MIDDLEPORT — An open house will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 at Middleport Village Hall so that residents can view the updated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

FEMA representatives will be on hand to talk one-on-one with the public. They will assist residents in locating their home on the map and will answer questions about the flood protection program as it applies to them.

Earlier in the day, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., a meeting of elected officials and code enforcement officers from around the county will be made of aware of changes and will gather information specifically for their location.

The communities with map updates scheduled are the county overall, as well as all villages, Middleport, Pomeroy, Racine, Rutland and Syracuse, all of which are listed as being in the Upper Ohio-Shade Watershed which consists of Athens, Meigs and Washington counties.

When new flood maps are issued, community flood risks may become higher or lower which can affect what property owners pay for flood insurance. However, there is usually a six- to 12-month period between the time the new preliminary maps are issued and the time they are implemented. This gives property owners adequate time to protect their property and possibly, save on flood insurance.

Since standard homeowners’ insurance does not cover flooding, it’s important to have protection in the event of flooding. Since damage can be so extensive, Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1968 to help provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves. NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. Participating communities agree to adopt and enforce ordinances that meet or exceed FEMA requirements to reduce the risk of flooding.

Flood insurance protects two types of insurable property — building and contents. It does not cover the land they occupy, according to NFIP.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. While FEMA’s continuing mission is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and manage the federal response and recovery efforts, it also now initiates pro-active mitigation activities, trains first responders and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.

Map updates for all Meigs County communities are scheduled to be displayed at the March 5 open house.