Proposed Flood Map Updates for the City of Statesville: What Residents Need to Know
The City of Statesville has been notified that updated floodplain maps are being proposed for parts of the city as part of a countywide flood mapping update conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP). These updates are based on new data and studies intended to more accurately reflect current flood risks.
What’s Changing?
FEMA has released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and a revised Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Iredell County and incorporated areas, including the City of Statesville. These preliminary maps may include:
- Changes to flood zone boundaries
- Updated base flood elevations
- Modified floodways
- New areas identified as being at risk of flooding
If finalized, these maps will be used to guide floodplain regulations and flood insurance requirements in the future.
Public Notice and Appeal Period
FEMA will publish public notices about the proposed flood hazard determinations in the Statesville Record & Landmark on or about January 15, 2026 and January 22, 2026. Following the second published notice, there will be a 90-day appeal period during which property owners may formally appeal the proposed flood hazard information.
Who Can Appeal – and How?
Any property owner or lessee who believes the proposed flood hazard information is scientifically or technically incorrect may submit an appeal. Appeals must be supported by technical or scientific data, such as engineering or survey information. Appeals based on personal hardship or financial impact alone cannot be considered.
Appeals are first submitted to the City (or a designated agency), which will review and determine whether the information supports an official appeal on behalf of the community or individual property owners. All appeal materials must be submitted within the 90-day appeal window, which is set by federal law and cannot be extended.
What If You Just Have a Comment?
Residents may also submit comments or corrections during the appeal period for items such as:
- Incorrect street names
- Mapping errors
- Typos or omissions
These comments do not require technical data and will be reviewed and incorporated where appropriate before the maps become final.
What Happens Next?
At the end of the appeal period, FEMA will review all appeals and comments and issue a Letter of Final Determination. Once finalized, the new flood maps will go into effect on a future date and will be used for floodplain management and flood insurance purposes.
Until that time, current flood maps remain in effect.
Learn More
Residents can view the preliminary flood maps online:
Questions about the flood mapping process may also be directed to FEMA’s Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) at 877-336-2627 or via email at FEMA- [email protected].
The City of Statesville will continue to share updates as additional information becomes available.
