Osceola County Floodplain Program Jennifer Nicholson, CFM Picture credit: Osceola Historical Society

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through FEMA Act of 1968 Act of 1968 Federal program to purchase flood insurance Federal program to purchase flood insurance Agreement between Osceola & FEMA Agreement between Osceola & FEMA 2

 Home owners insurance does not cover flood  Flood insurance is federal  Available to participating jurisdictions  Rates are set by FEMA  Can be purchased through FEMA or FEMA agreements with private companies (WYO’s)  Can be mandatory 3 Flood Insurance Facts:

Flood Zones are areas established with a designated risk Flood Zones are areas established with a designated risk Everyone lives in a flood zone Everyone lives in a flood zone Osceola Zones: A, AE, Floodway X and X shaded Osceola Zones: A, AE, Floodway X and X shaded 4 Flood Zones :

Read a flood map? Low – and moderate Represented on the maps as “X” or “X” shaded High-risk Represented on the maps as “A”, “AE” or Floodway 5

6 High Risk - A High Risk - AE Low Risk – X FloodwayFloodway

Flood Zone Definition Low - moderate risk (X & X shaded) Potential for flooding Flood insurance is recommended but not required High-risk (A & AE) High potential for flooding Flood insurance may be required 7

High Ri$k? High risk requires a flood policy with a mortgage A – no base flood elevation (+$) A – no base flood elevation (+$) AE – base flood elevation (-$) AE – base flood elevation (-$) Floodway – federally protected, high velocity & has a base flood elevation (+$) Floodway – federally protected, high velocity & has a base flood elevation (+$) 8

Floodway: Considered to be a rather dangerous Considered to be a rather dangerous If a home is mapped in a floodway; residents can continue to live there If a home is mapped in a floodway; residents can continue to live there Restrictions in the floodway Restrictions in the floodway 9

Helpful Documents: Floodplain Determination Letter Floodplain Determination Letter Aerial with floodplain overlay Aerial with floodplain overlay Elevation Certificates Elevation Certificates Letter of Map Revisions Letter of Map Revisions 10

48% of Osceola County is zoned in a High Risk Flood Zone. 11 All of the Orange is High Risk!

How is the Risk Determined? A flood study & maps created by FEMA A flood study & maps created by FEMA Current maps were created in Changes are here. Current maps were created in Changes are here. 12

Why new flood hazard maps? Important tools to protect lives & properties Current maps are out of date Digital maps 13

Timeline: Current Current FEMA began studying FEMA began studying August preliminary maps released August preliminary maps released Outreach Outreach May protests &1 appeal submitted May protests &1 appeal submitted June 2013? - Map adoption June 2013? - Map adoption 14

Osceola County’s Changes: Over 10,000 properties affected Over 10,000 properties affected Flood zones changed Flood zones changed Base flood elevations determined & revised Base flood elevations determined & revised 15

New Maps = New Challenges Building regulations Building regulations New floodway’s New floodway’s Mandatory flood insurance Mandatory flood insurance Flood elevation changes Flood elevation changes Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and Building Code Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and Building Code Real Estate Real Estate 16

For Sale in a Floodplain?: Call # (407) Call # (407) LOW RISK What flood zone is this?

“I am closing on my house today and I was told the house in the floodplain; can you help me, asap? “ Do not wait till closing to find out the property is in a floodplain and insurance will be required. 18

Message: Stay informed & keep clients informed. Stay informed & keep clients informed. Never use an inadequate data base Never use an inadequate data base More information the better More information the better 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 19

Buenaventura Lakes Area 20

Pleasant Hill Road 21

Boggy Creek Area 22

Canoe Creek Road 23

Sherwood Forest Area 24

Flooding in 2011: 25

Before the 2011 Rain Event: 26

After the 2011 Rain Event: 27

28 FEMA RATES Osceola Community Rating Reduces flood insurance premiums by 15% Reduces flood insurance premiums by 15% Flood policy direct savings $350,000 annually Flood policy direct savings $350,000 annually Good news! Good news!

How to get covered. Calling an insurance agent or Calling FEMA to obtain a policy. #

Resources For more information on the Floodplain Program, please visit: Osceola County Floodplain Coordinator: Jennifer Nicholson, CFM City of Kissimmee Floodplain Coordinator: Larry Clough, P.E., CFM City of St. Cloud Floodplain Coordinator: Kevin Felblinger, P.E., CFM