ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Ithaca is preparing to adopt new Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) flood maps.
FEMA has issued the city’s updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which delineate the 100-year flood plain, also known as the Special Flood Hazard Area. Officials say the city “is required to adopt the new maps through a revised Local Law Chapter 186 Flood Damage Prevention” in order to continue participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
NFIP participation allows residents to purchase flood insurance and gives Ithaca the ability to apply for federal flood disaster assistance.
If the city fails to enact the map regulations before June 18, 2025, it will be suspended from the NFIP program and receive the following sanctions:
- No resident will be able to purchase a federally backed flood insurance policy
- Existing flood insurance policies will not be renewed
- No federal grants or loans for development may be made in identified flood hazard areas under programs administered by federal agencies
- No federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood
- No federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood hazard areas, including policies written by FHA, VA, and others
The Ithaca Common Council is set to adopt Local Law Chapter 186 on May 7, 2025. A public hearing is scheduled for the next Common Council meeting on Wednesday, April 16 at 6 p.m.
More information is available from Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca.
