Residents Invited to Attend Public Flood Risk Open Houses

Members of the public can drop in to review new preliminary floodplain maps and learn about flood risks in their communities.

Residents are invited to attend an upcoming Public Flood Risk Open House to learn about their flood risk, view the newly updated preliminary flood insurance rate maps and find out how the information may impact their property.

At the Flood Risk Open House events, a variety of specialists will be available to answer questions about flood insurance, engineering, and more. All Monroe County residents — including home and business owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors, and insurance agents — are encouraged to attend a Flood Risk Information Open House. There will be four open houses held throughout the county, the first of which is in Key West.

Monday, January 27	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.Key West City Hall1300 White StreetKey West, FL 33040
Tuesday, January 28	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Bernstein Park Community Room6751 5th StreetStock Island, FL 33040	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.Big Pine Park Community Room31009 Atlantis DriveBig Pine Key, FL 33043
Wednesday, January 29	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.Marathon City Hall9805 Overseas HighwayMarathon, FL, 33050
Thursday, January 30	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Islamorada Community Center at Founders Park87000 Overseas HighwayIslamorada, FL 33036	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.Nelson Government Center: B.O.C.C. Chambers102050 Overseas HighwayKey Largo,  FL  33070

No appointment is necessary but residents planning to attend should bring their elevation certificates, if possible.

The new preliminary rate maps was developed through a partnership between Monroe County, local municipalities, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The preliminary rate map is based on updated modeling and data and shows more precise flood hazard information than older maps. The new maps aim to help protect property owners and communities from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplains widening or shifting, and other factors. Flood insurance rate maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on buildings that are in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any State-licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

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