Dixon County residents hear about floodplain mapping in county

WAKEFIELD, Neb. (KCAU) — Residents of Dixon County, Nebraska had a chance to meet with the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) concerning FEMA floodplain mapping of the county.

Typically, FEMA says it likes to revisit mapping every five years to see if anything has changed, but Dixon County has never been mapped for floodplains. Right now, the mapping is in the preliminary stage and moving into the regulatory phase. The mapping data will be used to manage floodplain development within the county, along with seeing if residents are in a floodplain and need to get flood insurance.

“I think it’s really important for people in general to understand their flood risk,” Jamie Reinke with the Nebraska DNR said. “Flood risk changes over time for a lot of different reasons. It can be development, it can be changes in rainfall. It’s really important when we have new information that we’re meeting with residents, not just community officials, so everybody has a chance to get their questions answered.”

Residents who attended the meeting were glad to have it, even if the news they got wasn’t what they wanted to hear.

“It could increase my insurance, so to me, that’s not very cool,” resident Darrel James said. “I’m glad they did it, at least now we know.”

The mapping project takes around three to four years and the regulatory phase takes about two years. The final effective mapping for Dixon County is set to be complete in 2026.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.