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Updated FEMA Flood Maps Will Take Effect Aug. 28

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough residents with homes built before June 18, 1980, can get reduced flood insurance rates if they hurry.

The latest county flood maps will become effective Aug. 28. The updated maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency show whether properties are in low-, moderate- or high-risk flood zones.

The federal government began providing flood maps for insurance purposes on June 18, 1980.

Houses built before that time are eligible to be grandfathered under pre-flood insurance map rates, which are slightly lower than regular flood insurance rates.

Owners of these older homes need to contact their insurance company before Aug. 28.

Residents can view the maps by going to Hillsboroughcounty.org. Click on Planning and Growth Management under the Department Quick Links, then click on Flood Map Update Project.

Properties can be searched by address or folio number. The maps include properties in the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.

Property owners in high-risk zones may be compelled to buy flood insurance by their mortgage holders. All federally backed mortgages in flood zones require flood insurance.

Residents who have paid off their mortgage should still get flood insurance if they live in a high-risk area, said Gene Henry, a manager in Planning and Growth Management.

"You have a one in 26 chance of your house flooding if you live in a high-risk zone," Henry said.

The county released the preliminary new flood maps in November 2006, and held nine public meetings and 18 open houses throughout the county to inform residents about the update and to let them review the maps. Property owners were able to dispute the changes if they had evidence the maps were incorrect.

The county received 2,100 protests; more than 2,000 were recommended to FEMA for approval.

Altogether, about 7,300 structures were added to flood hazard areas after the maps were redrawn.

FEMA and the county had originally proposed adding 18,267 parcels to the flood-prone areas, but that number was reduced by more than half after updated information was provided to the federal agency.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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