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Fort Lauderdale floodplain manager: new FEMA maps put 63.7% of city in high-risk flood zone
Summary
Fort Lauderdale's floodplain manager told the Infrastructure Task Force that FEMA's remapping, effective July 31, 2024, expanded the city's special flood hazard area to about 14,800 acres and raised the share of the city in a high-risk zone to roughly 63.7%, adding about 13,853 structures; members discussed insurance implications, a consultant-funded CRS strategy in a budget amendment, and next steps for appeals and resident outreach.
Mark Haggerty, Fort Lauderdale's floodplain manager, told the Infrastructure Task Force that FEMA's remapping, effective July 31, 2024, increased the city's special flood hazard area from about 11,311 acres in 2014 to roughly 14,800 acres, placing about 63.7% of the city in a high-risk flood zone and bringing roughly 13,853 structures into the special flood hazard area.
Haggerty said the maps are part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) process that typically revises flood insurance rate maps every 10 years. He said the remap affects development standards, mortgage-related flood insurance requirements and eligibility for federal grants and disaster assistance. He also described the Community Rating System (CRS), noting Fort Lauderdale is currently a class 7 community (about a 15% insurance premium discount) and city staff aim to use a consultant to pursue improvements that could raise the discount to class 5 (25%) or higher.
Why it matters: being in the NFIP preserves access to federal infrastructure grants and post-disaster aid;…
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