City of Shawnee | Shawnee Connect

FEMA Floodplain Information

Proposed Updates to the FEMA Floodplain Mapping

New FEMA Floodplain MappingFor the past several years you have been hearing about the updated floodplain maps that FEMA would be issuing for most of Johnson County including the City of Shawnee. These maps are a result of the new watershed studies prepared by Johnson County and the City of Shawnee and cover the Mill Creek, Turkey Creek, and Lake Quivira watersheds in Shawnee.

FEMA will issue a final 90 day appeal period and published their notice in the Johnson County Sun and Olathe News. This appeal period gives any private citizens the opportunity to submit technical data through the City to FEMA to request changes to the new mapping. The notices in the papers are a standard paragraph from FEMA and reference the following FEMA webpage: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/bfe.

When all appeals have been resolved, FEMA will issue a notice that the final maps will become effective in six months.

Copies can be viewed for the City of Shawnee at the Proposed 2009 FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) Index Maps.  Additional information about exact locations can be requested by contacting Harry Ward at 631-2500 ext 314 or Mike Gregory at ext 312.

Submitting Map Corrections to FEMA during the Appeal Period

Stormwater studies, by the developers, were required for each of the developments undertaken since the new 1998 contour elevations were taken and most properties should have been built out of the new floodplain areas. But since the new FEMA Floodplain Maps only represent a snapshot of the existing conditions in 1998, many areas will show up as being in the FEMA Floodplain even though they have been build above the 100-Year Flood water surface elevations. These properties are considered as being in the Regulated FEMA Floodplain until action is taken to officially remove them. If you are aware of residential subdivisions or any other types of development that may be affected by this new mapping submit technical data to FEMA through the City to correct the new maps. The City must be able to review and submit the data to FEMA before the end of the appeal period published by FEMA.

FEMA representatives have explained to us that only technical data intended to adjust the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) will be considered an official appeal. All other requests intended to adjust the boundaries of the BFE floodplain will be considered "protest" and will not require an additional Public Appeal period but will still be considered. All comments from the City of Shawnee have been submitted and are also considered as protest, which allows changes to be made without a new Appeal Period being issued.

LOMAs Planned for Residential Properties

A Group LOMA is being prepared by the Johnson County Stormwater Management Program, JCSMP, that may address many of the residential structures that are shown in the FEMA Floodplain, but are not actually in the floodplain (by elevation) and will be able to be officially removed from the 2009 FEMA updated FIRM. The City will be working with JCSMP to identify these properties and prepare the Group LOMA to submit to FEMA. Only residential homes built on grades existing in 1998 will be included in the Group LOMA; commercial properties are not being considered. LOMAs based on fill placed after 1998 and before the FEMA maps are issued in 2009 will need a separate LOMA prepared by others.

Shawnee Maps of Updated FEMA Floodplains

FEMA FIRM Map Index

FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps

 

City of Shawnee, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS 66203
(913) 631-2500 Fax (913) 631-7351 E-Mail