If you have wondered about the probability of flooding where you live, you can get the answers you need at a meeting Monday, Dec. 7 from 4 until 7 p.m. at the New Boston Community Center, 3980 Rhodes Ave., in New Boston.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will host a Flood Risk Information Open House to provide Scioto County residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed Flood Insurance Study and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

“We’ve got some new flood maps that are coming out,” Scioto County Floodplain Administrator Kendra Hobson said. “The last time they were updated were 2002. And they’ve got the preliminary maps completed. What they are doing is giving the public a chance to take a look at those, and to answer any questions that they may have — to see if there are any concerns.”

Do the new preliminary flood plain maps show flooding probabilities?

“Right. People can take a look at the maps and determine where their address is, where they are located, and see whether or not they are located in a flood zone,” Hobson said. “We have maps now, but they are basically being updated.”

Hobson said once the new maps become effective they will be the maps used by her office, builders, developers, and lenders to determine the flood risk in a community.

“From 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. they are having a meeting for county officials to come in. And then from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. will be the portion open to the public for anyone to stop in and take a look at the maps,” Hobson said.

Property owners, realtors, lenders, and insurance agents are being urged to attend to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232