Flood Insurance Information - City of St. Augustine Beach

Flood Insurance Information - City of St. Augustine Beach

City of St. Augustine Beach Building and Zoning Department
Flood Insurance Program
The City of St. Augustine Beach is a participant in the Community Rating System Program. We
are providing this information to citizens regarding the City of St. Augustine Beach flood zones
and our floodplain management efforts.
FLOOD HAZARD AREAS: You may be located in a flood zone. The map with this information
(final page of this document) will assist you in determining your floodplain. You may also obtain
more specific Information on the detailed maps which are on file at the Building and Zoning
Department office located at City Hall.
The 100-year floodplain is the area that will be flooded on the average of once every 100 years.
It has a 1% chance of being flooded In any given year, or approximately a 26% chance of being
flooded over the life of a 30-year mortgage Smaller floods have a greater chance of occurring in
any year and can still create a significant flood hazard.
FLOOD WARNINGS: The St. Johns County, Department of Emergency Management and the City
of St. Augustine Beach have established an Emergency Plan. The public is encouraged to review
these documents. The Public Information Team disseminates public service information during
emergencies to: Radio broadcasting on WKLN 1170/AM, WAOC 1520/AM, WSTF 97.9/FM, and
WSOS 105.5/FM; and Television broadcasting on Channel 12-WTLV, Channel 17-WJKS, and
Channel 4-WJXT. (Stations may change without notice)
FLOOD SAFETY: 1) Know the flood warning procedures. 2) Plan escape routes that follow signed
evacuation routes. 3) During times of heavy rainfall, monitor the level of water and stay tuned
to local radio or TV for possible flood warnings. 4) Evacuate the flood hazard area in times of
impending flood and have your electricity turned off. 5) Do not attempt to cross a flooding
stream or area on foot or by car. 6) If your car stalls in high water, abandon it Immediately and
seek higher ground. 7) Keep away from flood waters, ditches, culverts and storm drains, and
power lines. 8) Be especially cautious at night.
FLOOD INSURANCE: Your homeowner's insurance policy may not cover losses. Check with your
local insurance agent to find the best form of flood protection. The City of St. Augustine Beach
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes flood insurance available to
everyone in the City. Just because your house has not flooded in the recent past does not mean
that it will not happen. Information about flood insurance can be obtained from your insurance
agent. You do not have to live in the floodplain to qualify for flood insurance.
PROPERTY PROTECTION MEASURES: Structures with habitable areas below the required base
flood elevation are more prone to flood damage than homes which meet current FEMA
(Federal Emergency Management Agency) requirements.
Retrofitting structures can minimize flood damage. Floodproofing manuals and information on
retrofitting techniques are available at the Building and Zoning Department office and County
Library. Technical advice on construction techniques can be secured from the Building
Department at City Hall.
Emergency measures to minimize damage during a flood situation include removing furniture,
properly securing structures and glass, sandbagging and following proper evacuation
procedures.
FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REQUlREMENTS: All development, including additions and
repair work, in a floodplain needs an approved building permit prior to beginning construction.
The gross fIoor area of the structure if expanded by more than twenty-five (25) percent,
requires the addition be elevated above the base flood elevation.
A structure is substantially destroyed if the cost of reconstruction is fIfty (50) percent or more
of assessed value of the structure before the calamity. Contact the Building and Zoning
Department prior to building, repairing, filling or otherwise developing properties.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE: The Code of the City of St. Augustine Beach, Section 105(1), provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to deposit any refuse into any canal,
waterway, or lake within the City. Improper dumping can cause drainage systems to
malfunction, and increases the risk of flood damage to your property.
Natural and beneficial wetlands and dunes offer protection against flooding. Wetlands and
dunes protect properties from high tides due to northeasters, heavy rains and flooding.
The flood damage prevention regulations do not imply that land outside the areas of special
flood hazard or uses permitted within such areas will be free from flooding or flood damages.
FLOOD PROTECTION ASSISTANCE: The City and Building and Zoning Department will provide
information on required minimum floor elevations, data on historical flooding in the City and
other information relating to flood threats in the City. The Building Department can provide you
the names of City-Iicensed and registered consultants and information as to the legal recourse
should you be dissatisfied with a contractor's performance. Building Department staff will make
site visits to advise of appropriate protection measures for both new and existing buildings, and
can lend assistance in reviewing retrofitting plans of existing structures.
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