MONTEVIDEO -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has warned the city of Montevideo that it may decertify the city's levee system, a decision that could bring a flood's worth of problems if property owners don't take action in response.
City Manager Steve Jones told City Council members at their meeting on Monday that FEMA is now in the process of adjusting flood plain elevations and maps for the community, just as it has for several other communities in the region. As part of the process, the agency sent the city a letter warning about the plans to decertify the levee.
If FEMA decertifies the levee, it will have the effect of moving properties now in flood plain zones B or C into zones A or B. That means two things: Some properties that are currently not required to purchase federal flood insurance will need to do so. And, many property owners will see the cost of their flood insurance rise.
The city is protected by three miles of levee. Hundreds of residential and commercial properties in the lower areas of the community are protected by it, and would be affected by the change in classification that decertification would bring.
City Council members expressed their concerns. Jones said they are looking at hosting a public information meeting after the holidays to inform residents in the community about the possibility of decertification, the likely ramifications and what residents can do about it.
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One of the most important steps that residents can take is to purchase flood insurance for their property at this time. There is a very strong possibility that the city could successfully request that these properties be grandfathered in at their current insurance rates, Jones explained.
And, of course, purchasing the flood insurance provides important financial protection. Jones noted that levees do fail. Flood insurance could reduce the losses that property owners would suffer should the unlikely happen.
That said, Jones also noted that property owners should not be alarmed by the FEMA proposal to decertify the levee. The levee system protecting the city has not been compromised and provides no less protection than it did during the floods of 1996 and 2001.
The recent floods have led to re-evaluations of what constitutes a 100-year flood event, however. There is some reason to believe that a 100-year event could see higher water elevations than those recorded in the last two floods.
Jones said the city will be sending FEMA a letter asking that it refrain from decertifying the levee. It will point out that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed a plan to upgrade the city's levee system and is committed to undertaking it.
The city has set aside nearly $1 million for the project, and the state of Minnesota has also earmarked $2.2 million. The city and state are waiting for Congress to appropriate $5.8 million toward the project to launch it. The city remains hopeful that Minnesota's congressional delegation will be able to secure the funding.
