Hawaii County Department of Public Works is sending letters to property owners along the Palai Stream in South Hilo. ADVERTISING Hawaii County Department of Public Works is sending letters to property owners along the Palai Stream in South Hilo. The
Hawaii County Department of Public Works is sending letters to property owners along the Palai Stream in South Hilo.
The letters inform residents of proposed floodplain changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs, covering their property, the processes before FIRMs are effective, and the course of action if a property is mapped incorrectly.
In April, the department submitted a Letter of Map Revision to the Federal Management Agency proposing changes to the existing 1988 FIRMs for Palai Stream in South Hilo.
These proposed changes are based on better topographic data and an improved modeling technique to determine the flood risks, and flood insurance rates that help Hawaii County with floodplain management.
The updated FIRMs will provide a better understanding of flood hazards for planners and information about where to build. They also will help property owners make financial decisions about protecting a home or business property.
