After months of working to catch up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's floodplain requirements, Nelsonville officials are making progress toward bringing the city into full compliance.

The city has removed eight structures from its list of non-compliant buildings, narrowing the list from 21 to 13.

The reduction has improved the city's standing with FEMA, because Nelsonville has been in danger of losing its eligibility for federal flood insurance for several years.

Nelsonville is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, a plan that offers flood insurance to communities threatened by frequent flooding. Each structure in the city must meet certain regulations established by FEMA to remain in the program.

Since the 1970s, the city has not followed the agency's requirements for building above the floodplain, updating it's flood ordinance and maintaining accurate records for new construction projects. Several structures in the city, as a result, have been labeled non-compliant with FEMA regulations.

The city has been trying to improve its track record by bringing its older structures up to code and enforcing FEMA's rules.

"(FEMA) has a list of 21 businesses and residences that are either new additions or new buildings that are non-compliant. We have dropped eight off the list so far," City Manager Mark Fiorello said.

Although FEMA representatives have been ordering Nelsonville officials to correct the floodplain violations since 1989, nothing has been accomplished until this year.

"We were in jeopardy of being thrown out of the program if we didn't update and enforce the rules. Basically, we could have lost our insurance," Fiorello said.

Christopher Thoms, certified floodplain manager and environmental specialist of FEMA, said his agency is willing to help Nelsonville if the city's officials are continuously working on the problem.

"If the community is trying, then everyone is going to help them," he said. "But if they are consistently not complying, or making an effort to comply, then we will go into the community (and) investigate the causes. If we find a flaw, we will work to correct the flaw made."

If Nelsonville fails to meet these regulations, building owners would not receive federally secured loans if a flood occurs.

Moreover, if owners lose their FEMA insurance, they will have to pay a large increase for private flood insurance, Thoms said.

Fiorello said that the city is enforcing the floodplain requirements in all it's new structures and is working to update other structures for compliance.

Nelsonville's next step will be to meet with the remaining residents who own non-compliant structures.

"They'll be told what needs to be done, and if they want, they can go to the board of zoning appeals to ask for variances," said Councilman Bill Wend.