Some Ellis County residents in the coming weeks will get notified that the floodplain classification for their property may be changing.
The change is being made based on new maps developed with digital technology for determining elevation, according to Mason Ruder, environmental planning supervisor for Ellis County.
“FEMA and the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources started a project a few years ago on updating our paper maps that are currently from 1986 for the floodplain,” said Ruder, speaking Monday evening to the Ellis County Commissioners during their regular meeting at the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main St.
Using three-dimensional elevation information captured with LiDAR, or light detection and ranging technology, FEMA and state officials have developed new maps considered more precise than the current ones, Ruder said.
(Read more: News – The Hays Daily News)