Almost 100 residents show up for a question and answer session about federal changes to the Camden County flood plain map. 

    The session yesterday at the courthouse covered the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain map that will be finalized in early 2010.  The county has hired an outside engineer to work with county surveyor Greg Hasty to spot check some of FEMA's survey, especially areas along the Niangua River and Linn Creek.  

    County Commissioner Carolyn Loraine says Spencer Jones of Great River Engineering is looking for errors in the flood plain map.

    "These kind of projects that they do now, the surveying and the engineering plans, the county could not afford to do one of those, we just couldn't do it," Loraine said. "So we just thought that we would spot check because it does affect a lot of people in the tributary areas."

    Most of Camden County's flood plain does not rise above 664 feet, but some areas on the Niangua will have their elevations put up above 670.  FEMA can take action against the county for failing to enforce the flood plain map if federal inspectors find a new structure built below the elevations.

    Camden County flood plain administrator Chris Hall says FEMA can put the entire county on probation, which will end up costing individual flood insurance buyers.

    "Every single flood insurance policy that's under the county's jurisdiction would have $50 added to its cost," Hall said. "A surcharge, every one of them, thousands, I am quite sure, would suddenly have a $50 surcharge put on them."

    After probation comes denial of flood insurance.

    "The second hammer is suspension," Hall added. "They cancel every flood insurance policy that is under the county's jurisidiction, cancel. Now if you are trying to re-finance, if you are trying to sell, if you can't get a certificate of insurance you won't get that loan."

    Hall recommends property owners have a surveyor or engineer complete a certificate of elevation. That it turn can be used if the property owner decides to refinance or to sell.