Rocky Mount, Tarboro Consider Flood-Related Changes

Flooding is back on the minds of two communities devastated by Hurricane Floyd.

Rocky Mount's City Council gave preliminary approval to new flood plain maps Monday. That allows the city to approve new building projects which have been on hold. Parts of the new maps are being appealed.

The North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program will release the final floodplain maps in about six months.

In Tarboro, residents may be required to raise manufactured houses to abide by the 100-year flood plain regulations. The planning board's recommendation calls for new manufactured homes to be 3 feet above the base flood elevation. Homeowners of existing manufactured homes would not be forced to raise their homes.

The homes would also have to be anchored to prevent them from floating away.