Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) Success Stories

Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)

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The SWFWMD is a CTP working closely with Hernando County and the Board of County Commissioners on a multi-year project to re-examine flood zones throughout the county and develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps to replace the existing outdated maps. These mapping partners have been very proactive in creating outreach for this project. Together the partners drafted a press release, which explained the new maps and reminded residents and business owners of the importance of knowing their flood risk and understanding how these map revisions may affect their flood insurance requirements. As a result of the Flood Map Modernization Project, property owners will have newer, more reliable Internet-accessible information about their flood risk on a property-by-property basis. These maps will also allow community Flood Map Modernization planners, local officials, engineers, builders and others to make important determinations about where and how new structures and development should be built to maximize safety.

Following a review of the results of the new floodplain analysis, the SWFWMD and the County and are in agreement that specific changes in the model criteria are required to more accurately reflect conditions in two large areas of the county. These changes are currently under review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the model used to calculate the floodplain will be revised where appropriate. These changes, however, will delay the anticipated project completion date. The preliminary flood maps, which were originally anticipated to be released in the fall of 2006, are now expected to be released a year later. Several community meetings will be held at that time to provide the opportunity for property owners to review the new maps.

When the project is complete, all appeals resolved and the final flood maps adopted (anticipated in early 2008), new insurance requirements will take effect. In the meantime, information regarding this project is available on-line at Hernando County Proposed Flood Maps.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Jun-2008 07:20:28 EDT