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

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through FEMA Act of 1968 Federal program to purchase flood insurance Over 20,000 communities participate nationwide The NFIP, created by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, is a Federal program based on an agreement between local communities and the Federal Government that states if a community will adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance to reduce flood risks in Special Flood Hazard Areas, the Federal Government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses. This insurance is designed to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods.

Flood Insurance Facts: Home owners insurance does not cover flood Flood Insurance is Federal Available to participating jurisdictions FEMA does not drop policy's Rates are set by FEMA Can be purchased through FEMA or FEMA agreements with private companies (WYO’s) Can be Mandatory

Flood Zones: A Flood Zone is an area established on the Flood Hazard Maps with a designated risk attached to it Everyone lives in a flood zone Flood zones in Osceola: A, AE, Floodway X and X shaded

How to read a Flood 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”.

Flood Map: Low Risk Area – X zone High Risk Area – A zone High Risk Area – AE Zone

Flood 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.

A , AE and Floodway: High risk and requires flood policy's with a mortgage. A – High risk no base flood elevation AE – High risk with a base flood elevation Floodway – Federally protected, high velocity of water and has a base flood elevation

Floodway: Considered to be a rather dangerous and no construction or fill is allowed in this area unless a variance is submitted . If a home is mapped in a floodway; residents can continue to live there. Restrictions in the floodway…

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

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

How is the Risk Determined? A Flood study and maps made by FEMA determine each areas risk percentage, which places homes in a flood zone. Current maps were created in 2001. Changes are here!

Why new flood hazard 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.

Timeline: 2001 - Current maps 2009 - FEMA began studying for new maps August 2011 - preliminary maps are released 2011- Outreach May 2011 - 40 protests are 1 appeal submitted to FEMA ??- Map adoption

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

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

FOR SALE IN FLOOD ZONE ? Affect on home sales? How do we find out what flood zone a property is in and what flood zone a property is proposed to be in? www.osceola.org/go/floodplain GIS Maps – FEMA Floodplain OR call the County What flood zone is this? LOW RISK

Grandfathering Policy: Available if a property is going from low-risk to high-risk. $aving$ Purchase flood voluntary pre-map adoption: Preferred Risk Policy = additional savings for the first 2 years Does not apply to all changes www.floodsmart.org

This may end up costing the client a lot more money $$$. #1 call we get~ “I am closing on my house today and I was told the house in the floodplain; can you help me, asap? “ Do not wait till closing to find out the property is in a floodplain and insurance will be required. This may end up costing the client a lot more money $$$.

#2 call we get ~ “Is my property in the floodplain and how can you help me” Good! We are happy to help any way we can although there is usually a fee for this. The County is the only repository for certain documents. We want to help.

Message: Stay informed and keep clients informed. Never use an inadequate data base. Use City, County or FEMA. There is usually more to the story. Find out flood info pre-closing date. Osceola floods, the risk is real.

Buenaventura Lakes Area

Pleasant Hill Road

Boggy Creek Area

Canoe Creek Road

Sherwood Forest Area

Flooding in 2011:

Before the 2011 Rain Event:

After the 2011 Rain Event:

Reduces flood insurance premiums by 15% FEMA RATES US Community Rating = Reduces flood insurance premiums by 15% Flood policy direct savings $350,000 annually

How to get covered. Calling an insurance agent Or Calling FEMA to obtain a policy. # 1-888-379-9531

Resources Osceola County Floodplain Coordinator: Jennifer Nicholson , CFM 407-742-8653 City of Kissimmee Floodplain Coordinator: Larry Clough, P.E. , CFM 407-518-2385 City of St. Cloud Floodplain Coordinator: Kevin Felblinger, P.E., CFM 407-957-7283 For more information on the Floodplain Program, please visit: www.osceola.org www.FEMA.gov www.floodsmart.gov