2020 Preliminary Floodplain Maps

December 2020 Pending Map Changes through FEMA

On December 7, 2020 FEMA issued notice to the City of St. Joseph that the December 19, 2019 Preliminary copies of the revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Berrien County were available for the 90-day appeal process.  Some property owners located on FIRM Sheet 26021C0101D believed the Preliminary 2019 map was incorrect and utilized the appeal process by submitting scientific data to the City of St. Joseph, which was forwarded to FEMA.

On November 5, 2021, city staff received an email from FEMA stating that “FEMA will be revising the preliminary maps for Berrien County and the new maps will be available for review and comment when complete.  This will likely take several months and we will provide notice of the review timeframe for the revised maps.” 

On September 2, 2022, FEMA released the revised FIRM and FIS Report for review and comment.  Firm Sheets 26021C0013D and 26021C0101D were modified along with the FIS Report. FEMA has stated that no new 90-day appeal process is required.  On October 25, 2023, FEMA notified the city the new FIS report and FIRM maps would become effective on April 25, 2024.