GOING INTO SFHA
Date 
Name 
Street 
City, State, Zip 
RE: Parcel Number 
Dear Property Owner: 
Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster in Hillsborough County. The risk 
for flooding changes over time due to erosion, land use, weather events and 
other factors. The likelihood of inland, riverine and coastal flooding in the County 
has also changed along with these factors. The risk for flooding can vary within 
the same neighborhood and even property to property. Knowing your flood risk 
is the first step to flood protection. 
A multi-year project to re-examine Hillsborough County’s flood zones and 
develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps has been completed. Just released 
for public review, the new maps --also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps 
(FIRMs) --reflect current flood risks, replacing maps that are up to 25 years old. 
As a result, you and other property owners throughout the county will have up-to-
date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about your flood risk, on a property-
by-property basis. 
How will these changes affect you? 
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the parcel identified at the top of 
this letter has been mapped into a higher risk zone, known as a Special Flood 
Hazard Area (SFHA), and shown as “A”, “AE” or “VE” on the FIRM. If you have a 
mortgage from a federally-regulated lender and the buildings on this parcel are 
within the SFHA, then by federal law, your lender must require you to carry flood 
insurance when these flood maps become effective. Flood insurance is available 
through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federally underwritten 
program provided by nearly 100 insurance companies and written through 
licensed insurance agents. Contact your insurance agent to learn about lowercost 
“grandfathering” options offered by the NFIP for properties being mapped 
into higher-risk areas for the first time. 
If you do not have a mortgage, it is still recommended that you purchase flood 
insurance. Over the life of a 30-year loan, there is about a three times greater 
chance of having a flood in your home than having a fire.* And most 
homeowners insurance policies do not provide coverage for damage due to 
flooding. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood 
Insurance Program’s website, www.floodsmart.gov. 
*FEMA – 2005 Statistic 
Map Change-Ltr Into SFHA-Hillsborough.doc 

The new maps help promote public safety. 
These flood hazard maps are important tools used in the effort to protect lives 
and properties in Hillsborough County. By showing the extent to which areas of 
the County and individual properties are at risk for flooding, the flood maps help 
business owners and residents make more informed decisions about personal 
safety and financially protecting their property. These maps also allow 
community planners, local officials, engineers, builders and others to make 
important determinations about where and how new structures and 
developments should be built. 
If you feel there has been an error, you can file a protest or appeal. 
Starting December 1, 2005 and running through February 28, 2006 there will be 
a Public Comment Period. This is a time when citizens will have the opportunity 
to submit technical and/or scientific data to file a protest regarding their individual 
property, or an appeal regarding the accuracy of the mapping process in general. 
To learn more about protests and appeals, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org, and 
click on the “Mapping the Risk” link. 
When Do the Maps Become Effective? 
The maps that were just released are still known as preliminary. Once the 
County finishes reviewing any appeals and protests and once whatever changes 
needing to be made are incorporated, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final 
Determination. Six months later, an ordinance approving the County’s new 
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map will be adopted. The maps will become 
effective, as will any new flood insurance requirements. However, please be 
aware that starting immediately these flood hazard maps will be used in helping 
to determine requirements for construction and development. 
Here’s where to go for more information. 
County agencies will be holding community meetings throughout the County in 
late October and November. County staff also will be available to assist 
residents one-on-one and provide information at select libraries throughout 
November. You may also stay up-to-date and look up this parcel on the new map 
by visiting www.hillsboroughcounty.org and clicking on the “Mapping the Risk” 
link. Additionally, you can contact the Hillsborough County Citizen Action Center 
(813-272-5900; 7am – 11pm, 7 days a week) for general information about the 
flood map modernization project. A brochure is enclosed with this letter to 
provide more information about this project and how it will affect the community. 
This flood map modernization project is a joint effort between Hillsborough 
County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with 
association and private sector partners. 
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