Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release August 11, 2014

HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON NEW FEMA FLOOD MAPS FOR OAHU

HONOLULU – The State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), together with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), invites home and business owners to attend a public information meeting to educate residents and business owners on upcoming changes to FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the island of Oahu.

The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, at the Honolulu Country Club, 1690 Ala Puumalu St. in Salt Lake. A presentation will begin at 7 p.m.

The impending map revisions include a number of locations on Oahu, principally stream-adjacent areas in Kahuku, Maili, Waimalu, Kaneohe, Kailua, Salt Lake, Waialae and Waimanalo; however, the most significant changes impact certain areas along Waimalu Stream, Halawa Stream and areas near Coconut Grove in Kailua.

Persons living in these communities should review maps of specific areas that will have flood hazard designation changes, to determine if they may be affected. Go to: https://dlnreng.hawaii.gov/nfip/?attachment_id=1217

These map changes will take effect on Nov. 5, 2014, and could affect a property owner’s requirement for federally mandated flood insurance and compliance with local floodplain management regulations. Flood program staff have sent out information meeting invitations to owners of properties that are likely to be moved into special flood high risk areas.

To check whether your specific property might be affected, watch a video tutorial on how to view the preliminary FIRM using the state’s Flood Hazard Assessment Tool at: https://gis.hawaiinfip.org/fhat/FHAT_prelim_maps.mp4

FEMA Region IX staff, along with staff from DLNR and DPP, will be at the informational meeting to answer questions and assist property owners in determining how the revised maps may affect them.

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Media Contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320

Curtis Lum
Department of Planning & Permitting
(808) 768-8284