Flooding on the Current and what flood maps show

Van Buren and much of the county’s homes sit close to the Current River. So flooding is a real planning concern, not a rare event. Property near the river can fall inside a mapped floodplain. A floodplain is land that is likely to flood. Being in one can affect building, insurance, and what a lender may require. The Current has caused serious floods before. If you are buying or own land here, do a few simple things. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for your exact address. Ask whether flood insurance is required or a good idea. And learn the county’s emergency-management plan for high water. FEMA publishes the flood maps. Missouri SEMA coordinates county emergency management and preparedness. The National Weather Service issues river-flood watches and warnings. None of these replace checking your specific parcel, since flood-zone lines follow the land, not the town line.