Red Oak starts flood map appeal

 After the Federal Emergency Management Agency released a potential flood map for Red Oak that included the downtown area, city officials began an appeal process. 

City officials hired Kirkham Michael Consulting Engineers, of Omaha, to begin research to dispute the current floodplain estimations. 

At a city council meeting last week, representatives from Kirkham Michael attended to discuss their findings thus far and future plans. 

As of now, a representative said there are grounds for an appeal because the FEMA model says more water is coming through the Red Oak Creek than actually is. 

There is still scientific data to look at and studies to compare, but the representatives said they already have an appeal letter drafted. 

Appeals must be turned in to FEMA before June 8, so Kirkham Michael engineers are gathering as much information as they can in a limited amount of time. 

While attending the meeting, the representatives also gave a presentation on their plan to recertify the levees on the Nishnabotna River. 

Levee recertification is an unfunded mandate by FEMA, meaning the city will have to fully fund the project, which needs to be done before 2016. 

The certification process is split into three phases: data collection and review, engineering analysis and FEMA submittals. 

The minimum estimate for the project is $199,500.

Council members did not vote to hire Kirkham Michael for levee recertification at the meeting.