New flood maps could affect Oahu homeowners

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Residents in high-risk flood zones could need new insurance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released new flood insurance rate maps on Thursday after a five year re-examination of Oahu’s flood hazards, including multiple streams that have never been studied before.
Federal, state and local agencies use FEMA’s maps to determine flood insurance requirements and to regulate development in flood-prone areas.
The updated maps highlight several new areas of high flood risk, which are now categorized as “Special Flood Hazard Areas.”
Property owners in these zones who have a federally-backed loan or mortgage will be required to purchase flood insurance when the maps are finalized.
Currently, the expected date for finalization is in 2026, following a formal appeal process that starts in spring 2025.
The city urges residents to check if they are in one of these high-risk areas on the Resilience Office’s website.
For residents eager to learn more about the implications of the new maps, FEMA, DLNR and city officials are holding two open houses where residents can ask questions.
One is on Nov. 4 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom and requires online registration. The other is on Nov. 6 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
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