Flooding

Flood Insurance Maps

FEMA Floodplain Map Updates 2025

FEMA is in the process of updating Hampshire County's flood insurance rate maps to incoprporate new data and technology to create a flood map the is more accurate and better represents current flood risk.  Maps have not been updated since 1978, and are out of date with current conditions. Floodplain maps set the foundation both for floodplain management and for flood insurance regulations.  This is a long process with steps built in for feedback from local officials and residents.

FEMA has just released its Preliminary Maps and Data for each Hampshire County Community. More information is found in the notification letter to the City. Communities can review and respond to these maps and flag any incorrect locational information or other problems, and then to submit any additional or scientific or technical data that should be used to make changes to the preliminary maps.

These stages are followed by the issuance of a Letter of Final Determination and a Public Open House, and the final effective date of the maps. This is expected in early 2027.  Before the maps take effect, the Town will need to update its bylaws with the new maps. We will intend for this to take place at the next Town meeting.  FEMA's Flood Updates Guide provides a full description of the process and timeline.

The full maps can are available through FEMA's online map center, and a map viewer for the new maps can be found here.