What are FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes maps that show an estimate of the 100-year floodplains on larger rivers and streams. These maps are called the flood insurance rate maps and are used for setting flood insurance premium rates. The maps also are used to regulate building in floodplains. The flood insurance rate maps only show the floodplains of larger rivers and streams, which are designated on the map as the “Special Flood Hazard Area.” The latest revisions to our maps were based on the results of a series of major floodplain studies conducted in Johnson County. The studies were a collaborative effort between Johnson County; the cities within Johnson County, including Overland Park; and FEMA. These revisions took effect Aug. 3, 2009.
