flood information
National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) FEMA makes federally guaranteed flood insurance available to property owners in communities that voluntarily adopt and enforce the NFIP’s flood plain management requirements. Flood insurance is available in over 18,000 communities throughout the country and in overseas territories.
The City of Altamonte Springs has adopted many of the practices recommended by the NFIP. As a result, Altamonte Springs homeowners are entitled to a discount on federal flood insurance.
Under the National Flood Insurance Act (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) federally supervised, approved, regulated or insured financial institutions must require flood insurances as a condition of making, increasing, extending or renewing loans on improved real estate property or mobile homes located in identified special flood hazard areas. This applies to conventional home mortgage loans, home improvement loans, construction loans, commercial loans, etc.
Federal flood insurance protects homes, businesses, and belongings from damage caused by flooding. It covers:
- Structural elements, including walls, floors, equipment and fixtures.
- Contents such as furniture, appliances and carpeting.
- Personal items like clothing, stereos and televisions.
Determination of a particular property’s coverage need is based on the most recent Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). In 2002, the city had a Letter of Map Revision approved by FEMA. This served to set specific flood elevations for certain areas within the city. This provides a higher level of accuracy when determining applicability to a specific property area. The FIRM is to be used as a reference only – individual lot determinations should be made only with the assistance of a registered land surveyor. To download a copy of the FIRM for this area, click here (CAUTION – this file is a large (~3.0 MB) PDF).
The following links provide useful information related to flood issues:
Property Protection Measures
- FEMA: Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damage.
- FEMA Protecting your home from future flood damage.
- FEMA: Protecting your property from flooding
- Red Cross: General disaster preparedness
- Institute for Business and Home Safety: Protecting from Water Damage.
Flood Safety
Flood Insurance
- FEMA: National flood insurance program: How it Works
- FEMA: Answers to Questions About the National Flood Insurance Program.
Post-Flood Recovery
- Red Cross: Repairing Your Flooded Home.
- FEMA: Recovering from & coping with flood damaged property.
- FEMA: What should I do after a flood?
FEMA FIRM Map Modernization
FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map Modernization
Preliminary DFIRM Panel Index
Use Of Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Data As Available Data, Floodplain Management Bulletin 1-98
For More Information, Contact:
Sharlene Abbott @ 407-571-8340
E-mail SMAbbott@altamonte.org
