Changes are coming for floodplains in Onslow County.

Both Onslow and Craven counties are seeing changes in FEMA floodplain maps that will take effect by June 19. The maps define storm surge and other flooding possibilities in the area. Among other counties affected are Dare, Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico and Pitt counties, all set to go into effect in June.

The maps use updated hydraulic analysis and models to determine the chance of flooding of different areas during serious storms. On the maps, North Carolina is divided into regions designated as AE, VE, X and Shaded X: if you fall into either of the first two categories, your home or business is in an area with a high likelihood of flooding; if you fall in X or shaded X you are either out of the flood plain, or in a plain that has a much lower chance of flooding in any given storm.

In the past the maps were broken up into “100-year storm” and “500-year storm” areas, but FEMA has changed the term because, according to Angie Manning, Onslow County land use administrator, the term is misleading.

Craven County Planning Planner 2 Jason Frederick said FEMA conducted 600 synthetic storms to determine how storms would affect different areas.

He noted that Hurricane Florence had nothing to do with the how the maps were made – in fact, the maps have been in existence for a couple of years. However, he said, Florence reflected the accuracy of the new maps.