More Moorhead Homes to be Removed from Flood Plain

37 homes in Moorhead are being removed from the flood plain after being FEMA accredited.
 
Homeowners in the Woodlawn Park neighborhood, south of Main Avenue, could drop their flood insurance starting this summer.
 
Flood projects like the one in Woodlawn Park neighborhood was initiated following the 2009 flood.

A levee built along the south and east sides of the park, and a floodwall built on Elm Street South and 7th Avenue South, were the protection that allowed the area to get FEMA accreditation.

Homeowner Billy Iverson seems to be the only home left next to the river on Elm Street South.
 
Iverson explains, “I said, ‘No.’ The city made offers and I think their offers were low. And the timeline they gave us to think about it were too rushed. And I love it here. It gives me the feel that I’m not even living in town and I really like it.”
 
This levy is said to protect up to 44 feet, enough for when there’s a flood.

But residents are still waiting to get the notification if they’ve been removed from the 100-year flood plain.
 
“I’ll wait and see how the actual changes occur. The city manager has no idea what other companies are going to offer for insurance or what the cost will be,” says Iverson.
 
City officials say that property owners in the affected area should receive a letter soon about the change.

And when the revision becomes official June 10th, the city engineer says that will be the time to change your insurance plan.
 
“I would call my insurance agent and say that I don’t need this anymore. They’ll be able to purchase a preferred rate, which is just a few hundred dollars a year, which we strongly recommend people to do. But it’s not a requirement,” says City Engineer Bob Zimmerman.
 
“If we never have to throw sandbags in the backyard anymore that will be great. It would also be great if they can move my neighbors back in, because they wouldn’t have had to move them in the first place,” says Iverson. 

The city plans to remove more homes from the flood plains.

An application will be submitted to FEMA this spring for the Country Club area in North Moorhead.

For others, FEMA insurance rates will be going up.