Danbury Announces Appeal Period For Proposed FEMA Flood Hazard Maps

**News Release Submitted by The City of Danbury **

March 7, 2024

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the City of Danbury. The new maps are part of the Saugatuck River watershed flood mapping project, and may include additions or modifications of special flood hazard areas, changes in base flood elevations or depths, and flood zone designation changes.

FEMA published notice of the proposed flood hazard determination on February 9, 2024, in the Connecticut Post. The significance of the publication is to start a 90-day appeal period, beginning on February 16, 2024, and ending on May 16, 2024. The appeal period allows the municipality or any property owner to challenge the Federal Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) and the Federal Insurance Study (FIS). The appeal process is done by filing a formal written appeal to a new or revised base flood elevation (BFE), flood zone, or floodway. Anyone considering an appeal must provide additional scientific or technical data.

FEMA prefers appeals to be submitted to the City of Danbury from property owners, who will send them in one submission to FEMA. FEMA will accept submissions directly from property owners if received during the appeal period. The approximate date for FIRM and FIS to become effective is November 2025. The exact date will become set further into the map update process.

Danbury will only have a portion of their flood maps updated in the general area of the Saugatuck River Watershed. Affected Flood Map Panels in Danbury include 0207, 0226, 0227, 0228, 0229, 0233.

The new proposed maps are available for review at City Hall-155 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 (Planning and Zoning Department) and can be viewed online at www.danbury-ct.gov/247/Planning-Zoning, along with other helpful resources.

For questions regarding the new mapping or appeals process, please get in touch with Deputy Planning Director Jennifer L. Emminger, at (203) 797-4525 or [email protected]