The photo above is from July, 2023, when I attended a Guilford County Public Meeting to learn what I could about Jamestown’s floodplain mapping updates as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) modifications initiative.

This matter is near and dear to my heart – Jamestown’s 2007 floodplain map (and the occasional flooding that occurs on my end of the street) are what brought me to Town Hall for the first time in the summer of 2022.

The presenters I spoke with at that 2023 Public Meeting told me that floodplain map revisions and updates are the responsibility of the town, and that Jamestown had not submitted any.

Back in May, Jamestown’s planning director was on the monthly Agenda to present Jamestown’s “updated” 2026 floodplain maps, because they have to be approved by Council for inclusion in the state and national 2026 flood maps. Several days prior to the meeting, however, we received notice from FEMA that their June deadline to receive map updates was extended to August 21st. Public Hearings will begin in July.

We will be looking to our Town stormwater, planning and zoning staff to give thoughtful consideration, study and assessment to mapping modifications and updates that will strengthen the flood-prone areas, banks, and eroding buffers throughout Jamestown’s creek- and river-side neighborhoods.

In these side-by-side images, you can use the slider to compare the FEMA map panels as they appear on the state floodplain maps TODAY (“in effect“) versus the 2026 (“preliminary“) floodplain map.

The current (2007) floodplain maps are the green/blue panels on the left; the proposed (2026) floodplain maps are the browner panels on the right. Obviously, the brown (updated) maps should show more shading and striped areas. As an example, note how the striped (regulatory) areas increased in and around High Point City Lake on Panel 7822.

Panel 7822:

Here’s the legend:

Panel 7821:

Panel 7813:

Panel 7811:

Panel 7812:

Panel 7831:

Panel 7823: