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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Hanna |
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Hanna resolution calling for more accurate flood maps voted out of House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
HARRISBURG, Jan. 28 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, said a resolution he sponsored that would urge the federal government to update flood maps more frequently was recently voted out of the state House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
The resolution would request the Federal Emergency Management Agency to review and update state, county and municipal flood maps every 10 years. Flood maps help states and municipalities monitor the levels of rivers, streams, creeks and other bodies of water, and are vital in preparing for and managing flood disasters.
“FEMA is currently modernizing its maps by putting them in a digital format, but in some cases, the maps are 20 years old,” Hanna said. “Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the state. We need more current maps to help state and local governments determine which areas are most vulnerable to flooding and to develop a strategy to effectively deal with flood emergencies.”
He said the maps should also be up-to-date because they are used to determine
whether or not people have to buy flood insurance.
The resolution is expected to come before the full House for a vote soon. Hanna has also introduced a companion bill (H.B. 1949) that would mandate periodic updates of Pennsylvania’s flood maps.
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