MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Following two public meetings allowing Horry County property owners a chance to view new flood insurance risk maps, FEMA says the appeal period will run from May through August.
Hundreds of Horry County property owners waited in line, some for hours, to view the new flood insurance risk maps Wednesday and Thursday evening and speak with FEMA representatives on how their insurance rates could be affected.
New flood insurance risk maps have been drafted, Myrtle Beach city officials say, and whether homeowners are in or out of a flood zone may be changing. For that reason, two Flood Risk Open House meetings were scheduled to give residents a chance to review the maps and speak with officials who can sort out the changes.
The first meeting, held Wednesday evening at the Horry County Government & Justice Center, hosted hundreds of people. The line of concerned property owners wrapped around the two story building. For those who left before speaking with FEMA agents, a second meeting was held Thursday evening from 4 – 7 p.m. at Landmark Resort, located at 1501 S. Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.
Some properties were moved into the flood risk area, while others were taken out of a flood risk zone. In the City of Myrtle Beach, a total of 15,700 properties were removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area, according to city officials.
After public review of the proposed maps, the appeal period will run from May through August. FEMA hopes to have the final maps approved in mid-2017.
The proposed changes will affect thousands of properties in Horry County. Residents can view the map online.
