Flood Insurance Requirements Clarified for Elevated Homes at Community Meeting

St. Augustine residents are set to benefit from new flood mitigation measures following a recent workshop focused on elevating homes to reduce flood risk. During the meeting, officials emphasized the importance of obtaining accurate elevation readings before construction begins. This foundational step is crucial for ensuring that homes are elevated correctly and meet flood safety standards.

Homeowners were informed that even after elevating their properties, maintaining flood insurance is mandatory. An acknowledgment of conditions form will be recorded on the property deed, indicating that flood insurance must be upheld indefinitely. While elevating a home may potentially lower insurance premiums, the specifics of rate adjustments will depend on discussions between homeowners and their insurance providers, as current flood insurance rate determinations are under review.

The workshop also addressed the maximum elevation standards set by FEMA, which currently recommend raising homes at least two feet above base flood elevation. While there is ongoing dialogue with state officials about the possibility of elevating homes higher than this standard, no definitive changes have been established yet.

Participants in the workshop learned that they are not required to reapply for flood mitigation assistance annually. Those whose projects were previously selected for review will remain in the application pool, increasing their chances of approval in future funding cycles.

Additionally, the meeting clarified that two-story homes can also be elevated, with experienced contractors available to handle various types of structures, ensuring that more residents can take advantage of these flood mitigation efforts.

As St. Augustine moves forward with these initiatives, the community can look forward to enhanced safety measures that aim to protect homes from the increasing threat of flooding.