Notice from the Town of Palm Beach...Open House Scheduled for Residents to Review Preliminary FEMA Flood Maps

Residents and property owners of the Town of Palm Beach and neighboring municipalities are invited to look at newly revised preliminary digital flood insurance rate maps for Palm Beach County at a public open house on September 9, 2014, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding, and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements. The open house will take place at:

Palm Beach County Hearing Room Chamber
2300 North Jog Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33411

The open house will provide the property owners with the opportunity to see the preliminary maps, learn about their risk of flooding, and ask questions about what the new maps will mean for their property. Residents can meet one-on-one with a variety of specialists who will be available to talk about flood insurance, engineering, building permits and more. Town of Palm Beach employees will be on hand to answer questions specific to the Town.

Three additional open houses are being held during the week of September 8 from 4 and 7 p.m. for residents of the southern, northern, and western communities. Town of Palm Beach employees will not be staffing these meetings, but residents of Palm Beach can attend if they are unable to participate in the September 9th open house. The three other open houses will be:

Monday, September 8, 2014
Boynton Beach City Library
Library Program Room
208 South Seacrest Boulevard
Boynton Beach, FL 33435

Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Belle Glade Civic Center and
Palm Beach County Library
725 NW 4th Street
Belle Glade, FL 33430

Thursday, September 11, 2014
Jupiter Community Center
200 Military Trail
Jupiter, FL 33458

The preliminary new maps were produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Flood maps are being updated for communities across the country and are intended to incorporate the latest and most accurate information into the maps so that they better reflect the risk that communities face.

Property owners (both homeowners and business owners), renters, realtors, mortgage lenders, surveyors and insurance agents are encouraged to attend the open house and take advantage of this opportunity to meet with specialists and ask questions, and learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their communities. Residents may also visit Palm Beach Town Hall to view the maps in person in the Planning, Zoning & Building Department, or visit townofpalmbeach.com for more information.

Palm Beach County’s preliminary maps have not yet been officially adopted and will become effective after a public comment period. This period allows property owners to submit comments and appeals if they can show that any part of the maps is in error. Specialists will be available at the open houses to address questions that residents may have about this process. Once all comments are received and addressed, Palm Beach County may adopt the maps.

Standard homeowners’, business owners’, and renters’ insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so flood insurance is an important consideration for everyone. NFIP policies can be purchased from any state licensed property and casualty insurance agents who people already deal with for other property insurance needs. When that isn’t possible, NFIP can put people in touch with another agent. Visit www.floodsmart.gov for more information about flood insurance and to locate a local agent.