(BIVN) – Big Island residents had a chance to talk with officials on Wednesday about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps during a public meeting held in Hilo.

The new flood maps have been finalized and will become effective on September 29, 2017.

The meeting was a chance for residents to learn about the impacts the final Flood Insurance Rate Maps will have on flood insurance.

Another meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday in Kona at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

Last week in Hilo, the Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation advanced Bill 50, in order to amend the county code to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program.

From the description of the council bill:

Pursuant to a Letter of Final Determination, dated March 29, 2017, received by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawai‘i County is required to adopt or amend its floodplain management regulations to reflect changes in the revised Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) prior to September 29, 2017, the FIRM’s effective date. Non-compliance may subject the County to suspension from the NFIP, which would make flood insurance and certain types of Federal disaster assistance unavailable.

The councilmembers spent over 30 minutes discussing the FEMA program.