But when new Warren County floodplain maps prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are adopted, probably at some point in late 2010, it could have a dramatic impact on a number of landowners throughout Warren County. FEMA Program Specialist Connie Wisniewski briefed county commissioners, other officials and the general public on changes to existing county maps last Thursday night at the Warren County Extension Center. She said no base flood elevations within the county had changed as a result of the new maps. But they also showed a significant number of properties will be defined as lying within a floodplain that previously were not. Flood insurance is not offered by many local companies. But one area insurance agent said he estimated the cost could run between $560 to $875 annually, depending on location. Wisniewski also told the gathering there was no formal appeals process in the case of disagreements with the new maps. "The county has 30 days from this meeting to submit any requests for reviews on individual properties," she observed. Since that time frame includes holidays and weekends, that gives county officials only until Saturday, Feb. 28, to collect the information. "It's now apparent we need to get a lot of information together," said Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage, "and we need to get it pretty quickly." The new maps will take effect once they are approved by FEMA. Wisniewski said that process usually takes "between 18 and 24 months." The maps were updated, according to FEMA officials, because existing maps currently in use are 10- to 20-years old in most cases. Many of the people who attended the meeting left with questions as to why so many changes to the maps had been made. "We need some answers," said Engelage. "This meeting was very confusing because it led to a lot of questions which no one seemed to be able to answer. Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner described the meeting as "very frustrating." Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson said his review of the new maps indicated a substantial jump in the number of Warren County properties which would now be defined as lying within a floodplain. "The number appears to me to be as high as 30 percent," said Hampson. "There also seems to be a good number of homes are impacted by these new maps." "These new floodplains will definitely result in less building in the future," said Engelage. A floodplain is defined as any area which is prone to flooding when a river, such as the Missouri River, overflows its banks. Wisniewski described a floodplain as an area subject to the possibility for flooding under the 100-year flood plan which FEMA uses as its guideline. "That means there is basically a 1 percent chance per year the area will flood," Wisniewski noted. "But if a structure lies within that area, we feel it is best for the property owner to purchase flood insurance." A floodway, meanwhile, refers to property which is in the natural flow of the river. Karen McHugh, a floodplain management officer for Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), also attended last week's meeting and indicated whenever the new maps become final, it is then up to each individual community to adopt new ordinances which reflect any changes. "The city of Truesdale, as an example, currently has no ordinances in place," McHugh said. "When these maps take effect, they will have to enact an appropriate ordinance." McHugh said the major change in the new maps involved moving the floodway area from the inside to the outside on any existing levee. Engelage said he felt the existing floodplain maps seemed to be more accurate than the new ones. "Can we keep the old maps?" he asked Wisniewski. "No you can't," she responded.