Flood insurance relief coming sooner

FINDLAY — Hundreds of properties in Findlay and Hancock County may soon be removed from federal flood zones. City officials, in partnership with the Hancock County Board of Commissioners and engineering firm Stantec, have announced that a proposed map revision has been submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The revision reflects hydraulic improvements already made. Local officials were going to wait until all flood mitigation projects now planned for Findlay/Hancock County are complete, but Mayor Christina Muryn said FEMA has requested that the revisions be requested after each project is done. Additional mitigation work includes more river benching in downtown Findlay, replacement of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, and construction of the Eagle Creek basin. That work is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. Once the current request is approved, boundaries and elevations of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) will be officially changed, potentially removing or reducing flood risk designations for more than 1,300 parcels. According to updated modeling by Stantec, 1,080 parcels will be completely removed from the SFHA. Another 985 parcels, covering roughly 67 acres, will remain in the flood zone but with a lowered 100-year water surface elevation. "This marks a significant milestone in reducing flood risk for Hancock County," said Commissioner William Bateson. "These map changes will bring both regulatory and financial relief for many property owners." Muryn called the revision a "significant step forward" in resolving flooding issues in Findlay and Hancock County. "Our goal has always been to create long-term safety and decreased expense for residents," Muryn said. So far, improvements have included floodplain benching of the Blanchard River near Swale Park, removal of low-head dams downstream of Lye Creek, instream riffle construction, property acquisition and removal of flood-prone structures. Completed in 2018, the $6.1 million river benching project widened the river by cutting "benches" into the north bank for about 3,500 feet between the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge and Broad Avenue. The benches are meant to increase the river's capacity during floods. Once FEMA issues its final determination letter on the current request — a process expected to take about six months — the changes will become official. Flood insurance rate maps will be updated, and affected property owners will be notified. Properties removed from the SFHA may no longer be required to carry flood insurance, depending on lender and insurance company policies. Those remaining in the SFHA with reduced elevations may see lower premiums and fewer regulatory restrictions. For more information and to view maps of affected parcels, visit findlayohio.gov or hancockcountyflooding.com. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to report an accurate count of parcels to be removed from the SFHA.