Debbie Menzie was surprised to receive a notice that her home is now in a floodplain.
It’s never flooded at her home in the north part of Iola, just off Washington Street. Not even close.
She attended an open house on Tuesday at the Community Building in Riverside Park, hosted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to review new floodplain maps.
The new maps show 85 properties are no longer in the floodplain.
Eight, including Menzie’s home, have been added.
Property owners who have a federally-backed mortgage must have flood insurance if their home is in the floodplain.
Menzie said she has never needed flood insurance. She doesn’t have a mortgage so she isn’t required to carry it. She attended Tuesday’s event to discuss her options. She’s not sure if she wants to purchase flood insurance, just in case.
“It’s a risk,” Menzie said. “I’m still not sure what I’m going to do but I’ll look into it.”
Troy Clouse is another resident who learned his property on Garfield Street near Allen Community College is now in the floodplain. Though he doesn’t have a mortgage and isn’t required to purchase flood insurance, he was upset to learn of the new designation.
He moved to Iola from Oregon about a year and a half ago, and did not expect to have to worry about flooding. He attended Tuesday’s meeting to learn more for himself and his neighbors.
“I want to be prepared. I’m trying to be proactive,” he said.
Clouse said he still has questions and is waiting for additional information from the state.
REPRESENTATIVES of the agriculture department said they were pleased with Tuesday’s turnout, with a steady stream of visitors through the afternoon.
“I think this community did a great job with outreach,” Terry Medley, water structures program manager for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, said.
Property owners met with someone to review the changes in the floodplain and discuss options for flood insurance.
