ATLANTA–Preliminary flood insurance rate maps for Sarasota County, Fla., can be reviewed at three public open houses during the week of January 19, 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 homeowners, business owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors, and insurance agents in Sarasota County and its municipalities with 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. Specialists will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, development permits and more. 

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

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Bayfront Community Center

803 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Venice Community Center

326 Nokomis Ave S, Venice, FL 34285

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Morgan Family Center

6207 W Price Blvd, North Port, FL 34291

Residents may also visit their local community’s office to view the maps in person, or call their local floodplain administrator with questions about where their property is located on the preliminary maps.

The new maps were produced through a partnership among Sarasota 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 and the latest science available have been applied to make the maps more accurate. The ultimate goal is to protect property owners and the community from the risks associated with flooding. Flood risks also change over time due to construction and development, environmental changes, floodplain widening or shifting, and other factors—which is why it’s important that maps are updated periodically.

Flood maps are being updated for communities across the country. This is a collaborative process, and FEMA works closely with local communities to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into the maps so that they better reflect the risk that communities face.

Sarasota County’s preliminary maps have not yet been officially adopted and will become effective after a public comment period. This period allows property owners to submit comments and appeals, if they can provide any better technical information about their property. Specialists will be available at the open houses to address questions that residents may have about this process. Once all comments are received and resolved, Sarasota County may adopt the maps.

By law, federally regulated or insured mortgage lenders require flood insurance on properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. People living outside of high-risk areas can also experience flooding, which is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. That’s why everyone, regardless of their flood zone, should take steps to protect themselves financially from a disaster which affects many communities each year. The primary way to do that is by purchasing flood insurance. It’s available at affordable rates through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a voluntary program administered by FEMA.

Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. NFIP policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agent who people already deal with for other property insurance needs. Visit www.floodsmart.gov  for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local insurance 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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