New Flood Maps for Hillsborough County’s Coastal Areas

Hillsborough County is part of a multi-year process led by FEMA to update coastal flood maps. The coastal flood risks shown on today’s flood maps are based on obsolete data and technology more than 30 years old. This map revision more accurately reflects today’s flood risks. As a result, property owners along the coast of Hillsborough County will have up to date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about their flood risk. Impacted residents, especially those with homes built before June 18, 1980, are urged to buy or renew flood insurance before late Summer/Fall 2021. For more information about the coastal remapping effort, visit HCFLGov.net/FloodMaps

FEMA Public Comment Period is Closed

FEMA’s 90-Day Appeal Period, where business owners and residents could review the updated maps and provide feedback, ended on January 23, 2020. Submitted written appeals and comments were consolidated by Hillsborough County and provided to FEMA for consideration. FEMA will finish addressing any appeals and comments and then issue a Letter of Final Determination (estimated for Spring 2021).  Once issued, the County has six months to pass an ordinance which adopts the maps before they become effective. Once they are effective, new flood insurance and building requirements will then become effective.

Revised Maps Better Reflect Flood Risks

FEMA’s map revision more accurately reflects today’s flood risks, which will:

• Provide property owners along the coast of Hillsborough County with up-to-date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about their risk of storm surge-driven coastal flooding
• Help residents and business owners make more informed decisions about protecting their property and financial stability
• Allow community planners, local officials, engineers, builders, and others to make important determinations about where and how new structures and developments should be built

What to Expect

• Expect changes to loan requirements and flood insurance costs in areas where updates occur. Some residents and business owners will find that their flood risk has increased, while others it may actually have been reduced. The NFIP has insurance cost-saving rating options to help reduce financial impacts. Property owners should contact their insurance agent to determine what the best option and coverage is for them.
• Revised flood maps will guide Hillsborough County’s planning decisions and development requirements resulting in a more resilient county.
• New FIRMs become effective in 2021, though the County will keep the public and stakeholders informed throughout process.