Sebring prepares to join national flood insurance program

Sept. 17--SEBRING -- Sebring residents and business owners may in the next several months have the opportunity to get flood insurance at lower rates.

The Sebring City Council on Tuesday approved moving ahead with plans to develop and approve a floodplain ordinance and map that would allow the city to fully participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

City Administrator Scott Noethlich said that although detailed maps necessary for participation in the program were drawn up for Highlands County, no such detailed maps were created for Sebring.

As a result, the city has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program on an emergency basis, which limited the insurance available, while the maps were being developed.

Although it's not mandatory for the city to participate in the program, City Council members were told that the city could eventually face consequences if it doesn't adopt a floodplain map and ordinance by Nov. 18.

Jeff Schmucker, a planner with the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, said that if the city doesn't act by Nov. 18, it may be given additional time to adopt the floodplain ordinance. But eventually, he said, the city would be barred from making a claim to the Federal Emergency Management Agency should a major flooding event occur.

It appears that FEMA is taking a tough attitude when it comes to that, Schmucker said.

Other problems that could occur if the city doesn't act may include some people having trouble getting loans for purchase or construction of a new house.

While there's no law that people must have flood insurance, banks often require it as a condition of lending money, if the house is located in a flood plain.

Former Mayor George Hensley, who sold insurance for decades in Sebring before his retirement, said the city has been working for years to prepare for full participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Hensley said that once the city fully joins the program, the major change affecting residents and business owners will involve how their premiums are determined.

The newer rates will be determined by the elevation of the structure in relation to the floodplain and if they are located in an area prone to flooding, he said.

Therefore, residents and business owners, who for example are located in an area not prone to flooding may get lower rates, Hensley said.

Apparently, the city's adoption of the floodplain ordinance won't result in a major change in building requirements.

While Schumucker said the federal standard requires the home to be elevated 1 foot above the floodplain level, the city's ordinance requires 3 feet. City Council members indicated they want to retain the 3 foot requirement.

Schumucker said that work is underway to have flood maps digitized and available online to anyone.

jmeisel@highlandstoday.com

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