New Louisiana Flood Maps A Few Months Away

From WAFB-TV:

Federal officials in charge of Hurricane Katrina recovery said Monday that new flood elevation maps won't be ready until the end of February or into March.

Without knowing that lowest-allowable building level, homeowners and businesses that want to rebuild in southeast Louisiana parishes inundated by Katrina cannot make informed decisions. The flood maps will also determine how much property owners pay for flood insurance.

FEMA spokesman David Passey says an interagency team is working on putting together the much-needed flood maps. Part of that process is waiting for federal funding decisions to be made on how levees will be rebuilt and improved.