ATLANTA– Newly revised digital flood insurance rate maps for Polk County, Fla. will be available for residents to review at three public open houses during the week of May 11, 2015. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements.

The open houses provide residents of Polk County and its municipalities the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. 

The open houses will be held between 4 and 7 p.m. The open house dates and locations are:

May 12, 2015

Polk Street Community Center

1255 Polk St.

Bartow, FL 33830

May 13, 2015

City of Lakeland, Magnolia Building

698 E. Orange St.

Lakeland, FL 33801

May 14, 2015

Winter Haven Chain O’ Lakes Complex, Pool Room, South Entrance

210 Cypress Gardens Blvd.

Winter Haven, FL 33880

The new maps were produced through a partnership with Polk County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They are more precise than older maps because better flood hazard and risk data make the maps more accurate. The ultimate goal is to protect property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Over time, flood risks change due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting and other factors. Flood maps are updated periodically to reflect these changes.

Home and business owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house. All who attend can meet with specialists to ask questions and learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their communities. 

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies typically don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. Flood insurance policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov  for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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