Osceola County
Floodplain Program
Jennifer Nicholson, CFM
Picture credit: Osceola Historical Society
National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) through FEMA
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Act of 1968
Federal program to purchase flood
insurance
Over 20,000 communities participate
nationwide
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Flood Insurance Facts:
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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
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Flood Zones:
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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
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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”.
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Flood Map:
Low Risk Area – X zone
High Risk Area – A zone
High Risk Area
– AE Zone
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Flood Zone Definition
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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:
High risk and requires flood policy's with a
mortgage.
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•
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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
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Floodway:
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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…
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Helpful Documents:
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Floodplain Determination Letter
Aerial with floodplain overlay
Elevation Certificates
Letter of Map Revisions
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48% of Osceola County is zoned
in a High Risk Flood Zone.
All of the Orange is High Risk!
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How is the Risk Determined?
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A Flood study and maps made by FEMA
determine each areas risk percentage, which
places homes in a flood zone.
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Current maps were created in 2001. Changes are
here!
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Why new flood hazard maps?
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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:
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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
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Osceola County’s Changes:
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Over 10,000 properties affected
Flood zones changed
Base flood elevations determined and revised
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New Maps = New Challenges
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Building regulations
New floodway’s
Mandatory flood insurance
Flood elevation changes
Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and
Building Code
Real Estate
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FOR SALE IN FLOOD ZONE ?
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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
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Grandfathering Policy:
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Available if a property is going from low-risk to highrisk.
$aving$
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
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#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 $$$.
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#2 call we get ~
“Is my property in the floodplain and how can
you help me”
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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.
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Message:
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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.
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Buenaventura Lakes Area
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Pleasant Hill Road
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Boggy Creek Area
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Canoe Creek Road
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Sherwood Forest Area
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Flooding in 2011:
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Before the 2011 Rain Event:
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After the 2011 Rain Event:
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FEMA RATES US
Community Rating =
•
Reduces flood insurance premiums
by 15%
•
Flood policy direct savings
$350,000 annually
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How to get covered.
Calling an insurance agent
Or
Calling FEMA to obtain a
policy.
# 1-888-379-9531
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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
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