ELMIRA – Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli held a press conference today to discuss the alleged proposed changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping in Chemung County. Santulli has been working with Senator Chuck Schumer to assist in the process.

The concerns over flood maps began when preliminary revised maps were released by FEMA contractors. Due to Senator Schumer’s involvement, Santulli spoke with James Flemming, FEMA Region 2 Assistant External Affairs Officer and his staff this afternoon.  Flemming assured Santulli the maps were released inadvertently by the contractor without FEMA’s knowledge or approval and do not represent the preliminary maps which will be used to begin the mapping process.

Santulli and others were concerned that the new flood plains maps which were released do not accurately portray the flood zones surrounding the Newtown and Seeley Creeks. The maps are intended to illustrate how high the water would get during a 100-year flood, which is a major flood with a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year.

Flemming assured Santulli that we are at the beginning of a 9 month process. During this production cycle, FEMA will reach out to local stakeholders for input. County officials were concerned that, despite attempts to be involved in the process, to date, neither County, Town or City officials, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The Army Corps of Engineers, the County Soil and Water Conservation District, the County Emergency Management Office and Planning Office, all of whom have worked extensively on the levees and flood control measures, have been contacted for input.

Following the production cycle is the adoption process which could take up to one year to finalize the mapping. FEMA will be providing Chemung County with a statement and full outline of the process which will be posted on the County website with this article when available. Click here to view the letter.

Senator Schumer assured Santulli that he will remain involved in the process. “I would like to thank Senator Schumer for his assistance in resolving this matter,” said Santulli. “We will remain vigilant to assure that the revised mapping accurately portrays the flood prone areas of the County and that no property is included which should not be.”