Flood awareness sessions planned

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is staging a flood awareness day on Wednesday with a full day of free informational meetings.

The new Evergreen-area flood maps and general flood-plain issues will be addressed.

Morning workshops, from 8:45 a.m. to noon, include:

v Surveyors and engineers workshop – Conference Rooms A & B of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell. Presenters include Larry Schock, Marc Pitman and Steve Story of Montana DNRC. They will Identify and review engineering and surveying processes associated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood insurance rate maps, elevation certificates and letter of map changes.

v Realtors workshop – Northwest Montana Association of Realtors training room, 110 Cooperative Way, Kalispell; presenters are Bri Shipman and Traci Sears of Montana DNRC.

This is a flood-plain training session designed for Realtors and brokers. Discussion will include basic flood-plain information, utilizing flood-plain maps, basic flood-plain insurance information and the NFIP Reform Act.

v Insurance Workshop — National Flood Services Inc. at Hampton Inn, Kalispell; presenters are Mary Guokas, Montana DNRC; Connie Flora, Trina Sanford and other staff from National Flood Services. The course involves insurance agent and lender training on flood insurance and useful tools.

Afternoon sessions include:

v Community Officials Meeting – Conference Rooms A & B of the Earl Bennett Building, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. In-depth discussion on what the community may expect with the Flood Insurance Rate Map panel revisions in the Evergreen area; tips on how to best answer questions for property owners and what resources are available to them and the community during this process.

v Flood awareness open house – Conference Room C of the Earl Bennett Building, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for property owners to discuss insurance issues, mapping questions, and any other information pertaining to the National Flood Insurance Program

v Flood-plain regulations session — Conference Rooms A & B of the Earl Bennett Building, 5 to 6 p.m. Open discussion on flood-plain regulatory issues.