WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsPortage County Floodplain Maps
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by Melissa Langbehn
WAUSAU (WAOW)--The federal government recently ordered floodplain maps be redrawn. That means big changes for many homeowners. Some will now be required to have flood insurance while others may no longer need it.
The Portage County map went into effect this summer. For a Stevens Point man the map showed half of his house in the floodplain and half of it out. Fred Steffen decided he would have a land survey done on his property. He says it showed he was out of the floodplain by just a few inches.
Surveyors like Scott Groholski of Point of Beginning, are seeing calls come in from customers who have property on the fringe of the floodplain. Groholski says a closer check of the property may show they are not in the floodplain. This can save a homeowner thousands of dollars in flood insurance costs over the lifetime of a mortgage.
Often times it is a lender notifying a homeowner that FEMA has designated their property in a floodplain. If you no longer have a mortgage, you may not receive that notification.
Insurance Agents say that's why it's important for all landowners to know exactly where their property is on the map. Eric Nier, Allstate Insurance Agent in Stevens Point, says it can be a costly mistake if you don't. Homeowners Insurance does not cover flood damage.
