There has been more than $55 million invested in repairs to the levees over the past decade, addressing critical known problems and improving their strength. But the State and federal governments have raised the requirements to meet new standards in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other experiences that taught us much about levee safety.
 

The regulations are the result of lessons learned from very real and tragic events. Compliance is necessary for the safety of the community.
 

FEMA has long required levees to be constructed and maintained to a height and strength that would withstand a "100-year flood" to reduce the flood risk to the point of not requiring flood insurance. In past FEMA mapping studies, existing levees which were high enough were assumed to be properly constructed. Now, FEMA requires that all existing levees be "accredited," meaning they must undergo state-of-the-art engineering analysis to verify that they meet present-day design, operation and maintenance criteria.
 

History shows that we had 15 major floods in the last century. Three most recent ones involved levee breaks in Sutter and Yuba counties. They occurred in 1955, 1986, and 1997.
 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces maps that designate inland areas by risk factors such as "A," "AE," "AR," and "X." "A" represents the highest risk. Insurance companies will use those designations to quote premium rates. It is important to understand that the Federal government is the insurance carrier for flood insurance; private insurance companies are merely brokers. The Federal government sets the rates and allows a small commission to private firms.

Once evaluation and maps are completed, Sutter County will likely have large new areas of flood zones in the "A" designation. Residents who carry lower-cost "preferred risk" flood insurance prior to those new maps becoming effective will see their rates increase from approximately $300 per year to $1,100 per year. However, residents who wait to get flood insurance until it is required will have to pay $2,000 for the same policy.

Once we have made improvements and worked with FEMA to get the levees accredited and new maps issued, insurance rates will drop back to "preferred risk" levels.
 

FEMA is expected to release new effective maps for the area south of Yuba City in about July, the Natomas Areas in November, and the northeast Sutter County area (including Yuba City and Live Oak) in 2008.
 

Currently, Sutter County, Yuba City, and the local levee districts are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State Dept. of Water Resources to evaluate the levees’ strength by taking core samples to verify the strength of existing levees and identify weak spots where seepage or stability do not meet standards. In these areas, we must make improvements to meet standards. Additionally, we must verify that the height of levees is at least 3 feet above the 100-year-flood level in confined waterways, ensure that drainage of areas on the dry side is adequate, and address other issues. We are clearly at the early stages of a long-term effort for improvements. Tentative estimates call for construction work to begin in 2009 and continue for several years.
 

Several factors will help us develop priorities, including extent of weakness or inadequacy in a levee, and population or economic impact at risk. Those high-risk urban areas where there is more population, such as Yuba City and Live Oak, will be higher priority under State and federal funding guidelines.
 

We don’t know yet. We will provide more financial information once we have assessed the problem and strategies to address it. It is likely to be an expensive program.
 

While the State and Federal governments bear primary responsibility for levees, it is clear that local communities will be expected to share in the costs. Since no significant reserves exist to finance repairs, it is very likely that residents will have to contribute a share in the form of some type of tax or assessment. Whatever the obligation and options considered to deal with it, we will provide information and opportunities for public input throughout the process.
 

Watch the local news media for public meetings regarding flood protection. The County Board of Supervisors and local city council agendas will include updates as appropriate. We are planning to post relevant reports, maps, and reference materials on the County and City’s websites. Watch www.suttercounty.org, and www.yubacity.net for information.