Assessing Your Personal Flood Risk

Do You Live in a High Flood Risk Area?

There are several ways of assessing your flood risk.

If you live in a mandatory evacuation area and/or are required to have flood insurance, you can be virtually certain you live in a high flood risk area. These areas are referred to as "Special Flood Hazard Areas."

Flood Insurance Rate Map

A second way of assessing your risk is to refer to a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to determine the flood zone designation for the area in which your property resides. Flood zone designations are available for most, but not all areas. FIRM maps are available for public viewing at the City's Main Library and you may call the one of the City's Floodplain Managers at 305-948-2966 for an appointment to assist you on determining your flood zone. Contact information is provided in other sections of this website.

Assuming your area does appear on a FIRM map... zones designated as "AE" are defined as higher risk areas. Other zone designations still may be subject to flooding, but less frequently and with less severity. (Flood zone designations, along with explanations, can be found in the "Do-It-Yourself" Assessment Tools section)

Elevation Certificates

You can also check your elevation certificate for your property. This document will tell you the elevation of the lowest level of your structure relative to the base flood elevation. To learn more, view Elevation Certificates Page.

To verify that a building has been properly elevated, building officials require the completion of an Elevation Certificate by a professional engineer or surveyor. After the lowest floor is in place, its elevation above sea level is determined by a survey. The Elevation Certificate is part of the permit record and must be submitted before the building may be occupied. 

USGS Real-Time Water Data for the Nation

If you would like to get more information on immediate storm surge planning zones, potential nuclear radiation hazard, evacuation centers, and evacuation bus pick-up times, please feel free to view USGS Current Water Data for the Nation.

Miami-Dade County Community Services

View Miami-Dade County Community Services.

Sea Level Rise Map

The Sea Level Rise Map that is administered though Florida International University (FIU), Journalism and Mass Communication, has developed a mapping system that aims to raise awareness and to educate South Florida communities about the impact, challenges and threats of sea level rise to create possible solutions for a sustainable future. Please make sure to visit their website, Sea Level Rise Map, in order to receive more information on sea level rise in relation to flooding.