Article is extremely misleading. Galveston county did have their flood maps revised - in May 2012. The maps remain preliminary and have not been made effective (in essence become law). These flood maps are far more accurate as computer modeling and topo maps have improved significantly since 1983.
You can view the preliminary maps at this website for a more accurate determination of your flood risk in Galveston and many other counties:
Click on 'find your preliminary flood maps' - green box on left hand side.
Perhaps the biggest reason they haven't been made effective (the law) is that after preliminary maps are published, local municipalities and individuals are allowed to petition the maps. The new maps indicate 100-yr and 500-yr flood levels from storm surge (coastal flooding) are far worse (higher and further inland reaching) than the 1983 maps indicate. Just take a look at the City of Galveston and compare the two inundation zones for the 100-yr zones (anything zone 'A' or 'A?'). Furthermore, more of western portions of Galveston Island have been changed from an 'A' zone to a 'V' or 'VE' zone, indicating there will be high velocity waves greater than 3 ft. above the stillwater level.
This has a significant impact on new construction (law requires building above 100-yr flood level) and who is required by law to purchase insurance. Because many municipalities don't want to essentially stop all new construction within their areas, they have been doing everything they can to delay these maps becoming effective.