New flood insurance rate maps affecting about 1,000 Evergreen properties become effective June 18.

Before then, the Flathead County commissioners must adopt the revised maps determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or face suspension from participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, which enables property owners in participating communities to purchase subsidized insurance protection from the government against losses from flooding.

Noncompliance also would subject the county to other prohibitions outlined in federal law, county Planning Director BJ Grieve said. Without participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, lenders couldn’t make federally backed loans on properties within the flood plain, and the county would have more limited access to federal disaster relief in the event of a flood.

FEMA sent its letter of final determination to the county in December, stating it had received “no valid requests for changes” in the flood hazard determinations.

The commissioners sent a letter last August voicing the frustrations of many Evergreen residents over the revisions, but to meet the federal benchmark for a valid request for changes the county would have had to prove FEMA’s map revisions were scientifically or technically incorrect.

The commissioners noted the county doesn’t have the resources to investigate and validate their perceived discrepancies with the new maps.

They said the county had been presented with examples of areas now designated in the 100-year flood plain that residents claim did not flood in 1964, the most severe flood in recent history.

“There is a perception that the revisions lack common sense or some sort of ‘reality check,’” the commissioners wrote.

They also attached five letters of protest from county residents.

The biggest effect the flood elevation changes have on property owners is future use of their property. The maps are designed to reflect the flood risk at specific sites.

Owners are required to obtain flood-plain development permits for construction. For new construction, fill material must be hauled in to result in new structures sitting at least 2 feet above base flood elevation.

The flood-plain designation also can affect a property owner's requirement to purchase flood insurance.

The Planning Office received paper and electronic copies of the final maps in January. The next step will be an amendment to the Flathead County flood-plain and flood-way management regulations to adopt the revised flood insurance rate maps, which are available for review at the Planning Office.

A public hearing has been scheduled with the Flathead County Planning Board on April 10. After that the amendment will be forwarded to the commissioners for their consideration.

Because the new insurance rates in much of the Evergreen area aren’t effective until June 18, homeowners buying flood insurance now are grandfathered to buy at the current rates.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.