Federal Emergency Management Agency
Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Residents of Coolbaugh Township:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided the Coolbaugh Township with copies of revised preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FEMA is in the process of updating the current maps with new floodplain data as depicted on the preliminary FIRMs. New Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) will be established as identified in an updated Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and the preliminary FIRMs for Monroe County. The Monroe County Planning Commission has identified certain properties that may be located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as per the preliminary FIRMs. A list of the properties identified by the Monroe County Planning Commission can be found below and at the Township building located at 5550 Memorial Blvd. Tobyhanna, PA 18466.
Property owners who hold federally-backed mortgages on structures located in the Special Flood Hazard Area are required to purchase flood insurance. A property may not currently be located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) but may be located in the SFHA once the new Flood Insurance Rate Map becomes effective. If a property is affected by a change in the designation and flood insurance is purchased prior to the issuance of the final effective Flood Insurance Rate Map, the property may be grandfathered to receive a reduced premium for the life of their insurance policy so long as the policy does not lapse. The property owner should notify any/all renters and/or leaseholders of the property regarding flood insurance.
This notification is not intended to make flood zone determinations for either flood insurance or floodplain development purposes or to identify those parcels which may be impacted by FEMA’s determination. The purpose of this correspondence is to notify residents of their rights and the potential impacts of FEMA’s determinations. Each property owner is responsible for determining if their property or structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area on the above-referenced Flood Insurance Rate Map.
In order to determine whether or not a property is located in the SFHA on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map, please reference the current Flood Insurance Rate Map at the Coolbaugh Township municipal office or at the FEMA Map Service Center: http://msc.fema.gov. In order to make a comparison between the new (preliminary) and current Flood Insurance Rate Map, residents can either visit the municipal building to view both paper maps, or visit the FEMA Map Service Center for the current maps and the FEMA RAMPP website: http://www.rampp-team.com/public.htm for the new (preliminary) maps.
FEMA has advised the Coolbaugh Township that FEMA intends to provide public notification in The Pocono Record on or about February 8, 2012 and February 15, 2012. There will be a 90-day appeal period beginning on the date of the second publication referenced above. During the 90-day appeal period, any owner or lessee of real property within Coolbaugh Township who believes his or her property rights will be adversely affected by the determinations may file an appeal with Coolbaugh Township pursuant to 44 CFR 67.1, et seq. Coolbaugh Township will then forward the appeal to FEMA for review and consideration in accordance with 44 CFR 67.1, et seq.
Thank you for your attention to the foregoing. Please contact my office with any questions that you may have.
Douglas A. Hein
Coolbaugh Township Business Manager / Controller
As set forth above, this notification is not intended to make any flood zone determinations or to identify those parcels which may be impacted by FEMA’s determination. Each property owner is solely responsible for determining if their property or structure is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area on the above-referenced Flood Insurance Rate Map.
- FEMA's notification to Coolbaugh Township regarding the proposed modifications in Base Flood Elevations / Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMS) dated February 1, 2012
- County identified properties that may be located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as per the preliminary FIRM
