FEMA Flood Maps Redrawn for Camp Mystic Amid Flood Risk Concerns

Camp Mystic's Flood Map Appeals

• 📌 Camp Mystic owners appealed to FEMA to remove 15 buildings from the 100-year flood plain, a request FEMA granted.
• ⚠️ This process was repeated for 15 other buildings in 2019 and 2020, with FEMA again approving the revisions and redrawing its maps.

Implications of Flood Zone Removal

• 🏠 Properties removed from the 100-year flood plain are not required to purchase mandatory flood insurance.
• 🏗️ They are also not subject to stricter building codes, despite remaining at high risk for flooding.
• 📉 Expert Sarah Prowley notes that structures outside the flood zone are still bare and often face very high flood risk.

FEMA's Stance on Flood Maps

• 🗺️ A FEMA spokesperson stated that maps are not predictions of where flooding will occur or has occurred.
• ⚖️ Instead, FEMA maps are designed to indicate minimum standards for flood plain management and identify the highest risk areas for flood insurance.
• 🔍 The investigative report highlights that some cabins were only a foot above the base flood elevation, indicating a narrow margin for error.

Community Impact and Support

• 💔 The report touches upon the impact of devastating floods on lives in the Hill Country.
• 🤝 A reminder is given about the Tegna Texas relief fund for donations to local nonprofits in flood-impacted areas.