Submitted photo

An aerial photo of flooding taken in Harney County in May 2011. After more than a decade’s worth of work, the first phase of floodplain mapping is complete. The more accurate mapping provides better flood-risk determination, removed hundreds of homes and structures from the special flood hazard zone, and will have a significant positive economic impact. 

As of April 20, newly updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping became effective for Harney County’s unincorporated areas. The updated maps are the result of years of collaboration among Harney County, the cities, Burns Paiute Tribe, the US Corp of Engineers Portland District, and FEMA Region X. For the rural areas where this applies, the more accurate flood mapping will provide better flood-risk determination and have a significant positive economic impact! 

Harney County’s flood maps were adopted in 1984. Up until recently, they hadn’t been updated in the county’s unincorporated areas. Because the mapping was applied to such a large region without a flood study, an approximate flood-risk zone was applied. Over the years, the cost of flood insurance increased so dramatically that a new study was needed to more accurately project this risk, as it was apparent that the old mapping did not represent our community’s needs. 

After well over a decade’s worth of work, the new mapping is finally complete. The county flood area is large enough to split the project into two phases. 

Phase I is now in effect and covers lands east of our urban areas (the cities). The updated maps removed hundreds of homes and structures from the 100-year special flood hazard zone designation, relieving the requirement to carry flood insurance required by financial/mortgage institutions. To learn where your property/home is located within the new maps, enter your address into the following website: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home.

Phase II is nearing completion as well. The preliminary mapping process will begin by the end of this month (May 2022). This mapping will include areas along the north Silvies River as well as the county’s urban areas. 

For more information, contact Harney County Planning Director Brandon McMullen at brandon.mcmullen@co.harney.or.us.