City Development Services is asking City Council to adopt preliminary FEMA flood maps that could potentially change the course of growth and development in Corpus Christi.
During heavy rain, several areas of town are more prone to flooding. The area near the Oso Creek is one of the fastest growing for homes and business development but experiences frequent flooding.
That’s why the city’s development department is asking council members to approve the updated maps created by FEMA.
The updated maps would ensure the safety of residents by holding builders to a higher construction safety standard.
“Doing that allows us to have the developer or builder build to the more stringent requirements, so when the maps become final and effective, they’re not a non-compliant structure,” Yvette Dodd said.
The last time the maps were updated was decades ago. Back then, the area was not considered a flood threat because there were no homes there.
“The last map that was done was 1985 and 1992, and there’s been a lot of development since then and modeling has changed significantly,” Dodd said.
The city’s development department said these maps are in the preliminary stages and only affect construction. The changes will not directly impact homeowners or their insurance rates.
