Revised Map Triples Area Identified as Flood-Prone : Simi Valley: Officials fight federal changes that could increase insurance costs for businesses and homeowners.

The city of Simi Valley is protesting a redrawing of the federal flood map that triples the amount of city land marked as vulnerable to flooding and could result in thousands of homeowners and businesses having to buy extra insurance.

The current flood map, prepared by the federal government in 1974, designates as flood-prone about 5% or less of Simi Valley and does not include many residences and businesses that federal officials say are now considered to be in low-lying flood-hazard zones, city officials say.

The new flood map of the city prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows about 15% of the Simi Valley basin to be in flood-danger zones, said Jim Lightfoot, assistant Simi Valley city planner.

The areas designated as vulnerable to flooding in the federal map are at risk in a 100-year flood, or a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, said Ray Lenaburg, a FEMA senior engineer.

Lenaburg said Simi Valley is one of the last cities in California to have its flood-zone map revised to include more detail about existing or potential flood conditions. He added that some revisions may still be made. FEMA is required by law to adopt a new map by Oct. 1.

Once this is done, the map will be used by banks and other lending institutions to determine who must purchase flood insurance and what rates may be charged, Lenaburg said.

However, city officials contend that the proposed revision of the flood map does not differentiate between areas that have the potential for one foot or less of flooding, and other, more vulnerable areas prone to more than one foot of flooding, said Lightfoot.

Lightfoot said the city last week filed a formal complaint with FEMA officials, who have yet to respond.

Mayor Greg Stratton said the city has “received less than totally clear answers” from FEMA about how the agency decided which areas of the city are vulnerable to flooding. He said he believes that the city is safer from floods than it was 20 years ago because of stricter building requirements and improved flood channels.

“We have a great deal of questions about their technical data,” he said.

FEMA officials said the contractor hired to prepare the federal flood map did so after more than a year and a half of studying topographic and geologic surveys and by examining storm drain systems throughout the city.

But Lenaburg stressed that the new map has not been officially adopted and that there are likely to be some changes before it is finalized. He said it is also possible that the new map could be amended after its adoption.

“We don’t want to put a burden on property owners, either,” he said. “We want to be right. We hope by the end of the year we will be able to generate more precise boundaries of areas that fall into the 100-year flood zone.”

Lenaburg also emphasized that a resident whose residence or business is included in the flood zone does not necessarily have to buy flood insurance, which can run as much as $500 a year.

He said only those people who decide to refinance their homes or who intend to purchase a home in the affected areas after the new flood map is adopted will be required to buy flood insurance as a condition of financing.

Flood maps, which were conceived as part of the National Flood Insurance Program set up by the federal government in the early 1970s, are intended to assist cities in future planning by discouraging development in flood-prone areas. Cities participating in the flood-map program are also eligible to receive federal relief money after major rainstorms.

Lightfoot said that despite the five-year drought, residents need to be aware that their homes may be in a high-risk area for floods. He noted that in February, 1969, two serious floods occurred in the Santa Clara Valley during what was then considered a severe drought.

“It’s been so long since we had a significant storm that people don’t believe that we can really have flooding,” he said. “It does happen. People need to be aware of that.”