The Federal Emergency Management Agency had planned to release their preliminary flood insurance rate maps for the two Lake Martin area counties this month but instead have delayed their release until late August.

The maps have been laced with controversy in recent months. When they were released for Elmore County in November, they raised questions about which homes were in the floodplains causing lenders to force several long-time homeowners to pay for flood insurance for the first time. Now, using more advanced technology provided by Alabama Power Company, officials will re-develop maps for Elmore County and develop maps for both Tallapoosa and Coosa Counties leaving some with the hope that the new maps will resolve the controversy.