Know Your Flood Hazard

Because the Village of Palmetto Bay is located in a unique geographical area, it is susceptible to flooding from major rain events and storm surge. Your property, along with the majority of the Village, is located in or near a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Properties that are located within or near the SFHA, also known as flood zones, are more prone to personal and property damages when flooding occurs during or soon after heavy rainfall.


Stormwater Runoff

Stormwater runoff within the Village of Palmetto Bay either infiltrates into the ground, or it is conveyed through a network of pipeline that discharges into the C-100 series of the Cutler Drain Canal. The C-100 is made up of four sections (C-100, C-100A, C-100B, and C-100C), and is operated and maintained by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).

These canals run within the municipal boundaries of the Village of Palmetto Bay and when major rain events occur, the capacity of the canals and local drainage pipeline is exceeded and flooding occurs.

ReduceFloodRisk.org; A Tool To Understanding Your Flood Risk

The Association of State Floodplain Managers recently launched ReduceFloodRisk.org, an interactive flood mitigation resource library that helps property owners, especially those living in flood-prone areas, to better understand their flood risk.  The tool also provides flood mitigation strategies for their particular property.

According to the ASFM, to the average property owner, flood risk mitigation can feel like an overwhelming task. We've all seen it way too often ... People don’t know where to start, so they put it off until it’s too late. One of the goals of Reduce Flood Risk is to put people on a path toward understanding their flood risk and arming them with the knowledge they need to reduce that risk.  At the heart of Reduce Flood Risk is a decision-making engine that guides property owners through a series of questions to help them understand their current flood risk and the specific steps they can take to better protect their home or business. 

 The mitigation options on Reduce Flood Risk can be filtered by key attributes, such as cost, complexity, and level of required maintenance. The site also features a variety of resources on flood risk, flood insurance, financial assistance options, who to contact with questions, and links to more in-depth information and guidance.

Watch this video for a quick guide to ReduceFloodRisk.org