OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Local and federal officials want assurances that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood mapping procedures are fair and accurate.

FEMA recently released proposed new flood insurance rate maps that have increased the town’s flood zone area. The town is preparing an appeal of these maps.

Town Manager Larry Mead said at Tuesday night’s town council meeting that he had attended FEMA meetings for municipal officials, and FEMA confirmed that it had used different methodologies and assumptions for different communities. Mead said he believes that FEMA needs to take a more consistent approach.

Mead said he asked FEMA officials if a person owned two properties in flood plains in different communities in York County, would they have the confidence that the level of risk applied to the two properties would be equally valid.

“They weren’t able to give me a good answer,” he said.

Mead said this was not an acceptable position, and he was continuing discussions with representatives from the state’s congressional offices.

U.S. Sen. Angus King announced yesterday that he had written a letter to W. Craig Fugate, administrator of FEMA, asking the agency to approach the appeal process in a thorough and transparent manner.

“I urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that similarly situated coastal communities are treated fairly and equally, and that new flood zone maps best reflect the actual, scientific flood risk along the Maine coast,” King said in the letter.

King has also proposed an amendment to the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act that would make communities eligible for reimbursement from the government for the costs of successfully appealing inaccurate flood maps.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].