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1. Why is the City of Hesperia getting new flood hazard maps?

Flood hazard maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), are important tools in the effort to protect lives and properties in Hesperia. They indicate the risk for flooding throughout the community. However, the current maps are out of date. Some formerly rural areas were never mapped in detail, and other areas haven’t been re-mapped in more than 10 years. Over time, water flow and drainage patterns have changed dramatically due to surface erosion, land use and natural forces. The likelihood of inland, riverine and coastal flooding in certain areas has changed along with these factors. The floods of 2006 are a recent example of a heavy storm event.

New digital mapping techniques will provide more detailed, reliable and current data on San Bernardino County flood hazards. The result: a better picture of the areas most likely to be impacted by flooding and a better foundation from which to make key decisions.

2. Who is responsible for modernizing the maps?

Currently, there is a nationwide collaborative effort across all levels of government to update the nation's flood hazard data and provide it in a detailed, digital format, in accordance with a multi-year plan created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The effort evolved as a growing number of industries were impacted by out-of-date flood data.

The City of Hesperia’s map modernization project is a joint effort with FEMA in cooperation with local associations and private sector partners.