Montesano, WA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency presented a preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map. Ed Perkins, Flood engineer for FEMA said Wednesday night "The elevation has changed, and it looks like it's gone up. The reason [for that] is we've changed what we define as our 'zero.'"

Aberdeen's Public Works Director Larry Bledsoe explained, the floodplain isn't rising, however the measurement of that is, so in essence "Because they are changing the survey datum, it actually effects the overall elevations by a few inches. New homes would have to be a few inches higher."

A 90 day appeal period hasn't started yet on the new maps, Perkins said the department hopes to have a final determination and a new map by September.