Flood Map Changes

FEMA Proposes Changes to Flood Maps to affect El Portal and Miami Dade County.

The FEMA Region IV project team anticipated issuing preliminary maps for the Miami-Dade County Coastal Physical Map Revision (PMR) in December 2019.  However, around that same time, the project team learned that the Miami-Dade County Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) was submitting updated hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and floodplain mapping data for the C-8 and C-9 canal basins.

The Miami-Dade County Coastal PMR was put on hold until the Miami-Dade CTP data could be incorporated.  The data has now been incorporated and was issued February 26, 2021.  Digital data can be downloaded using the link below.

https://we.tl/t-EQ95wf8uWS

In addition to the updated FEMA coastal study and the C-8 and C-9 basin leverage data, the Physical Map Revision also included a datum conversion from NGVD-29 (displayed on the Miami-Dade County effective maps) to NAVD-88 (displayed on the Miami-Dade County preliminary maps).  As a result, every printed Flood Insurance Rate Map in Miami-Dade County was updated as part of this study.

The next step will be scheduling a Consultation Coordination Officer (CCO) Meeting in the coming weeks with key stakeholders.  This meeting will outline all of the regulatory steps needed to move this project from preliminary to effective.  This meeting will be virtual due to the impacts of COVID-19.  After the CCO Meeting has been held we will begin the steps necessary to start the 90-day appeal and comment period for the Miami-Dade County Coastal PMR.  Please note the appeal period will not begin until Summer 2021 at the earliest.

If you have any questions or comments about the data, please let me know.

The National Flood Insurance Program’s “Flood Insurance Manual” is now available at FEMA.gov. The update is effective April 1.

The Flood Insurance Manual incorporates the minimal program changes announced in October 2020 and the effective April 1 changes. Updates include:

• The list of eligibility requirements to the Community Rating System.
• The premium rates for policies written or renewed by April 1.
• The severe repetitive loss premium and reserve fund assessment percentages for policies written or renewed on or after April 1.

Two additional updates will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2022:

• Base premiums for preferred risk policies and newly mapped rated policies written or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2022.
• Premium multiplier tables for policies rated under the newly mapped procedure written or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2022.

The April 2021 edition also replaces outdated content, clarifies guidance and replaces physical mailing addresses with email addresses. The manual does not change flood insurance coverage or supersede the terms and conditions of the standard flood insurance policy.