Upcoming Understanding the Impacts of MAAPNext

As new flood risk maps emerge through MAAPNext and related updates to FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, communities across Greater West Houston including, Harris, Fort Bend, Waller, and surrounding counties are working to understand what these changes will mean in practice. Flood risk does not stop at jurisdictional boundaries, and shared watersheds, regional growth patterns, and infrastructure systems make it important for public officials, developers, engineers, and community leaders to understand what the maps will do, what data they are based on, and how public agencies may use them to guide floodplain management, development standards, infrastructure planning, mitigation investments, insurance requirements, and property decisions. This forum will focus on the practical implications of the new mapping environment, including updated floodplain boundaries, evolving expectations around the 100-year versus 500-year “standard of care,” and the use of “best available data,” while exploring how communities can strengthen resilience and maintain predictability for development, investment, and long-term growth across the region.

For questions about the event, please email ryann@westhouston.org