Click here to go to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

The City of Miami provides several services to help residents and business owners with information about flood hazards.

The National Weather Service, along with the City of Miami Fire Department, Emergency Management Section, provides flood warning information to city residents. The following local radio and television stations will provide information as part of the Emergency Broadcasting System: 

AM RADIO TELEVISION 

WIOD -610 WTVJ - Ch 4
 WQBA-1140 WCIX - Ch 6
WINZ- 940 WSVN - Ch 7
WAQI-710 WLTV - Ch 23
 
Police Department...(305)579-6640
Fire Department...(305)416-1600
Building Department...(305) 416-1100
DERM (Dept. Of Env. Resource Management)...(305)372-6789
So. Florida Water Management...(305) 377-7274
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency...(770) 220-5200

FLOOD HAZARD

The coastal areas, the Miami River, and the many canals in the City of Miami make properties located near these areas prone to flooding.

The Building Department, at 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue (416-1111), can assist you concerning information about Special Flood hazard areas.

FLOOD INFORMATION 

The Building Department can inform you if your property is in a floodplain area. The department maintains elevation certificates for properties that have been substantially improved or constructed in the City of Miami since December 1992. We are also available to perform site visits to inform you if you are in a flood zone area, and provide information. The Plumbing Plans Examiner has the information available at 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue, 4th Floor, telephone number (305) 416-1111.
For a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee, the City can provide you with the following information, in writing: 

1.  Community Number.
2.  Panel Number and Suffix.
3.  Date of the FIRM’s index.
4.  FIRM zone.
5. Base flood elevation.
6. Elevation data used on the FIRM.

FLOOD SAFETY

It takes only six (6) inches of moving water to knock a person down causing injury and possibly death. In order to protect your property and human lives, the following steps should be taken:
1. Have an evacuation plan. Have two weeks worth of medication, food and water.
2. The elderly, disabled or persons with special needs should register with Metro-Dade County’s Division of Emergency Management.
3. Trees should be trimmed regularly, prior to a hurricane in preparation for possible flooding.
4. Doors, windows or any building openings should be secured.
5. Driving through flooded areas should be avoided; power lines may be down.
6. Be alert to gas leaks. Candles and any other type of open flames should be carefully monitored.

FLOOD INSURANCE

 Homeowner insurance does not cover flood damage; a flood insurance policy is required. The following steps should be taken in regards to flood insurance: 
1. Check your policy to make sure that your property and personal possessions are covered under the policy.
2. Photograph and list your possessions for claim purposes; store the information with your policy in a safe place.

DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE 

Canals and channels in our community provide an invaluable drainage feature to help carry potential floodwaters away. Grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug channels. A plugged channel contributes to flooding in surrounding areas. Do not dump or throw anything into the bay, rivers, canals or any other body of water that helps our drainage system. Dumping is a violation of City and County Codes, punishable by fines of up to $500 per day. Illegal dumping can be reported to the City of Miami Public Works Department, responsible for the maintenance of our waterways, or to any City NET Offices.

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS/ PROTECTION MEASURES

Before you build, alter, re-grade or put fill on your property, you need to check with the Building Department. Permits are required to ensure that all of the work is properly done and to avoid further problems. Failure to obtain permits can result in an unsafe building, a fine and possible court action.
While recent improvements in construction practices and regulations have made new homes less prone to flood damage, there are a significant number of existing homes that are susceptible to flood losses. These losses can be minimized through some of the temporary and permanent retrofitting techniques: 1) Construction of small flood walls, 2) Water proofing of your walls and water tightening closures of doorways, 3) Raising your property above the flood level. Information on these techniques can be obtained from the Building Department.

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE/IMPROVEMENT 50% RULE

The following definitions should assist you in determining if you fall under the 50% rule:
Substantial Damage: Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
Substantial Improvement: Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds, over a two-year period, a cumulative total of fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure. However, the accumulation period of a substantial improvement within any coastal building zone, as defined in Section 161.54(12), Florida Statutes, shall be five (5) years. The market value of the structure shall be (1) the assessed value of the structure prior to the start of the initial or improvement, or (2) in the case of damage occurring. In cases where the permit applicant questions the assessed value of a structure, an adjustment may be made. However, the burden of proof is upon the applicant who may submit an independent appraisal by a qualified appraiser in support thereof.

BLDG/REV/9/03