Berrien County FEMA Preliminary 2024 Floodplain Maps and Flood Insurance Study - Fall 2024

FEMA Activities

August 30, 2024 FEMA presented to the City of St. Joseph the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Berrien County dated of August 30, 2024.  

The updated maps for Berrien County highlight several streams and flooding sources, including McCoy Creek, Paw Paw River, St. Joseph River, Hickory Creek, Granger Drain, Goodrow Drain, both branches of Glenlord Road Drain, Parker/Richardson Drain, West Tributary St. Joseph River, and Yellow Creek. These updates span 34 Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels and cover 29 communities, including 7 charter townships, 11 townships, 6 cities, and 5 villages.

Open House scheduled by FEMA for the community.  The event will take place:

Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 4 to 6 pm at the Benton Harbor Public Library, 213 E. Wall Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022. 

There will be no formal presentation. Residents can attend at any time between 4-6pm ET.  Experts at the Open House will teach residents about flood risk and flood insurance. They can also explain floodplain development regulations and the mapping process. Residents can meet with experts one-on-one to look at their own addresses on the new maps. They will learn about their specific risk. They will also learn ways to help prevent flood loss.

View the August 30, 2024 FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map or the Flood Insurance Study 

Utilize the Flood Map Changes Viewer to compare the existing FIRM with the August 30, 2024 Preliminary FIRM.  Below is the "How to FEMA's Flood Map Changes View" handout to help assist with the on-line tool.