Farragut board approves first reading to adopt updated FEMA flood-map panels

The Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the first reading of Ordinance 26-09 on May 7, adopting two updated FEMA flood insurance rate map panels that became effective Feb. 10, 2026.

Assistant community development director Bart Hose explained the maps were revised through a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMAR) process following engineering and modeling submitted by developers and their consultants. He told the board that adopting the revised panels into the town's flood-damage prevention ordinance (in the zoning code) is required for the town to use the updated maps as the basis for local regulation.

Hose described the LOMAR process and said it can be a multi-year effort tied to specific project work, including bridge and floodway work. After discussion, the board approved the first reading by roll-call vote recorded as 3–0 (Alderman Kaine, Alderman Lroy and Mayor Ron Williams recorded as voting yes).

The first reading approves the ordinance language and incorporation of the updated FEMA panels; subsequent readings or administrative steps required for final adoption were not detailed in the transcript. Staff recommended the measure on first reading to align local regulations with FEMA's effective mapping.

Next steps: staff will process the ordinance through the normal adoption sequence and record the updated panels for use in development review and floodplain regulation.