Dozens of Homes Added to Flood Plain in Waterloo, Iowa

Dozens of homes and businesses in Waterloo have been added to the flood plain on the city’s west side.

About 200 property owners on a stretch from LibertyPark to the Cedar River are being urged to by flood insurance now that they are in the 100-year flood plain.

Real estate agent Marty Stoakes manages several properties in the area. He says the designation is frustrating because water never came close during record flooding in 2008.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency began updating flood in 2004. Revisions have been made in about 40 Iowa counties so far.

Waterloo officials are surprised by the changes. City planner Aric Schroeder told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the city appealed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which stood by its flood modeling.