Flood Facts
Did You Know?
- Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters outside of fire
- 90% of all presidential-declared U.S. natural disasters involve flooding
- Floods occur in all 50 states (they can occur any time, anywhere)
- Communities particularly at risk are those in low lying areas, coastal areas, or downstream from large bodies of water
- 25% of flooding occurs outside areas formally designated as being flood prone (i.e. Special Flood Hazard Areas)
- Nation-wide, flooding caused more than $4 billion a year in losses and 2,200 deaths in the 1990's
- There is a 26% chance of experiencing a flood during the life of a 30 year mortgage (more than 6 times the likelihood of a fire)
- Even minor flooding can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in losses and repairs
- Flood damage is virtually never covered by standard homeowners insurance
- Flood insurance purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is relatively inexpensive (the average premium for $100,000 coverage is a little over $500 per year at this writing)
- Today NFIP insures more than 4 million policyholders in more than 19,000 communities in the U.S.
- Florida residents and businesses hold more than 40% of all flood insurance policies in the nation.
- Limits to coverage are $250,000 for residences, and $500,000 for businesses.
- Contents coverage can be purchased under the same policy, but with a separate premium. Contents coverage limitations are $100,000 for residential, and $500,000 for commercial properties.
- Please note there is a 30-day waiting period when purchasing flood insurance, so plan ahead!
CLICK HERE TO SEE: WHAT ARE YOUR FLOOD OPTIONS
lanning Home Improvements?
Had Damage to Your Home or Business?
The City of Miami Gardens’ floodplain management ordinance includes a rule that is known as the 50% rule. This rule states that if your structure is damaged or improved to an amount greater than 50% of the structure’s market value, it will then have to comply with the current elevation requirements, and other floodplain requirements for that area.
This is important for City residents and business owners to know because many structures built before these rules were created are below the required elevations. If the 50% rule were applied to these structures they would have to be elevated to comply with current rules. Therefore it is important that we all know this rule, know the elevation of our structures, and how that elevation compares with the current standard. This is one reason an Elevation Certificate is so important for all property owners to have.
Elevation Certificates
The City has been keeping Elevation Certificates on file since February 2008.
To find out if your property is in a flood zone, to request an Elevation Certificate, and for other flood protection information, please call the City’s Floodplain Management Program:
305-622-8039