I am writing to you to share my concerns in our town of Ritzville and surrounding communities in the channeled scablands. The Federal Emergency Management Agency classifies us as in a “flood plain.” From where is this flood to come?

The closest streams to this area, Crab Creek and Cow Creek, are 18 miles away. Crab is 10 to 12 feet across with water about 1 foot deep. Cow Creek is 8 feet across and 1 foot deep in a typical year. This year it is dry.

The closest river, the Spokane, is 65 miles away. It runs into the Columbia, which is 80 miles away. Our rainfall is 7 to 9 inches per year in Ritzville.

Perhaps FEMA is classifying flood plains without all of these facts. This issue needs to be reviewed. Folks in our area should not be paying flood insurance when there is nil possibility of floods.

Anthony Burke

Ritzville