FEMA flood-insurance premiums changing for some in Indian River County

Oct. 25--INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released long-awaited draft coastal flood-risk maps for the county.

FEMA uses the maps, which will not be finalized until at least next year, to evaluate storm-surge risk in coastal areas.

For county and city staff, the new flood maps allow for better storm and flood planning, and for builders, the maps can help inform where and how to build safely, according to FEMA.

The maps also are used to determine flood insurance costs, including homeowners' premiums. Standard homeowner insurance policies rarely cover flooding, but homeowners in some high-risk areas are required to have FEMA insurance.

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Premiums vary widely but can be pricey in high-risk areas, including portions of the Treasure Coast.

Before FEMA finalizes the flood-risk maps, officials will meet with residents and leaders to answer questions and receive feedback.

The agency has set no date for Indian River County's public meeting, according to spokesman Danon Lucas.

In August, FEMA released the maps for Martin and St. Lucie counties. FEMA was to hold public hearings for these communites in mid-September, but Hurricane Irma forced the agency to reschedule, Lucas said,

Indian River County Community Development Director Stan Boling, who viewed the maps before they were publicly available -- community officials have been briefed at a series of meetings since 2011 -- said they seem to indicate good news for residents.

"It seemed like there is more acreage coming out than going in" to flood-risk zones, Boling said, adding that more-stringent building-development practices have helped lower local flood risk.

The Indian River County maps, released Sept. 29, are the result of more than six years of research, according to FEMA.

View your community's updated maps here.

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