NEW ORLEANS – The City announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, that FEMA ruled in favor of the City’s appeal of the 2014 Revised Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which incorrectly placed Algiers Point area within a flood hazard area and that significant improvements completed by the City and Sewerage and Water Board since the revised maps were developed were not taken into account.
The revision to the flood map will help make flood insurance more affordable for area residents.
“The resolution of these issues ensure the accuracy of the Flood Maps for the residents of New Orleans,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “We know that the maps now show the actual risk and flood insurance will be more affordable for area residents. This success would not be possible without strong partnerships with FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the congressional delegation and the local community.”
According to the original map, Opelousas Avenue was depicted as a raised street that could act as a levee and prevent flood waters from receding. In reality, Opelousas Avenue is not raised, so there is nothing that would prevent the free flow of water from North of Opelousas Avenue to south of Opelousas Avenue. The City said that the incorrect elevation of Opelousas Avenue resulted in flawed modeling, and FEMA’s review of the mapping data agreed with that position.
Additionally, there have been significant improvements made in the Algiers area by the City of New Orleans and Sewerage & Water Board since the revised maps were developed. The projects, which were designed to reduce flood risk and flood loss, include widening the drainage culverts in the canal on General De Gaulle to improve the flow of flood waters to the outfall pumping station. The City asked FEMA to reevaluate the pumping and drainage capacity throughout Algiers with the new projects in place, and as a result the statistical flood risk for many areas has been eliminated.
"The City’s successful appeal will result in more certainty and savings for homeowners on their insurance," said District C Councilmember Nadine Ramsey.
