By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Leeds homeowners and business owners got their first chance to express their concerns over their neighborhood being added to FEMA's flood insurance map.
The second of 2 public meetings was held at Leeds Elementary School Wednesday night.
City Public Works Managers were on hand to answer questions about what the announcement really means.
FEMA has kicked off an 18-month study to decide whether the Leeds area should be added to the flood insurance map considering its distance from the Floyd River.
FEMA began certifying levees and assessing its flood insurance map after the levees broke in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
If the map is approved, any business or homeowner in the area that has a federally-managed mortgage would be required to get flood insurance. Everyone else would be encouraged.
One question brought up at the meeting, will this change property value in the area?
Leeds Homeowner Sheryl Cripps said, "For people that live in flood zones, if you wanted to sell your property, I can't imagine somebody wanting to come in and buy a house that is in a flood zone now."
City staffers say they have a stake in property in Leeds too and will work hard to convince FEMA that the flood map area should be smaller.
