CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Thousands of homeowners in Horry County are being added to federal flood zones which means they’ll now be required to carry flood insurance.
The latest maps created by FEMA add more than 18,000 properties to the existing flood zones, Conway and Bucksport are the two communities most impacted.
“There are some significant areas that are going to see changes with respect to being mapped in a flood zone that previously were not,” said Harold Edge, with county code enforcement.
Edge presented the latest federal flood zone maps on Tuesday at the Infrastructure and Regulation Committee on Tuesday.
Flooding has been on many people’s minds since historic floods hit the area last year, but the new plan have been in place for more than a decade.
“A lot of people in the county are probably going to think this is in response to the floods in October of last year, but I can assure you this started a long time before that,” said Edge.
Over time risks change so the maps are periodically updated, these new maps utilize the latest GPS technology to give a more accurate picture of the area, adding detail, data, and a clearer picture of who is at risk
Bucksport is an area identified with a considerable amount of flood zone that previously was not.
Federally regulated mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties deemed high risk of flooding, so if you’re in one of those zones you’re going to have to have flood insurance.
Betty Alston has lived in Bucksport for 23 years and has seen 3 floods in that time, “the water came up into the yard and almost into the house.”
Alston says she sees the need to protect homeowners, but is worried about the added cost of flood insurance.
“It might be necessary, but you don’t want to because a whole lot of people here are older people on fixed incomes who might not be able to afford it,” said Alston.
The maps are preliminary and have not been officially adopted, homeowners can make an appeal; but it won’t come cheap.
Chairman of the Infrastructure and Regulations Committee Johnny Vaught said, “you have to hire engineers and hydrologists and all kinds of professionals to prove that FEMA’s decision was wrong.”
County leaders have mailed out more than 65,000 postcards to people who are currently in a flood zone, may be added to a flood zone and to folks who may be removed from a flood zone.
Next the county will hear public input, two flood risks open houses will be held to explain the changes.
They will be held Wednesday March 2nd from 4pm – 7pm at the Horry County Government & Justice Center and on Thursday March 3rd from 4pm – 7pm at Landmark Resort.
Insurance reps will be on hand to explain flood insurance coverage.
