Do not wait to get flood insurance.
There is a 30-day waiting period before National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect.
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State law prohibits dumping anything into the storm drain system.
Neighbors should report illegal dumping into the stormwater system or clogged storm drains by calling the City of Fort Lauderdale
24-Hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000.
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The City responds to flood protection inquiries.
If you have a question regarding flood, sewer or drainage problems,
contact the City of Fort Lauderdale 24-Hour Customer
Service Center at 954-828-8000.
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General Information for our Fort Lauderdale Neighbors
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National Flood Insurance Program
The City of Fort Lauderdale voluntarily participates in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System to help residents and business owners purchase federally-backed flood insurance at a 20% discount.
Participation in the NFIP requires that the City provide residents with general flood information to raise awareness of local flood hazards and teach residents how to protect themselves and their property in the event of a flood in our area. Please review the information below and the links on the left for more information. Working together, we can make Fort Lauderdale a stronger and more resilient community.
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About the Local Flood Hazard
Although it has been a mild hurricane season to date, we do not need a major storm to experience flooding in Fort Lauderdale. We had tidal flooding in 2014, and high tides are expected again beginning Saturday.
Fort Lauderdale is located in a low, flat geographical area. The City encompasses 36 square miles and is surrounded by water, which makes it especially susceptible to flooding. The City's water bodies consist mainly of navigable waterways and sensitive drainage
basins, including the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, Middle River, C-13 East, C-12, and the New River Canal. In the event of a hurricane, tropical depression, rainstorm, high tide, storm surge or other natural disaster, these waterways can cause flooding.
A majority of the City's residents live in or close to a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), where flooding may occur. This means your property is in or near the SFHA, as mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and is prone to flooding. Click here to determine your flood zone.
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Upcoming Seasonal High Tides
Flooding in low-lying areas is more likely in the fall months, as the close proximity of the moon, high tides, rising sea levels and inclement weather conditions combine to exacerbate flooding risks.
Fort Lauderdale neighbors are advised to be especially vigilant during the months of October and November.
The location and natural geography of the City makes certain neighborhoods more susceptible to flooding from high tides and extreme rainfall. Fortunately, the City and the region are actively planning for events like these in the short term and for sea level rise concerns in the long term. The City has a robust stormwater master plan and is instituting both aggressive maintenance and innovative adaptation solutions such as tidal valves. Since 2011, more than 50 tidal valves have been installed in affected neighborhoods to reduce the impacts of high tides in those locations. Storm drains and catch basins are regularly cleaned and maintained to minimize potential flooding. In addition, the City has worked hard to earn points toward the Community Rating System resulting in a 20% discount for flood insurance premiums within the City.
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Stay Safe After A Flood
Flood insurance may help recover damages from flooding, but precautionary measures can be taken to minimize losses and protect your family and property.
Here are some of our top tips for before, during and after a flood.
BEFORE
- Know how to turn off your utilities
- Move valuable possessions to higher ground
DURING
- Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters
- Avoid power lines and electrical wires
AFTER
- Use caution when entering buildings
- Check for gas leaks
- Do not use wet appliances
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Know Your Flood Hazard
New FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) went into effect in August 2014. The new flood maps will help the City and our neighbors plan future development and be better prepared for flood-related disasters by providing an official depiction of local flood hazards.
There are several ways neighbors can determine the flood zone for their property:
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Get An Elevation Certificate
An elevation certificate will show the elevation of your property. There are several ways neighbors can find out if an Elevation Certificate is available for your property:
- Call the Department of Sustainable Development at 954-828-5281
- Send a written request to the Department of Sustainable Development, 700 N.W. 19th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, or
- File a request in person at the Property Records desk in the Department is Sustainable Development at the address above
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Insure Your Property
Homeowner and renter insurance policies usually do not cover flood damage. These policies typically only cover the building's structure, not the contents. As a result, the City of Fort Lauderdale encourages residents who rent or own property in an SFHA to
purchase flood insurance to protect their home and possessions against loss from flood damage.
Renters can obtain insurance to cover the contents of their home, even if the owner does not insure the structure.
Contact a licensed property insurance agent for more information about flood insurance or visit
www.fema.gov.
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Protect Your Property
Precautions you can take to protect your property from damage and reduce financial losses include:
- Regrading your lot (permit may be required)
- Fixing property drainage problems
- Constructing barriers, such as a floodwall to stop floodwater from entering the building
- Relocating electrical panel boxes, water heaters and washers and dryers to elevated locations
- Installing check valves to prevent floodwater from backing up in drains
- Installing storm shutters, impact windows, and a reinforced garage door
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Build Responsibly
The City of Fort Lauderdale has adopted development
regulations in flood zones to:
- Control the alteration of the natural floodplains
- Prevent or regulate the construction of flood barriers that will unnaturally divert flood waters or may increase flood hazards in other areas
- Restrict or prohibit uses that may result in increases in erosion, flood heights or velocities
- Control filling, grading, dredging, and other development in a flood zone that may increase flood damages.
The City currently regulates all development (not just
construction of buildings) within natural floodplains
through the plan review process, which requires building and/or engineering permits prior to construction, filling or otherwise altering a site's natural elevation.
Prior to starting any construction, residents or builders should contact the Department of Sustainable Development at 954-828-6520 to ask about required permits.
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Protect Natural Floodplain Functions
State law prohibits dumping anything into the storm drain system and unauthorized obstructions or alterations of the drainage features. Residents should report illegal dumping into the stormwater system or clogged storm drains by calling the City of Fort Lauderdale 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000.
As a reminder, neighbors can help protect our natural resources by keeping oil, grease, pesticides, or other pollutants out of our storm drains and local waterways.
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