Representatives with Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) held a briefing for local government officials and hosted two public outreach events as part of the preliminary flood map process requirements last week in Santa Rosa County. Approximately 170 residents took the opportunity to view the maps and to speak one-on-one with a variety of specialists about topics such as flood zones, base flood elevations, flood insurance, the appeals process, mitigation grants, and building requirements. Attending specialists included representatives from various divisions of NWFWMD, FEMA, Florida Department of Emergency Management and Santa Rosa County staff.

The next step in the process is the 90-day appeals period which will allow residents the opportunity to appeal changes in flood zones, floodways and base flood elevations based on scientific or technical data. The appeals period will occur sometime between November 2016 and April 2017. A postcard will be mailed to all who own a building on property that will be affected by this change before the appeals period begins.

Santa Rosa County Preliminary Flood Map Process

To check the proposed flood zone of a property, visit the Northwest Florida Water Management District's flood portal at  http://portal.nwfwmdfloodmaps.com. Click on the blue Santa Rosa County map and the flood information portal will open up to search for a property by address. The "effective flood zone" is the current information and "preliminary flood zone" is what is proposed. This link is also on the county's web site,  www.santarosa.fl.gov, under floodplain management.

For more information on flooding, contact Karen Thornhill, 850-981-7029.