Miss. updates flood maps

The state of Mississippi will update its flood maps in November to better serve its citizens in flood disasters.

Despite being located in northern Mississippi, Oxford will also have to update its plans. 

The city has decided to amend its Flood Damage Prevention law to match up with the new flood plans in Mississippi. 

These plans will change zones in the town and could cause confusion if the changes force property-owners to buy insurance.

Despite all these changes to flood plans, City Engineer Bart Robinson said students should not worry. 

“The university will not be affected.” Robinson said. “It lies outside the city limits.” 

The Board of Alderman brought up the changes at a meeting in early August. 

The board will next discuss the changes at the board meeting on September 21. Public opinion can be expressed at a public hearing on September 7.

This will affect thousands who will have to purchase flood insurance.

The program will create new maps for Lafayette County, which was last surveyed for flood plans in 1978. 

The new maps will help residents to understand better if they are living in a flood plain. Those living in a flood plain will be required to purchase flood insurance.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are requiring maps to be updated to better show where flooding will occur and how people who live in flood plains will have to deal with the situation. 

Mississippi is no stranger to flooding, after Hurricane Katrina baptized the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

Thousands lost their homes and it has taken years to recover from the devastating flood.

Numerous counties including Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties have all had trouble with flooding. 

Also, the Mississippi River has flooded numerous times over the years and has caused massive flooding in the Mississippi Delta.

Students have been quick to complain that they don’t feel safe driving on the streets when the rain is heavy.

“The roads have standing water everywhere,” Ole Miss sophomore Kelli Dulaney said. 

“I’m always nervous when I see standing water. I was taught to not drive when there’s standing water and a major storm in Oxford floods the streets.”

Those wondering if they live in a flood plain can view the Mississippi Coastal Mapping Project at www.mscoastalmapping.com.