In 2009, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completed a major effort to develop new flood zone maps in order to more accurately reflect current flood risks for Miami-Dade County. The new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, also known as FIRMs, became effective on Sept. 11, 2009. The new maps may result in a change of the insurance premium for some residents. It is important that residents understand how these changes may affect them. The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) will help you to better understand how the new FIRMs may impact you. We also have available a detailed brochure on this subject and additional information on the following web pages:

• Information about new flood zone maps
• General information on flood protection
• View the flood zone brochure 
• Look up the current flood zone designation for your property

• Residents and businesses can use the new maps to learn their risk, and decide the financial steps they need to take to protect against damage and loss.
• Planners, engineers, builders, and local officials can use the maps to make important determinations about where and how to build new structures and developments. Because Insurance Agents use the Flood Zone Maps to set insurance rates, the flood insurance premium may change for some residents. Therefore, residents should act now to find out how these changes may affect their premiums.

The new FEMA maps became effective on September 11, 2009. Miami-Dade County officially adopted the maps in July 2009 as required for the County to continue participating in the NFIP, which guarantees the availability of flood insurance to residents within Unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

FEMA determined that the information in the maps published in 1994 was outdated. Basically, most changes in flood zones in the new 2009 maps are the result of better topographic surveys showing the ground elevation more accurately. In most cases the flood elevation remained the same or very close to the original, and only the land elevations changed based on the recent data. However, in somes case the flood elevation was also revised based upon the latest elevation data.

If you don't agree with your flood zone designation or if you missed the deadline for grandfathering your Zone X rate, the following actions may assist in reducing or eliminating the future need to have flood insurance:

• Use a Pre-FIRM rate: Pre-FIRM buildings can be insured using "subsidized" rates. These rates are designed to help people afford flood insurance even though their buildings were not built with flood protection in mind. For more information visit: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/nfipkeywords/prefirm.shtm.
• Hire a professional land surveyor to obtain elevation certificates:  This can be done for all buildings located within the property, showing that they are higher than the base flood elevation. Savings may be substantial if buildings are elevated above the flood plain.
• Request a Map Amendment or Map Revision from FEMA: Hire a professional land surveyor to survey the entire property, showing that the areas and structures are higher than the base flood elevation, and apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). This FEMA process, if approved, effectively removes the property from the flood plain, classifying higher areas into Zone X. For more information visit: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fmc_loma.shtm.

Please visit the FEMA website.

You can prepare your own map by visiting Miami-Dade County's website: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/property_search.asp.
First, click on the green button and select property information in the drop down menu, filling your property address, owner name or folio number.

The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, homeowners benefit from a significant discount on their flood insurance premium, because rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions to meet CRS goals. Unincorporated Miami-Dade County participates in the CRS Program and has achieved a Class 5 Community rating, which guarantees a 25% discount on all flood insurance premiums in flood zones and 10% discount on policies outside flood zones, for residents in this area. 

Every property owner should strongly consider holding a flood insurance policy for their property, since flooding can occur outside flood zones, too, due to accidental causes such as infrastructure failure. However, mortgage companies are not mandated to require flood insurance, once a property is converted out of a flood zone. You will need to contact your mortgage company and your insurance agent, to request a conversion. The documentation requirements vary, depending on the insurance agent and lender requirements.

The maps can be purchase from FEMA by calling the Map Service Center at 1-877-FEMA MAP or visiting their Map Service Center website. 

Miami-Dade County keeps paper copies of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps at the following locations:
DERM's Downtown Plan Review Office
701 NW 1st Court, Suite 200
Miami, FL 33136
305-372-6789
Hours of operation:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DERM West Dade Plan Review Office
11805 SW 26th Street
Miami, FL 33175
786-315-2800
Hours of operation:
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To find a professional land surveyor visit the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. Using the drop-down menu, please select License Category (Surveyors and Mappers), License Type (Surveyor Business or Surveyors and Mappers), County (Dade) and State (FL). You will obtain a complete list of surveyors or surveyor business in Miami-Dade County, with contact information and license status.