Madison Township residents will have the opportunity to learn more about floodplains and their impact on their property when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unveils updated floodplain maps.
Franklin County recently notified residents affected by floodplain changes and invited them to attend an open house on Oct. 23 at the Madison Township Community Center, 4575 Madison Lane, from 6-8 p.m.
New data impacts property owners living in the unincorporated areas of the township and includes information on properties removed or added to the maps and parcels still located within the floodplain boundaries. Representatives from the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department will be on hand to assist residents in determining how their property may be affected by FEMA floodplain revisions.
"People affected by this should have received note cards from the county," said Madison Township Administrator Wayne Warner. "They’ll have several staff members there to answer questions in an open forum setting."
Parcels were identified coming in and out of the floodplain and several are farm fields. One of the main areas targeted was Blacklick Estates. County GIS data, in addition to aerial surveys, was used to determine there are approximately 1,900 properties in the Madison Township floodplain. Boundaries were revised to reflect new topographical information and although floodplain levels have not changed, boundaries were re-aligned because of more accurate information.
The changes were made by FEMA and do not go into effect until May 2008.
Of the nearly 2,000 properties included in the floodplain, roughly 1,200 have structures in areas identified as prone to flooding, which could require additional insurance not normally covered in homeowner policies. The average annual cost for flood insurance is $600 and, if a mortgaged house is in the floodplain, owners are required by the federal government to carry flood insurance.
Other Madison Township news
•During the Madison Township trustees’ Oct. 17 meeting, trustees Susan Brobst and Jim Hummel approved the purchase of five automated external defibrillators (AED) for a total cost of $6,900. One AED will be installed in each township facility.
"This is something the chief and I talked about for several years," commented Warner, "and it’s something that could prove very useful."
Fire Chief Clifford Mason said the Cardiac Science AEDs are easy to use and designed simply enough that a seven-year-old could operate the machine safely and correctly.
"I looked at all the monitors/defibrillators on the market and this is what I’m recommending," reported Mason.
•Seven employees were recognized with service awards including Anthony Ashley, five years; James Looney, Chief Greg Ryan, and Doug Smith, 10 years; Jeff Fasone, and Steve Roth, 20 years; and Chris Pallos, 30 years.
