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Flood Map Updates
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Why are we
getting new flood risk maps?
- The new maps are part of a
nationwide effort by FEMA to replace paper maps with a
digital product.
- Our current FEMA produced flood
risk maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs),
are out of date and some over 20 years old.
- The maps currently used no longer
reflect surface water flows and drainage patterns
changed by erosion and land use.
- The likelihood of flooding in
certain areas of our area has changed since the
paper maps were produced
New digital maps will provide more
reliable and current information on Sarasota County area
flood hazards. The result is a better picture of the
areas most likely to be impacted by rainfall flooding
and a better foundation from which to make key
decisions.
- Up-to-date maps will help
determine actual risk to encourage wise
community-based floodplain management and improve
citizens’ flood hazard awareness.
Who is responsible for modernizing the maps?
The Sarasota County flood map update project is a
joint effort with Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with Southwest Florida
Water Management District and the cities of North
Port, Sarasota, Venice, and a portion of the Town of
Longboat Key.
What is a Flood
Risk Map?
- Flood risk maps,
adopted by FEMA, are also called Flood Insurance
Rate Maps or “FIRMs” and are used to determine
the flood risk to your home or business.
These maps are also utilized to impose federal,
state and/or local regulations.
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What are the benefits of the new flood
hazard maps?
- Digitized access
to flood risks. The production of paper
maps was discontinued by FEMA on October
1, 2009.
- Updating and
sharing community information on a
digital map will be substantially a more
efficient process than what is currently
in place.
- The digital map
will have a greater degree of accuracy
in order to make better financial
decision about protecting property.
- Community
planners and local officials will have a
greater understanding of the flood
hazards and improve local planning
activities.
- Builders and
developers will have more detailed
information to design and construct for
the local flood hazard areas.
- Insurance
companies and lending institutions will
have easy online access to updates and
upcoming changes in order to serve their
customers and community more
efficiently.
What is a floodplain?
- A floodplain
is any area of land subject to to a
one percent annual chance of being
inundated by flood from any source.
How do I know if my property is
in a floodplain and subject to
flooding?
- Your property
insurance agent can assist you with this
information.
- Your community
zoning/planning staff can assist you
with this information.
- The local library
- Go on-line to
www.msc.fema.gov
What is the 100-year flood?
The term 100-year flood is used
to describe high-risk flood
zones. A high-risk flood zone is
an area of land that has a 1
percent chance of flooding in
any year. This does not mean a
flood that happens once every
100 years.
- The
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)
use the 100-year flood event
as a measure.
- In
Sarasota County, this
measurement is equivalent to
10 inches of rainfall in a
24-hour period.
-
According to national
statistics, you have a 25
percent chance of flooding
and a 4 percent chance of a
fire in a 30-year time
period.
How will the new flood maps affect me?
Many properties will
experience no changes to
their risk at this time.
However, when we have the
specific data sometime near
the end of May 2010 on the
preliminary flood map, you
will be notified if your
risk is changing either by a
letter or postcard, or at a
public meeting. SWFWMD has
also made provisions to have
the public notified and
invited to public meetings
even before a draft FEMA map
is produced for areas that
have been restudied. See
Announcements and Public
Meetings
for those announcements
beginning in December 2009.
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My property has never
flooded before. Why am I
in a high-risk flood
zone?
Anywhere it can rain, it
can flood. If you live
on relatively high
ground or in an area
that has never been
flooded, you may still
be at some level of
risk. Everyone lives in
a flood zone.
-
Flood zones indicate
areas of low,
moderate and high
risk. In low- and
moderate-risk zones,
flooding can still
occur.
-
The risk may be
reduced, but it
is never
removed.
Flooding can be
caused by heavy
rains, inadequate
drainage systems,
failed flood control
structures such as
levees and dams, as
well as tropical
storms and
hurricanes. It is
important to
understand the flood
risks you face
before deciding
whether to purchase
flood insurance. The
fact that a flood
has not occurred in
recent years does
not mean that a
flood will not
happen in the
future.
How might the new
flood maps affect me
financially?
-
When the new maps
are officially
adopted sometime
in 2011, and if your
structure is
mapped into a
high-risk area,
and you have a
mortgage with a
federally-regulated
lender, you will
be required to
purchase flood
insurance. Talk
to your
insurance agent
about
"grandfathering".
-
If your property
is mapped into a
low-or
moderate-risk
area, you are
not required to
purchase or
maintain
insurance, but
are strongly
encouraged to do
so.
-
The cost of
properly
protecting your
home and
contents with
flood insurance is
far less
expensive than
the cost to
repair or
replace it after
a flood has
occurred. Visit
www.floodsmart.gov
to calculate the
flood risk and
your premium.
-
Talk to your
insurance agent
to determine the
appropriate
level of
protection you
need and the
money savings
options that are
available.
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What is the
“Grandfathering
Rule” and
how can it
help me?
The National
Flood
Insurance
Program (NFIP)
has provided
“grandfathering”
rules to
recognize
policyholders
who have
built in
compliance
with the
flood map in
place at the
time of
construction
or who have
maintained
continuous
flood
insurance
coverage.
These rules
allow such
policyholders
to benefit
in the
premium
rating for
their
building.
For more
information,
contact your
insurance
agent.
Flood Insurance and the Grandfathering Rule
(587KB)
Insurance
Agent
Training
(10.8 MB)
!NEW!
What if my
home or
business is
mapped into
a high-risk
area but I
believe the
designation
is in error?
-
Public
comments
are
encouraged
during
the data
collection
period
at the
public
meetings.
If you
are
unable
to
attend a
meeting
and have
a
comment
or
concern,
SWFWMD
has
provided
for a
hotline
352-796-7211
ext.
4297.
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Flood
risks are
based on
the best
data
available
to
engineers
and
local
officials
at the
time a
community
is
surveyed
and
assessed.
-
Every
effort
is made
to
ensure
that the
maps
reflect
the most
accurate
and
reliable
information
about
the
flood
risk for
all
properties.
With
that
said,
you may
have
more
accurate
data
about
your
property.
-
When new
draft
maps are
released
to the
public,
a 90-Day
Appeal
and
Protest
period
begins.
-
During
this
period,
citizens
will
have
the
opportunity
to
submit
technical
and/or
scientific
data
to
support
a
claim
that
their
property
has
been
improperly
placed
in a
high-risk
area.
-
If
you
have
better
information,
such
as
an
elevation
certificate,
topographic
map
or
detailed
hydraulic
or
hydrologic
data,
then
you
may
appeal
the
flood
risk
indicated
by
the
new
maps.
More
details
on this
process
will be
available
once the
draft
maps are
produced
(May 31,
2010*).
*subject
to
change
When
will the
new maps
become
effective?
-
Effective,
adopted
maps
are
projected
for
June
16,
2011.
We
anticipate
a
draft
digital
map
some
time
in
spring/summer
of
2009
and
are
working
on
opportunities
for
the
public
access
to
those
draft
maps
and
trained
staff
to
help
review
them.
Availability
of
information,
staff
and
updates
will
be
advertised
and
made
known
through
community
partners
and
stakeholders
as
well
as
online
on
this
Web
site.
What
does
redelineation
mean?
The
term
redelineation
in
the
flood
map
update
process
refers
to
the
placement
of
boundary
lines
and
zones
on
the
new
aerials
topography.
This
map
provides
for
a
more
accurate
placement
of
identifying
the
flood
risk
categories
as
high,
moderate
and
low. Redelineation
also
implies
that
no
new
studies
have
been
conducted
to
influence
the
flood
prone
areas.
For
example,
to
date
the
Coastal
areas
have
not
been
restudied,
however
a
more
accurate
line
placement
of
risk
may
change
the
flood
zone
designation.
The
current
paper
FIRMs
had
a
250
foot
margin
of
error,
while
the
new
digital
capability
reduces
that
margin
of
error
to
25
foot.
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