City of Montpelier, Vermont: Flood

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Montpelier Flood Watch
Flooding & How to Avoid Losses in Montpelier

NOTICE TO: Montpelier Residents
SUBJECT: Flood Insurance Rate Map Zone Information

As a public service, the City of Montpelier will provide you with the following information upon request:

Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of the City.
Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation or depth, if shown on the FIRM,
We have a handout on the flood insurance purchase requirement that can help people who need a mortgage or loan for a property in the SFHA.
We have copies of completed FEMA Elevation Certificates for buildings built in the floodplain since 1991.

If you would like to make an inquiry, please tell us the street address of your property. We are open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Call us at (802) 223-9506 or drop by the Department of Planning & Community Development in City Hall. Anyone in the office can provide the needed information. There is no charge for this service.

2007 FEMA 100-year Flood Zone Map:
This map shows an overlay of the existing (1992) and proposed 100-year flood zones in Montpelier.

The yellow areas indicate land that was in the 100-year flood zone but is no longer.
The orange areas indicate land that was in the 100-year flood zone and still remain in that zone.
The red areas indicate land that wasn't designated 1992, but is now believed to be in the 100-year flood zone.

Click on the image to the right to download a PDF (946 KB) of the flood map.

City of Montpelier Notice to Property Owners & Public Officials (Download as PDF document)

July 6, 2007

Re: New Floodplain Maps from FEMA

Dear Property Owners and Public Officials:

FEMA has redrawn the flood hazard maps that are used for flood insurance rates for most of Montpelier. The changes are extensive. Many previously excluded properties are now included in one or more flood hazard areas. This may affect your insurance premiums, mortgage financing and other property ownership finances. FEMA is holding two public meetings in Washington County as part of the process to adopt the new Digital Flood Insurance Maps and Flood Insurance Studies. At the meetings, FEMA will provide an overview of the new maps they propose and take your comments. This is the only time that FEMA will be taking public comments on these important changes.

The only Community meeting planned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take your comments on the new proposed flood insurance rate maps is on July 25, 2007 at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM at the Waterbury State Office Complex in the Skylight Conference Room on the first floor of the Connector Building in the Agency of Human Services. We experienced this year how prone Montpelier is to flooding and how important it is to be prepared and have flood insurance.

FEMA is not providing any notice to any affected property owner. If you wish to determine if your property is affected, please come to the City Planning and Community Development Office in the ground level at City Hall to view the maps. The Office is open Monday through Friday except holidays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

If your property is in the new floodplain hazard designated area, you should contact your insurance agent to discuss what steps to take and to be prepared for changes in your insurance rates. FEMA will not be completing this new map process until spring of 2008. When FEMA adopts the new maps, then the new insurance rates will apply to your property. Prior to then however you may want to make plans with your insurer so that you have continuous coverage. If you have federal or federally related financing for your property, you should contact your lender to discuss any changes to the flood hazard area designation of your property. If your property designation does not change from the current map to the new map, then your insurance and financing should not be affected, but you may want to verify that with your insurer and lender.

The City will also be required to adopt FEMA prescribed ordinances to conform Montpelier Zoning regarding flood hazard areas to FEMA requirements. This needs to occur before the end of 2008.

If you have any questions, please call Montpelier Planning and Community Development at 223-9506. Thank you for your attention to this important community matter.

Montpelier's Rivers:
Montpelier's four rivers are important features within the city's landscape. The Winooski River runs northwest to southeast through the central area, and extends approximately four and one-half miles within the City limits. The smaller North Branch River (the name comes from being the north branch of the Winooski) extends for a similar length to the city's northern border and the Wrightsville Reservoir. A small portion of the city's southeastern boundary is formed by the Steven's Branch of the Winooski River; the Dog River forms a portion of the western boundary.

Although flooding along these riverbanks has been partly mitigated through flood mitigation programs implemented by the City, the potential for future flooding still remains.

Montpelier Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan:
According to the Montpelier Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan, over 478 acres, or 7.2% of the entire city is in the 100 year flood plain; an additional 86.5 acres is in the 500-year flood plain. While most of the areas affected by flooding are near the waters' edge, nearly the entire downtown area is within to 100-year floodplain.

The City's ongoing mitigation measures include:

early warning and emergency response,
building and property improvements,
public awareness and education, and
participation in programs such as the Community Rating System and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.