What's the new standard? Bay County Commission approves changes to FEMA flood maps

PANAMA CITY — Changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 's flood maps in Bay County have been approved by the Bay County Commission.

The revision of these maps, which were first established in 2019, will have an effect on Bay County building requirements.

At a meeting on July 16, the Bay County Board of Commissioners approved the changes to the flood maps. The revised maps will be in effect Aug. 16.

According to a Bay County government press release, Bay participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through FEMA. The county must meet minimum regulatory standards to be eligible for federal flood insurance policies.

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“Any building permits that come in from Aug. 16 forward will be regulated by these new flood maps,” Bay County Planning Manager Wayne Porter said in the release.

This ensures that if Bay County buildings were to be damaged or destroyed during a disastrous event, they would need to be reconstructed according to the new map’s guidelines and requirements.

How this will affect individual insurance rates is unknown, but Bay County is encouraging residents to contact their insurance provider for help.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: What's the new standard? Bay County Commission approves changes to FEMA flood maps