Flood map to expand

The creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Insurance Rate Map in 2001 caused a stir in San Mateo when residents in the North Shoreview and Shoreview neighborhoods were told they must get flood insurance if their homes were still financed. The city has long been at odds with FEMA over the map, which abruptly ends at the State Route 92 border, because the area has never actually flooded. The map designates areas which could suffer damage in the case of a "100 year flood” and asks local government to provide preventative measures like pumping stations or levees to prevent such flooding.

Now FEMA is telling San Mateo County cities that it is ready to revise the entire map, putting thousands of other residents south of State Route 92 in danger of being included in the new maps and require up to $2,000 in annual insurance.

"We anticipate they’ll be coming back with some countywide information,” said Susan Loftus, deputy city manager for San Mateo. "They may make preliminary designations this fall.”

At that time, residents have a year to obtain flood insurance or rates can jump as much as three times higher if they wait until the designation is formalized, Loftus said.

That could be the difference of hundreds of dollars a year.

The city plans to help residents understand the new maps, what they mean and how to get flood insurance, Loftus said.

County officials are also watching what FEMA plans to do. FEMA is working with the county and cities to evaluate the levee system and is also collecting information for the revised maps, said Jim Porter, director of Public Works for San Mateo County.

Word of the potential change is slowly spreading among homeowners.

Dorothy Chow, president of the San Mateo United Homeowners Association, heard of FEMA’s plans about a month ago. The association is closely following the city’s attempt to remove the North Shoreview neighborhood from the flood maps. However, Chow notes that it could be "nearly impossible” to do that.

The city is currently exploring the idea of an assessment tax for residents affected by the flood map. The money raised would fund improvements to the city’s infrastructure necessary to remove it from the federal flood map. However, the sheer cost of such improvements makes it hard for a small number of homeowners to shoulder the burden. At the same time, the entire city could not be asked to support such a plan.

In a recent phone poll, residents said they were not likely to support such a tax.

"It’s really hard to get people involved in a tax that doesn’t really affect them,” Chow said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.