Riverside-area residents can learn how federal flood-hazard regulations could affect their homes and businesses at a Nov. 5 open house sponsored by the Pierce County Council.
Set for between 4 and 7 p.m. at Riverside Elementary School, 5515 44th St. E., the “arrive when you can” event will feature tables staffed by county, state and federal agencies.

Federal flood-hazard area maps classify much of Riverside as a “flood-hazard area,” meaning that it has a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in a given year. Riverside is bounded roughly by the Puyallup River to the north, Pioneer Way East to the south, Tacoma to the west and Puyallup to the east.

“We want to give residents a chance to talk to these agencies in person, all in one place,” said Councilmember Calvin Goings, who represents the area. “Construction and other activities are limited in flood-hazard areas, so the more information people have, the better.”

Residents can learn about proposed changes to the county’s flood regulations, levee improvements and other capital projects, emergency preparedness and property tax implications from Pierce County”s water programs and emergency management divisions and the assessor-treasurer’s office. The state Department of Ecology and Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer flood mapping and flood insurance information.

The County Council in March passed a resolution asking the public works department to develop possible amendments to the county’s own flood regulations. Expected this month, these amendments would give residents more alternatives for complying with federal rules, such as allowing detached garages and other uninhabited spaces to be flood proofed instead of requiring them to be elevated to a specific height. Councilmembers will likely vote on the suggested amendments by next spring.