Could much of Highland be too low?

Highland officials are worried.

The fear is borne of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Map Modernization Program.

The program is two-fold. One is to convert old, paper maps to modern electronic versions. The second part is to update the floodplain itself.

“The floodplains are dynamic, and they do change over time,” said Eric Kuklewski, floodplain and insurance branch chief for FEMA Region 5.

Weather data, changes in topographical information, new private development, new public development — such as new roads, bridges, or even new culverts — can all lead to map revisions.

The reason for the floodplain maps is to assess a particular area’s chance of flooding.

“What (the maps) represent is the 1 percent annual flood chance, what some people might refer to as the 100-year flood,” Kuklewski said.

But there is concern that new maps have the potential to do more sustained economic harm to the Highland area than anything Mother Nature could ever bring to bear.

“This could have huge ramifications for the city of Highland,” said Highland Assistant City Manager Lisa Peck.

A change in flood-risk status would mean homeowners and businesses would be required to buy flood insurance at substantially increased rates, which may not be affordable for many.

“What FEMA is trying to do is widen the flood plain area. When your property is in the flood plain, you will have to get flood insurance,” Peck said.

For homeowners who cannot afford insurance, the result could be foreclosure.

In addition, any new structure built within what would be deemed as a Special Flood Hazard Area would be subject to new building standards, including elevation requirements and construction limits, adding significant cost and likely deterring future development.

“If you are in a certain area of the flood plain, you cannot build without going above the flood plain area, so people don’t develop,” Peck said.

Highland information gets shelved

Periodically, FEMA reassesses areas of potential flooding. It began this process anew in the metro-east in the mid-2000s. Then Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Cost in 2005. Locally, FEMA’s attention turned to areas along the Mississippi River.

“The metro-east levees caused a pause in that process,” Kuklewski said.

FEMA announced it was going to remove its accreditation of the 74-mile levee system protecting the region. That led to the formation of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council in July 2009 by Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties, which used funding from a special sales tax to bring the local levee system up to the federal government’s new standards.

In June 2008, FEMA did release a new floodplain map for Highland, which was an update of a 1986 version. But it was rife with inaccuracies. It did not include many new developments, road projects and storm water control work that had been done. Highland city officials turned over information to FEMA to correct those issues. However, no further action was ever taken on FEMA’s part to update the Highland area. The information the city provided was shelved due to FEMA’s focus on the levee system.

But with the river levee system issues in the review mirror, FEMA has now pivoted to focus on inland areas of the metro-east, including Highland. FEMA officials met with stakeholders in Madison County at the end of June to begin getting comments on its local working map.

The working maps are an “interim” step before FEMA comes out with its “preliminary maps,” according to the agency, the publication of which starts a statutory ball rolling toward implementing whatever new standards are created during the process.

An expanded floodplain

The News Leader was able to find a link to a working floodplain map for Madison County online, which was produced by Canadian-based engineering firm Stantec Consulting Services on behalf of FEMA.

The aerial photo appeared to be up to date. But simply looking at the map gave no indication of what data engineers used to draw any lines. What, if any, data the city provided to FEMA over the years was included is unknown.

“We may have received some information, for whatever reason, may have never been included, but we still have time to talk to the community about that,” Kuklewski said.

What is clear on the map is proposed flood plain designations are greatly expanded over what they once were. Areas mostly affected are along Lindenthal Creek and its tributaries and the Laurel Branch, as they flow through town.

That area included about 30 residential structures, homes and garages, as well a large chunk of the city’s commercial areas. Businesses shown within the new floodplain lines would include auto dealer Steve Schmitt, Hardee’s, CVS, the Woodcrest Professional Park complex (which includes the News Leader), all the businesses along Woodcrest Drive, Larry’s Tire & Battery, Wicks Aircraft and Wicks Organ Co. The map also shows the southeast corner of Highland High School with a floodplain line intersecting it.

Map “should not be shared with the public”

The map viewed by News Leader reporters was never made public — and was never intended to be.

The online map had the following disclaimer: “The data in the following map viewer reflects draft work maps. These maps are not final and do not include published Letter Map Revisions or interior drainage information that will be provided at a future date. The purpose of the working maps is to support the 30-day review period which will end on July 30, 2016 and allow community officials an opportunity to provide additional data to be included in the maps. Data reflected in this viewer are not preliminary or final map products at this time and should not be shared with the public as they are still in progress.

“Stantec and STARR are not responsible for any unauthorized use of the data. The viewer agrees to use the data for the purpose state above.”

After reporters reached out to Stantec and FEMA, a new roadblock to viewing the map was put in place. Now the map cannot be accessed without a having a FEMA data account and password.

Still gathering data

The floodplain map is being updated for the entire region, not just Highland.

“We are looking at all the maps across Madison County,” said Matt Brandmeyer, the Planning and Development administrator for Madison County. “The issue in Highland is we need to look at the change in the structures and their elevation, then make amendments. It’s important to keep these maps updated.”

Kuklewski, FEMA’s regional floodplain and insurance branch chief, said the process looks at the region from a “macro level.”

“(The process) looks a the flood risk on a watershed approach as opposed to a community approach or a county approach,” he said.

Kuklewski said FEMA uses “the best data available” when making its maps, but doesn’t “have the resources” to get statistics for “every single stream in every single county.”

That means its incumbent on local governments to do most of the heavy lifting to make sure FEMA has all the necessary information during its map-making process.

“The more data we have, the more data we get, the more accurate the map can be,” Kuklewski said.

That’s all Highland city officials say they want.

“I am really just looking for maps that accurately reflect the flood risk,” said Peck, Highland’s assistant city manager.

And there is still plenty of time to garner and and compute more information, according to FEMA.

The end of the working map comment period, which ended last month, according to the information online, doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the discussion.

“We still need to talk to the city about their comments,” said Ken Hinterlong, senior engineer for risk analysis with FEMA Region 5. “FEMA will be communicating with the city and the community.”

But talks should remain on a government-to-government basis for now, Hinterlong said.

“We need to have this conversation with the city right now, not with the citizens,” he said.

Shimkus watching process unfold

Steven Tomaszewski, spokesman for Congressman John Shimkus, who represents Highland, said the congressman has been keeping tabs on the process.

“Congressman Shimkus has followed the FEMA remapping process throughout his district,” he said.

But Tomaszewski said the process is far from being complete.

“FEMA is working toward new maps for Madison County that may not go into effect for a year or two from now. FEMA has requested input from municipalities. The Congressman urges local municipalities to be engaged as this process continues to move forward,” Tomaszewski said.

City to hold public hearing

City officials will hold a public hearing from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 23 at City Hall to discuss FEMA’s potential plans for Highland.

The city has sent letters to residents and business it believes may be impacted by FEMA’s actions. However, the meeting will be open to all concerned residents. Verbal comments can be made, but the city is asking for written comments.

“We need to do our part to help the federal government,” said Highland City Councilman Aaron Schwarz. “We need to make sure they have updated information and work with them.”

The Aug. 23 meeting is being put on by the city and should not be confused with any official FEMA hearings that will take place at a later date.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Could much of Highland be too low?."