Osceola CountyOsceola CountyFloodplain ProgramFloodplain Program

Jennifer Nicholson, CFM

Picture credit: Osceola Historical Society

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NNational ational FFlood lood IInsurance nsurance PProgram (rogram (NFIPNFIP) through FEMA) through FEMA

Act of 1968 Act of 1968 Federal program to purchase Federal program to purchase

flood insuranceflood insurance Over 20,000 communities Over 20,000 communities

participate nationwideparticipate nationwide

Home owners insurance Home owners insurance does notdoes not cover floodcover flood

Flood Insurance is FederalFlood Insurance is Federal Available to participating jurisdictions Available to participating jurisdictions FEMA FEMA does not does not drop policy'sdrop policy's Rates are set by FEMARates are set by FEMA Can be purchased through FEMA or Can be purchased through FEMA or

FEMA agreements with private FEMA agreements with private companies (WYO’s)companies (WYO’s)

Can be MandatoryCan be Mandatory 3

Flood Insurance Facts:

A Flood Zone is an area established A Flood Zone is an area established on the Flood Hazard Maps with a on the Flood Hazard Maps with a designated risk attached to it designated risk attached to it

Everyone lives in a flood zoneEveryone lives in a flood zone Flood zones in Osceola: A, AE, Flood zones in Osceola: A, AE,

Floodway X and X shadedFloodway X and X shaded

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Flood Zones:

How to read a Flood How to read a Flood Map?Map?

Low – and moderate risk zones are represented on the maps by the letter “X” or an “X” that is shaded.

The high-risk zones will be labeled with designations such as “A” or “AE”.

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Flood Map:Flood Map:

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High Risk Area – A High Risk Area – A zonezone

High Risk Area – A High Risk Area – A zonezone

High Risk High Risk Area – AE Area – AE

ZoneZone

High Risk High Risk Area – AE Area – AE

ZoneZone

Low Risk Area – X Low Risk Area – X zonezone

Low Risk Area – X Low Risk Area – X zonezone

Flood Zone DefinitionFlood Zone Definition

The low- and moderate-risk has the potential for flooding and flood insurance is recommended but not required .

The high-risk zones has high potential of flooding and flood insurance may be required.

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A , AE and Floodway:A , AE and Floodway:

High risk and requires flood policy's High risk and requires flood policy's with a mortgage.with a mortgage.

•AA – High risk no base flood elevation – High risk no base flood elevation•AEAE – High risk with a base flood – High risk with a base flood elevationelevation•Floodway Floodway – Federally protected, high– Federally protected, high velocity of water and has a base flood velocity of water and has a base flood elevation elevation

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Floodway:Floodway: Considered to be a rather dangerous and Considered to be a rather dangerous and

no construction or fill is allowed in this no construction or fill is allowed in this area unless a variance is submitted .area unless a variance is submitted .

If a home is mapped in a floodway; If a home is mapped in a floodway; residents can continue to live there. residents can continue to live there.

Restrictions in the floodway…Restrictions in the floodway…

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Helpful Documents: Helpful Documents:

Floodplain Determination Letter Floodplain Determination Letter Aerial with floodplain overlay Aerial with floodplain overlay Elevation CertificatesElevation Certificates Letter of Map Revisions Letter of Map Revisions

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48% of Osceola County is 48% of Osceola County is zoned in a High Risk zoned in a High Risk

Flood Zone.Flood Zone.

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All of the Orange is High Risk!All of the Orange is High Risk!

How is the Risk How is the Risk Determined?Determined? A Flood study and maps made by A Flood study and maps made by

FEMA determine each areas risk FEMA determine each areas risk percentage, which places homes in a percentage, which places homes in a flood zone.flood zone.

Current maps were created in 2001. Current maps were created in 2001. Changes are here! Changes are here!

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Why new flood hazard Why new flood hazard maps? maps?

Important tools in the effort to protect lives and properties.

Current maps out of date. New technology will provide more

detailed and reliable information. Digital maps.

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Timeline:Timeline: 20012001 - Current maps - Current maps 20092009 - FEMA began studying for new - FEMA began studying for new

mapsmaps August 2011 August 2011 - preliminary maps are - preliminary maps are

releasedreleased 20112011- Outreach- Outreach May 2011 May 2011 - 40 protests are 1 appeal - 40 protests are 1 appeal

submitted to FEMAsubmitted to FEMA ????- Map adoption- Map adoption

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Osceola County’s Osceola County’s Changes: Changes:

Over 10,000 properties affectedOver 10,000 properties affected Flood zones changedFlood zones changed Base flood elevations determined and Base flood elevations determined and

revisedrevised

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New Maps = New New Maps = New ChallengesChallenges

Building regulations Building regulations New floodway’sNew floodway’s Mandatory flood insurance Mandatory flood insurance Flood elevation changes Flood elevation changes Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance

and Building Codeand Building Code Real Estate Real Estate

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FOR SALE IN FLOOD FOR SALE IN FLOOD ZONE ?ZONE ?

Affect on home sales?Affect on home sales? How do we find out what flood zone How do we find out what flood zone

a property is in and what flood zone a property is in and what flood zone a property is proposed to be in? a property is proposed to be in?

www.osceola.org/go/floodplain GIS GIS Maps – FEMA Floodplain OR call the Maps – FEMA Floodplain OR call the CountyCounty

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LOW RISK

What flood

zone is this?

Grandfathering Policy:Grandfathering Policy:

Available if a property is going from low-Available if a property is going from low-risk to high-risk. risk to high-risk.

$aving$ $aving$ Purchase flood voluntary pre-map Purchase flood voluntary pre-map

adoption: Preferred Risk Policy = adoption: Preferred Risk Policy = additional savings for the first 2 years additional savings for the first 2 years

Does not apply to all changesDoes not apply to all changes

www.floodsmart.org 18

#1 call we get~#1 call we get~

““I am closing on my house today I am closing on my house today and I was told the house in the and I was told the house in the

floodplain; can you help me, asap? floodplain; can you help me, asap? ““

Do not wait till closing to find out Do not wait till closing to find out the property is in a floodplain and the property is in a floodplain and

insurance will be required.insurance will be required.

This may end up costing the client This may end up costing the client a lot more money $$$.a lot more money $$$.

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#2 call we get ~ #2 call we get ~ “Is my property in the floodplain “Is my property in the floodplain

and how can you help me”and how can you help me”

Good!Good! We are happy to help any way we We are happy to help any way we

can although there is usually a fee can although there is usually a fee for this.for this.

The County is the only repository for The County is the only repository for certain documents. We want to help. certain documents. We want to help.

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Message:Message: Stay informed and keep clients Stay informed and keep clients

informed.informed. Never use an inadequate data base. Never use an inadequate data base.

Use City, County or FEMA. Use City, County or FEMA. There is usually more to the story. There is usually more to the story. Find out flood info pre-closing date.Find out flood info pre-closing date. Osceola floods, the risk is real.Osceola floods, the risk is real.

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Buenaventura Lakes Buenaventura Lakes AreaArea

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Pleasant Hill RoadPleasant Hill Road

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Boggy Creek AreaBoggy Creek Area

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Canoe Creek RoadCanoe Creek Road

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Sherwood Forest AreaSherwood Forest Area

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Flooding in 2011:Flooding in 2011:

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Before the 2011 Rain Before the 2011 Rain Event:Event:

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After the 2011 Rain After the 2011 Rain Event:Event:

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FEMA RATES USFEMA RATES US

Community Rating =Community Rating =• Reduces flood insurance Reduces flood insurance premiums by 15%premiums by 15%

• Flood policy direct savings Flood policy direct savings $350,000 annually $350,000 annually

How to get How to get covered.covered.

Calling an insurance agent Calling an insurance agent

OrOr

Calling FEMA to obtain a Calling FEMA to obtain a policy.policy.

# 1-888-379-9531# 1-888-379-9531

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ResourcesResources

For more information on the Floodplain Program, please visit:For more information on the Floodplain Program, please visit:www.osceola.orgwww.FEMA.gov

www.floodsmart.gov

Osceola County Floodplain Coordinator:Osceola County Floodplain Coordinator:Jennifer Nicholson , CFMJennifer Nicholson , CFM

407-742-8653407-742-8653

City of Kissimmee Floodplain City of Kissimmee Floodplain Coordinator:Coordinator:

Larry Clough, P.E. , CFMLarry Clough, P.E. , CFM407-518-2385

City of St. Cloud Floodplain Coordinator:City of St. Cloud Floodplain Coordinator:Kevin Felblinger, P.E., CFMKevin Felblinger, P.E., CFM

407-957-7283407-957-7283