Hall itself, which suffered significant water-related damage in the flood of 2004, is included within the flood plain's boundaries, it was noted.

Borough Manager Cathy Kichline said letters about the meeting will be sent to "all affected property owners."

In Lower Saucon Township, flood maps are also changing, and some property owners will be impacted by the changes.

A notification posted on the website under "Township News" last month indicated that "a multi-year project to re-examine flood zones and develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps is nearing completion."

"As a result, property owners throughout Lower Saucon Township will have up-to-date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about their flood risk--on a property-by-property basis," it said.

The changes could have an impact on flood insurance requirements for local property owners.

"However, options exist that will allow property owners to save money while still protecting their property," according to the notification.

Preliminary flood plain maps can be viewed at Lower Saucon Town Hall during normal business hours (8:30am to 4:30pm), or online at https://www.rampp-team.com/public.htm. Further information is also available at www.floodsmart.gov.

Comments on the maps are due by March 22, 2012, and should be forwarded to Lower Saucon Township, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem PA 18015.

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