Florida Keys Flood Plan Management

Florida Keys Flood Plan is under review.

Recently we shared with you the new ordinance that was adopted that effected downstairs enclosures here in the Florida Keys.  The new ordinance caused a lot of commotion in the community and as a result the Monroe County Commissioners held a workshop to discuss various aspects of the ordinance.

Here’s what happened at the Monroe County Floodplain Management Workshop.

1. Discussion of the change of the Flood Insurance Rate Map effective date from Jan. 1, 1975 to June 15, 1973.  This change would effectively change the status of those homes to pre-FIRM which would have significant impact on rebuilding and on insurance premiums for those homes going forward.  The county stated we joined the NFIP (national flood insurance program) in June of 1973 and we should have been using that date all along.  Commissioner are asking to go back to FEMA to see if we can keep the Jan. 1, 1975 date since that is what we have been using all this time.

2.  Limited construction materials of enclosures below flood in VE and Coastal A Zones to screen or open lattice walls –  Commissioners will be asking to amend this to continue to have break away walls and vents.

3.  Monroe County Remedial Plan limiting enclosures to 299.  This was enacted to help Monroe county come into compliance and be in good standing with NFIP.  Commissioners are asking that this be removed and that people be able to enclose more space under their homes.

4.  Transfer of Ownership Inspection Program.  Again this was part of the requirement to help remedy Monroe County Standing with the NFIP.  Inspections are on hold at this time.  The public and the commissioner thought that this was an over reach of the government.  Commissioners ask if this could be removed.

Monroe County will be going back to FEMA to address the above concerns to see what they can work out.  The county stated they will be giving us an update as to when that is and the outcome.  However, please note that the changes mentioned above may not happen swiftly, and some of the desired modifications may be affected by the Remedial plan.