The Florence City Council continues searching for the best options to fix or buy some costly items in the near future.
One of the most expensive endeavors could be levee certification and accreditation by two federal agencies, and last week Council member Trayce Warner said the city met with three different engineering firms to get the process going.
“Each of these three firms,” she said, “will provide certification that the levee is capable of withstanding a 100-year flood, and once they sign off on the certification, then it is up to FEMA to certify the levee is safe.”
According to information from these engineering companies, Warner said that if the council chooses not to go ahead with the certification, anyone owning property with a government supported mortgage, or purchasing a new property, or a business downtown, all would be required to purchase flood insurance.
“FEMA would map Florence as having no flood protection as if there was no levee present,” she said.
(Read more: Hillsboro Free Press)