Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Ohio Department of natural Resources (ODNR), will host a food risk information open house3 from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Clinton County Annex building, 111 S. Nelson Ave., Wilmington.

The open house will provide Clinton County residents an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary flood insurance study (FIS) and its accompanying preliminary flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs).

The FIS and FIRMs provide base blood information, delineate areas subject to significant flood hazards within the county and offer information public officials may use when permitting development in the floodplain.

The open house will be staffed with representatives from state and federal agencies, who will provide the most current infromation about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development regulations and the process for floodplain mapping within Clinton County.

The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps will be on display. Once the maps become effective, they will be used by floodplain permit officials, builders and developers, lenders, realtors, insurance agents and the general public to determine flood risk, develop mitigation measures and encourage wise and responsible risk management decision-making.

Property owners, realtors, lenders and insurance agents are urged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigations within their community. For more information, call John Devine, FEMA flood risk outreach specialist, at 312-408,5567.

Current floodplain information can be found on the Clinton County GIS Web site at clintoncountyohgis.org.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man made, including acts of terrorism.