An untold number of Ukiah property owners may soon be required to purchase flood insurance once the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finalizes new flood maps for Mendocino County. However, Ukiah's city engineer and director of public works, Tim Erickson, voiced concerns that the latest maps, released in July, are inaccurate.
The Ukiah City Council has authorized Erickson to initiate the city’s own mapping project to address these issues. Erickson has been in discussions with FEMA since the preliminary maps were released in 2022 and believes a city-led effort is the best solution.
“We have hydraulic data that shows that some of these things are vastly inaccurate," Erickson said. "They [FEMA] said we could do the mapping ourselves, and while it may sound like a heavy lift. It’s not. It’s a $100,000 lift.”
Flood maps, created by FEMA, designate areas with a 1% or higher annual risk of flooding as high-risk zones, requiring property owners in these areas to carry flood insurance. With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of floods, the number of high-risk areas is rising. According to a report produced for FEMA, flood hazard areas are expected to grow by an average of 45% by 2100.
FEMA has been updating flood maps across the country, including Mendocino County, where concerns are focused on potential flooding from Orrs, Gibson, and Deline creeks. The city of Ukiah appealed the preliminary map, leading to some adjustments. However, Erickson noted that the changes primarily benefited the county, leaving concerns for city property owners unresolved.
Requiring property owners in newly designated high-risk areas to buy flood insurance could create financial hardships, particularly for lower-income residents. Craig Schlatter, Ukiah’s Director of Community Development, emphasized the potential impact on the Wagonseller neighborhood, where approximately 70% of residents are considered low-income.
“We're greatly concerned, especially if the data is erroneous,” Schlater said. “If they don't really need flood insurance but are required to get it because the models are inaccurate, it creates an environmental justice issue.”
Schlater also questioned the accuracy of FEMA's regional modeling, noting that local data may not have been fully incorporated.
The median cost of flood insurance in California through the National Flood Insurance Program was just under $800 in 2023. However, a staff report to the Ukiah City Council estimated that costs for city residents could reach as high as $8,000 annually, further highlighting the potential economic strain on affected property owners.
Meanwhile, the rising cost of living was another point of discussion during Wednesday's city council meeting. Councilwoman Susan raised concerns about a proposed increase in garbage collection rates, citing a significant jump in prices over the past decade.
“This seems like a really good deal for the hauler, but I’m not so sure it’s a great deal for the ratepayers,” Susan said, pointing to a nearly 500% increase in the cost of a 10-gallon trash can since 2012.
In other council action, Ukiah’s city manager was authorized to begin negotiations with PEP Housing of Santa Rosa to construct more than 50 new senior apartments, funded in part by $1 million from the Ukiah Housing Trust Fund. The project aims to provide affordable housing for residents earning between 60% and 120% of the area’s median family income.
