Over 100 homeowners in Kalona will be receiving letters this week regarding a change to the flood map. City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh says FEMA recently accepted Kalona’s Letter of Map Revision, effectively removing 124 parcels from the high risk zone in the 100 year floodplain.

Those affected will no longer have to purchase mandatory flood insurance through their mortgage lender and could be reimbursed for up to six months of premiums.

According to Schlabaugh, they requested the change a year ago due to problems they saw with the map. A detailed study of Salveson Creek and flood modeling provided by the Iowa Flood Center helped justify the revision.

The updated map and revision letter can be found on FEMA’s website.