FEMA and Berrien County officials to hold Flood Map Open House Thursday

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Michigan, and Berrien County invite residents to a Flood Map Open House Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Benton Harbor Public Library.

Organizers say FEMA will answer questions from residents about flood risk and flood insurance following the release of preliminary flood maps.

Officials encourage homeowners, renters, and business owners in Berrien County to attend the event to meet experts and view their own addresses on the new maps.

You can view preliminary versions of the Flood Insurance Study report and the Flood Insurance Rate Maps here.

Officials say the updated maps for Berrien County will include several streams and flooding sources, including McCoy Creek, Paw Paw River, St. Joseph River, Hickory Creek, Granger Drain, Goodrow Drain, both branches of Glenlord Road Drain, Parker/Richardson Drain, West Tributary St. Joseph River, and Yellow Creek.

Updates also span 34 Flood Insurance Rate Map panels and cover 29 communities, including seven charter townships, 11 townships, six cities, and five villages, according to officials.

Once in effect, officials say the maps will inform flood insurance rates and local floodplain management rules under the National Flood Insurance Program.

The maps will also be used to help plan and prepare communities to quickly respond to and recover from extreme weather events.