Several officials are scheduled to review modified flood maps for the area Sept. 8, possibly setting dates for public hearings on the proposed changes.

That meeting is not open to the public.

During its meeting Tuesday, the Washington Planning Board discussed the draft flood maps. The new flood maps, once approved and adopted, could affect Washington property owners’ flood insurance coverage, especially premiums. In some cases, flood-insurance premiums could decrease.

The proposed flood maps show less property in Washington, especially along waterways, being a part of the 100-year flood plain, according to John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural resources.

Currently, new houses built in the 100-year floodplain are required to have their first floor (habitable) at the base flood elevation (either nine or 10 feet in Washington), according to Allen Pittman, the city’s senior building code official. If that required elevation is less after the new flood maps are approved, that likely would lower costs of building houses in the 100-year floodplain, according to Rodman.

“They are proposing that a lot of that area be taken out of that flood zone,” Rodman said as he reviewed the proposed new flood maps with the board.

Board Chairman John Tate asked Rodman how the proposed maps reach final approval. The proposed maps go through a review process that includes receiving input from people who live in areas shown in the maps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has final say on the proposed maps.

A woman who attended the board’s meeting mentioned the Sept. 8 meeting. She did not identify herself at the meeting, and several attempts to identify here were unsuccessful. Her comments indicated she is familiar with the flood-mapping process.

Flood maps for Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego, Washington Park and Beaufort County are also being modified, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

When new maps are issued, a property owner’s flood risk may have changed, as well along with flood insurance requirements. If a property is mapped out of a high-risk area, the owner’s flood insurance costs will likely decrease, according to FEMA. If a property is mapped into a high-risk area, the owners will be required to purchase flood insurance if the mortgage is through a federally regulated or insured lender. Property owners can save money with the newly mapped procedure and through a process known as grandfathering provided by the National Flood Insurance Program. Under newly mapped procedure, a property owner, for the first year following a map change, can obtain a flood insurance policy at a rate equal to the lower-cost Preferred Risk Policy rate, though a higher reserve fund assessment and federal policy fee will apply. After the first year, the rate begins transitioning to a full-risk rate, with annual rate increases of no more than 18 percent.

Property owners who do not have flood insurance and find their buildings will be mapped into a special flood hazard area. FEMA encourages them to purchase a PRP policy before the new maps become effective. Such property owners will be covered for their actual flood risk and able to renew their policies at the lower-cost PRP rate for another year during the first 12 months after the new map becomes effective.

People with property near a levee may find their flood risk might be higher than they thought. Hundreds of levees across the country no longer meet federal standards for protection, so when new maps are issued, these areas will be shown as high risk.