CONTACT: Brent Siemer
Floodplain Manager
(805) 583-6805

Simi Valley, Calif. – In a significant win for Simi Valley property owners, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has removed 1,903 properties, covering over 439 acres, from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). 

Effective October 22, 2024, this change means that many homeowners and businesses will no longer be required to carry flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages, providing substantial relief throughout the community. The update reflects a 20% decrease in properties previously classified as high-risk for flooding.

"This is a significant achievement for our community," said Mayor Fred Thomas. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Public Works Department in collaboration with FEMA, the floodplain maps have been updated, bringing relief to many local homeowners and businesses. This update reduces the financial strain for nearly 2,000 property owners and corrects maps that hadn’t been updated in over 30 years."

The remapped area primarily includes regions along the Arroyo Simi and Tapo Canyon Creek channels. Specific changes were made to flood hazard information in the following areas:

• Arroyo Simi Channel from upstream of First Street to downstream of Royal Avenue
• Dry Canyon Channel from its confluence at the Arroyo Simi to downstream of Cochran Street
• Erringer Drain from its confluence at the Arroyo Simi to downstream of Kearney Avenue
• Runkle Canyon Channel from its confluence at the Arroyo Simi to downstream of Arcane Street
• Tapo Canyon Creek Channel from the confluence at the Arroyo Simi to Walnut Avenue

While the remapping brings good news to many, it has also revealed previously unknown flooding risks for 53 properties, now included in the SFHA. However, the revision drastically reduces flood insurance costs for nearly 2,000 other homes and businesses in Simi Valley.

Even with these changes, the risk of flooding remains. FEMA reports that nearly 25% of flood damage claims come from properties outside the SFHA. Community members are encouraged to remain cautious and discuss flood insurance options with their agents.

For more information, contact the City of Simi Valley’s Floodplain Manager at (805) 583-6805. To see the revised mapping, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov and search for the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer by entering a street address in the website's search box.