Proposed FIRMs

St. Louis County in partnership with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report within the City of Chesterfield under FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) program. Risk MAP is a FEMA program that helps communities identify, assess and reduce their flood risk.

In order to view the proposed changes to the FIRMs, please visit the following website: http://bit.ly/MOSEMAOutreach See the pdf linked below for instructions on utilizing the website.  

MOSEMA Outreach User's Guide

Below is a timeline of past events regarding the proposed FIRMs:

January 5, 2024 - City Staff received an update from SEMA on Decemer 19, 2023 indicating their anticipated issuance date for the preliminary FIRMS is March 17, 2024. Please see the link below for a copy of their update.
FIRM Update Notice

July 6, 2023 
-The most recent update from SEMA, received on July 5, 2023, indicated that preliminary maps were to be issued late this fall in the October/November time frame. The effective date of the new maps is yet to be determined. We will continue to update the website as we obtain additional information.


February 9, 2023
 -The most recent update from SEMA, received on February 9, 2023, indicated preliminary maps were projected to be issued later this summer.  The effective date of the new maps is yet to be determined. We will continue to update the website as we obtain additional information.

October 10, 2022City Staff received an update from SEMA indicating that their anticipated issuance date for the preliminary FIRMs is January 2023.  A link to the update is posted below.  
FIRM Update Notice

June 6, 2022 -
City Staff did not receive a response from SEMA in May so follow up correspondence was sent to SEMA on June 6, 2022.  Staff received a response from SEMA on June 7, 2022 indicating that preliminary maps would be issued in 45-60 days.  This would put preliminary map issuance sometime between late July and early August 2022. 

January 3, 2022 - The preliminary FIRMs were tentatively scheduled to be issued in January 2022.  Staff received an update from Wood, on behalf of SEMA, indicating the issuance date of the preliminary FIRMS has been revised to late April 2022.  A link to the update is posted below:
St. Louis County Communications-December 2021

June 22, 2022 - City Staff received an update from SEMA indicating that their anticipated issuance date for the preliminary FIRMs is August 2022.  A link to the update is posted below.  
FIRM Update Notice


May 6, 2022 -  City Staff followed up with SEMA on April 26, 2022 to verify preliminary FIRMs were still scheduled to be released by the end of April. The response from SEMA indicated they would have a better estimate of a release date in early May.

August 20, 2021The preliminary FIRMs were tentatively scheduled to be issued on August 16, 2021.  Staff received an update from SEMA indicating that the FIRM panels have been created and SEMA is in the final stages of coordination with levee districts in St. Louis County.  The revised projected date for issuance of preliminary FIRMs is now January 2022.

May 24, 2021 - The preliminary FIRMs were tentatively scheduled to be issued in the April/May time frame.  Staff received an update from SEMA that due to community discussions that have taken place over the last couple months, the preliminary FIRM issuance date has been revised.  The projected date for issuance of preliminary FIRMs is now August 16, 2021.

February 16, 2021The preliminary FIRMs were tentatively scheduled to be issued on February 19, 2021.  Staff received an update from SEMA indicating that the preliminary FIRMs are still being reviewed and will not be ready for issuance on February 19, 2021.  SEMA anticipates that the preliminary FIRMs will be issued in the April/May time frame.

September 9, 2020SEMA issued an update indicating that a tentative date of February 19, 2021 has been set for issuance of the Preliminary FIRMs.  A link to the update is posted below:
St. Louis County Preliminary FIRMs

February 6 & 7, 2019 – City Staff attended meetings regarding the proposed mapping changes conducted by SEMA and its consultant, Wood Environmental & Infrastructure Solution. Cities were told that the Preliminary FIRMs are scheduled to be completed in September of 2019, at which time they will be submitted to the affected communities.  A formal comment and appeal period of 90 days is expected to begin in the winter of 2020, after the preliminary maps are distributed.  Details on the appeal process will be provided once they become available.  New Effective FIRMs are expected to be formally issued in two to three years.   

October 15, 2018 – Deadline for preliminary comments to be posted to the SEMA website: http://bit.ly/MOSEMAOutreach

September 14, 2018 – The City of Chesterfield sent a post card notification to property owners within 200 feet of a proposed change in the floodplain. This notification provided property owners the chance to comment on the proposed maps.   

August 28, 2018 – Initial meeting with SEMA introducing a St. Louis County wide flood study within St. Louis County, including the City of Chesterfield. Flood Study Review Maps are available for comment through the Website.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Paskiewicz, Senior Civil Engineer at jpaskiewicz@chesterfield.mo.us or by phone at 636-537-4759.