Flood Information
Flood Information
This page provides flood insurance information, flood hazard guidance, building standards, and practical safety measures to help residents and property owners protect themselves and their property.
Flooding can occur in Miami Shores Village at any time during the year. Heavy rains during the rainy season from June through October pose the greatest threat for flooding. Heavy and prolonged rainfall can exceed the capacity of the drainage system, including the Village's canals. Flooding may be more severe when the ground is already saturated from previous rainfall or when groundwater levels are high. Due to the Village's flat topography, flooding can occur almost anywhere in the community. Being prepared is your best defense against a flood.
Miami Shores Village Activity 510 Progress Report
Over the past 12 months, Miami Shores Village has continued implementation of mitigation projects within the Miami-Dade County Local Mitigation Strategy. This report is provided for informational purposes and may be shared through the Village website and other official Village communication channels.
| Project Description | Update as of October 1, 2023 |
|---|---|
| The C-8 canal system in the area of NE 105th Street, behind the former K-Mart property, needs a water control system to collect floodwaters as they rise and help prevent water from entering roads and homes. The system would reduce the risk and effects of future residential flooding. | Design completed. Project completion was projected for 2025. |
| To reduce future flooding in the residential area of NE 105th Street, behind the former K-Mart property, the Village would like to install a new seawall to lessen the likelihood that canal water will intrude and damage homes and roadways. | No change. Project start is dependent on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. |
| Design and construct a new seawall system using poured concrete and tiebacks to replace approximately 900 feet of seawall currently in poor condition. The project will explore more hurricane-resistant designs, including angling the seawall to better deflect wave action and re-engineering pylons to support pedestrian safety rails. | Grants received. Project is in the design phase. |
| The area near NE 104th Street has experienced flooding during heavy rain, high tide, and King Tide conditions. Improvements to the drainage pumping system would allow the Village to pump against King Tide conditions and reduce localized flooding. | Grants received. Project is in the design phase. |
| The existing Bayshore Drive pump station was affected by Hurricane Irma. Saltwater intrusion caused corrosion and affected pump performance. The Village would like to raise the concrete pad supporting the electrical control box to reduce the risk of future storm damage. A replacement fuel tank is also needed. | Grants received. Project is in the design phase. |
There are no additional projects scheduled for implementation or revision until the next required five-year plan update.
Adopted: October 6, 2020
CRS 5-Year Update: January 2023
Steps to Prepare for a Flood
Step 1: Know Your Flood Hazard
Regulated floodplains are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps, also known as FIRMs. These are the official maps on which FEMA identifies Special Flood Hazard Areas and applicable flood risk zones. Special Flood Hazard Areas are areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event. Structures located in a Special Flood Hazard Area have a 26-percent chance of flooding during the life of a standard 30-year mortgage.
FEMA flood maps are available for public review at FEMA's Map Service Center. You may also contact the Miami Shores Village Code Compliance Department at 305-762-4862 or CodeCompliance@msvfl.gov for assistance with flood-related questions.
Everyone should know their flood zone. The Code Compliance Department can help identify:
- The flood zone in which a property is located.
- Whether the property is in an area with known local drainage concerns.
- Whether the property is in a mapped repetitive flood loss area.
- Whether the property is near an area that should be protected because of natural floodplain functions.
The Village has elevation certificates on file for some properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Copies of elevation certificates are available for review through the Building Department. For more information on elevation certificate availability, contact the Building Department at 305-795-2204.
Step 2: Insure Your Property
Flood damage is generally not covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy. Flood insurance is available to homeowners, condominium owners, commercial property owners, and renters. Renters are encouraged to purchase flood insurance for personal belongings.
Homeowners may obtain up to $250,000 in building coverage, businesses may obtain up to $500,000 in building coverage, and renters may obtain up to $100,000 in contents coverage. A 30-day waiting period usually applies before a new flood insurance policy becomes effective.
Contact your insurance agent for policy-specific information. Additional information is available at FloodSmart.gov or by calling the National Flood Insurance Program at 877-336-2627.
Step 3: Protect Yourself and Your Family
The Village coordinates with Miami-Dade County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service when issuing public warnings related to expected floods and storms. Local television and radio stations, NOAA Weather Radio, and official emergency alert systems may provide weather advisories and emergency information.
Local weather information may be available from:
- WQAM 560 AM
- WIOD 610 AM
- WINZ 940 AM
- WQBA 1140 AM Spanish
- WAQI 710 AM Spanish
- WPOW 96.5 FM
- WHYI 100.7 FM
- WFLC 97.3 FM
- WFOR CBS Channel 4
- WTVJ NBC Channel 6
- WSVN FOX Channel 7
- WPLG ABC Channel 10
- WLTV Channel 23 Spanish
NOAA Weather Radios are available for purchase at many local electronics and department stores and provide access to NOAA Weather Radio frequencies 162.550 and 162.450.
If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker if it is safe to do so. If you lose power, turn off major appliances. Turn off gas service and stay alert for gas leaks. Avoid low-lying areas and seek shelter in higher areas when necessary.
Discuss your family emergency plan in advance. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, where you will meet, and what each person should do during an emergency.
Never attempt to drive through flooded roadways. Moving water can sweep vehicles away. Turn Around, Don't Drown.
Step 4: Protect Your Property
Various methods may help reduce flood damage. If the first-floor elevation of your property is lower than the base flood elevation established by FEMA, consider whether elevation or other mitigation measures are appropriate. If you live in a flood-prone area, protect vulnerable entry points, move valuables and furniture to higher areas, and keep important documents in a secure, waterproof location.
For ideas on protecting your home, business, and personal belongings from flood damage, review the flood information available on the Village website or contact the Miami Shores Village Code Compliance Department at 305-762-4862.
Step 5: Build Responsibly
A building permit is required before building, filling, or otherwise developing on a property located within a 100-year floodplain. The National Flood Insurance Program requires that if a structure is substantially damaged or substantially improved to an amount equal to 50 percent or more of the structure's market value, the structure must meet the construction requirements for a new building.
All new and substantially improved buildings must be constructed with the lowest floor, including any basement, elevated no lower than the base flood elevation. Enclosures must be properly designed and constructed with flood openings or other required flood protection measures to minimize damage.
Before you build, fill, or otherwise develop in a floodplain, contact the Building Department at 305-795-2204 to discuss Village regulations. Report any development in a floodplain without a permit to the Building Department.
Step 6: Protect Natural Floodplain Functions
Floodplains are a natural component of the Miami Shores environment. Understanding and protecting the natural functions of floodplains helps reduce flood damage and protect natural resources. When flooding spreads across the floodplain, its energy is reduced, which can lower downstream flood flows, reduce streambank and channel erosion, reduce sediment deposition, and improve groundwater recharge.
Poorly planned development in floodplains can lead to erosion, property loss, increased downstream flooding, and degraded water quality. Under Village and County regulations, it is illegal to dump materials into canals, ponds, lakes, streams, or storm drains. Dumping pollutes waterways, clogs storm drains, and contributes to neighborhood flooding.
For questions or to report obstructions, dumping, or related violations, contact the Miami Shores Village Code Compliance Department at 305-762-4862 or CodeCompliance@msvfl.gov.
Flood Mitigation and CRS Rating
Miami Shores Village has elevated flood mitigation as a priority through its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System, also known as CRS. Through flood management, public education, and mitigation efforts, the Village improved its CRS rating from Class 8, which provided a 5 percent flood insurance discount, to Class 5, which provides a 25 percent discount for eligible policies.
These improvements help reduce flood insurance costs for residents while supporting flood management measures designed to protect life and property from future flooding. The Village continues to evaluate best practices and invest in flood mitigation strategies that support resilience and public safety.
Only a few inches of water can cause significant damage to walls, floors, furniture, carpets, and appliances. Damage caused by rising waters is typically not covered by standard homeowner, business owner, or renter policies. Property owners and renters are encouraged to review flood insurance options for both building and contents coverage.
For flood insurance information, contact your insurance agent, visit FloodSmart.gov, or call the National Flood Insurance Program at 877-336-2627.
Within the Village of Miami Shores, FL, the Building Official within the Department of Development Services is responsible of all construction that falls under the Florida Building Code, to include permitting, inspections, and review of all construction plans. The Building Department maintains all permitting files and documents associated with the Village’s Floodplain Management Program, including the Village’s adopted Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, Elevation Certificates, documents related to substantial improvements, Elevation Certificate Brochure, and other outreach and educational materials.
The Building Official reviews all development applications and supporting documents that are located with the Special Flood Hazard Area. Additionally, the Building Official conducts inspections of all Pre-Construction Elevation Certificates, Form Board Surveys, Finished- Construction Elevation Certificates and Final Surveys.
The purpose of this document is to explain our management procedures for review of Elevation Certificates and all other required floodplain-related construction certificates including, but not limited to, Floodproofing Certificates, and engineered flood-opening certificates. These procedures outline the types of certificates required, the collection and review of all certificates, how corrections should be made, where the certificates are stored/archived, and how we make these certificates available to the public.
The following are the flood zones on the current FIRM:
Zone A (1% annual chance flood),
Zone AE (1% annual chance flood),
Zone AH (ponding)
Zone VE (1% annual chance flood)
Zone X-Shaded (0.2% Annual Chance Flood), and
Zone X-Unshaded (<0.2% Annual Chance Flood).
TYPES OF CERTIFICATES REQUIRED
The Village of Miami Shores primarily has the following types of buildings (new construction) in relationship to the FEMA Diagram numbers:
1A - Slab on grade,
1B - Raised slab on grade or stem wall, and
8 - Elevated on crawlspace.
Some older buildings for substantial improvements may be from other FEMA diagram numbers.
When any new construction, substantial improvement or repair for a substantially damaged building is proposed in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as the Village only enforces regulations with the SFHA, the Building Official shall require an Elevation Certificate and any other floodplain-related certificate that is appropriate for construction and the design of the building such as a Floodproofing Certificate, V-Zone Certification and/or a certification for engineered flood openings for the development.
WHEN CERTIFICATES ARE REQUIRED
The Village of Miami Shores Building Department requires that a final “Finished Construction” or “As-Built” Elevation Certificate be provided before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued for the building.
The Building Department requests that applicants submit an Elevation Certificate marked “Construction Drawings” or “Building Under Construction” with the building permit application prior to Form Board review. This procedure is not required by ordinance. After the foundation is built or the forms are placed for a Diagram 1A or 1 B building and the elevation of the lowest floor is determined, this is a check (inspection) by the Building Department to ensure the building conforms to the building permit, plans and elevation requirement.
Once construction on the building is finished and all adjacent grading is finalized, a complete and correct “Finished Construction” Elevation Certificate must be submitted by the applicant to show the “As-Built” characteristics of the building. A “Finished Construction” Elevation Certificate is, reviewed, and corrected (if necessary) by the Building Official before a Certificate of Occupancy for that building is issued by the Building Department. At this point, all other required certificates must also be submitted and reviewed.
If a Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures is required for a floodproofed non-residential building, an Elevation Certificate is not required for purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A complete and correct Floodproofing Certificate is required to be submitted to the Building Official once construction is finished on the building but before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.
When engineered flood openings are installed in the foundation of a building, and the Elevation Certificate indicates that they were installed (Sections A8d and A9d on the Elevation Certificate), an engineered opening certification is required to be submitted with the Elevation Certificate to help verify compliance and the insurance rate. The Village of Miami Shores will ensure the developer, engineer, surveyor or homeowner submits either the International Code Council® Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) form for the engineered opening or an individual certification. Individual certifications must cover the following, at a minimum:
- An identification of the building (address) that has the engineered openings installed, and
- The design professional’s name, title, address, type of license, the state issuing the license, signature, and seal.
- A statement certifying the design of the openings will automatically equalize hydrostatic flood loads on exterior walls by allowing for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters; and
- A description of the range of flood characteristics tested or computed for which the certification is valid, such as rates of rise and fall of floodwaters.
DEPARTMENT/OFFICE COLLECTS/REVIEWS CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATES
The Building Official is responsible for collecting and reviewing Elevation Certificates, Floodproofing Certificates and Engineered Opening Certifications. The Building Official within the Building Department is the local official responsible for receiving and reviewing these certificates and certifications.
All Finished Construction Elevation Certificates are submitted to the Building Department for tracking and initial review and correspond to a building permit number. The Building Official logs the Elevation Certificate in the building permit tracking system and then reviews the Elevation Certificate for accuracy and according to the NFIP and CRS Elevation Certificate Checklist requirements. All authority for receiving and reviewing an Elevation Certificate for compliance rests with the Building Official.
HOW CERTIFICATES ARE CORRECTED
The Village of Miami Shores Building Department and its Building Official makes sure that the Elevation Certificate is reviewed against the CRS’s Elevation Certificate Checklist and the NFIP requirements where appropriate, when reviewing an Elevation Certificate to ensure all required fields are completed correctly. When an error is noticed on an Elevation Certificate, there are four ways to correct it.
- For any inaccurate or incomplete information in Section C2, the Building Official will request a new certificate from the applicant or his/her representative (surveyor/engineer/architect) who certified the form.
- For any inaccurate or incomplete information in Section C2, where the applicant or his/her representative refuses to make corrections, the Building Official will ask another surveyor or engineer to complete the Elevation Certificate.
(3) If incomplete or inaccurate information is found in the other sections, the Building Official will do the following. It is the policy of the Village of Miami Shores to not mark up a signed and sealed Elevation Certificate.
- The Building Official will prepare a separate “CRS Memo of Correctness” with the correct information. The “CRS Memo of Correctness” is then attached to the Elevation Certificate. Both the Elevation Certificate and “CRS Memo of Correctness” is provided to an inquirer: or
- The Building Official can also note the changes or corrections in Section G of the Elevation Certificate.
All Finished Construction Elevation Certificates that had errors on them shall be returned to the applicant within 48 hours for immediate correction. In no case shall a Finished Construction Elevation Certificate be accepted until all corrections deemed appropriate by the Building Official are addressed. In no cases shall a Certificate of Occupancy for a permit be issued until the Building Official, the Building Official, and the Engineering Department have all signed off and approved all inspections.
If corrections are completed after the Certificate of Occupancy/Final Approval, the Building Official shall ensure the homeowner receives a copy of the corrected Elevation Certificate in case the correction(s) would affect the building’s insurance rating.
HOW AND WHERE THE CERTIFICATES ARE MAINTAINED
Upon submittal, all Elevation Certificates and floodproofing certificates are scanned into the building permit tracking system and stored in hardcopy permanently in the Building Department. Additionally, all Elevation Certificates located within the Special Flood Hazard Area are saved on the Building Department’s server under a separate folder labeled “Activity 310” and organized by CRS recertification date for CRS purposes. All other state and local records retention policies shall be observed. The Village of Miami Shores follows Chapters 119 and 257, Florida Statutes for public record requirements. Additionally, the Village follows the State of Florida Records Retention Schedule outlined in the Florida Administrative Code 1B-24 and 1B-26. Specifically, the schedule requires permanent retention of National Flood Insurance Program records for Floodplain Construction Authorization and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. National Flood Insurance Program records related to the Community Rating System are retained for the duration of the Village’s participation in the Program.
HOW CERTIFICATES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO INQUIRERS
When a member of the public requests a copy of an Elevation Certificate, the request shall be initiated with the Building Department. The Building Official shall act on the request immediately, if time allows, but at worst, shall have 48 hours to make a copy of the requested information and make the documentation available to the inquirer. There is no fee for the request of Elevation Certificates.
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 discharge anything into the bay, rivers, canals or any other body of water that helps our drainage system. Please keep in mind that it is against the Code of Ordinances to empty your swimming pool into the villages drainage system. Dumping and discharging is a violation of Village and County Codes and it can be reported to the Neighborhood Services Department at 305-762-4863.
The Building Department maintains elevation certificates that have been filed with the department for properties that have been substantially improved. Copies of elevation certificates that are on file with the Building Department are available at 10050 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33138. Telephone number (305) 795-2204.
The Planning Department maintains a copy of the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and can help you to locate your property on the FIRM map and find the FIRM zone for your property. The Planning Department is located at 10050 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33138. Telephone number (305) 795-2207.
Or, you may click on the links provided to go to the FEMA web site and review the FIRM maps for Miami Shores.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) detailed digital flood hazard maps reflect current flood risks for Miami Shores and Miami-Dade County.
The maps, also referred to as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), illustrate flood hazards throughout the Miami Shores and the County and are used when determining flood insurance policy rates. Residents and businesses can view the maps to better understand their potential flood risk and the need to take to protect against property damage and loss.
The following Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Miami Shores will help you to determine if your home lies in an area susceptible to flooding, known as Special Flood Hazard Areas or flood zones.
FEMA adopted new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Miami Shores, September 11, 2009. The adoption of new maps was a requirement of FEMA for Miami Shores to continue participating in the NFIP, which guarantees the availability of flood insurance to residents within Miami Shores.
The FIRM maps can be found at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
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:
- Have an evacuation plan. Have two weeks of medication, food and water.
- The elderly, disabled or persons with special needs should register with Miami-Dade County’s Division of Emergency Management.
- Trees should be trimmed regularly, prior to a hurricane in preparation for possible flooding.
- Doors, windows or any building openings should be secured.
- Driving through flooded areas should be avoided; power lines may be down.
- Be alert to gas leaks. Candles and any other type of open flames should be carefully monitored.
The National Weather Service, along with the Miami-Dade Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security provides flood warning information to Village residents. The following local radio and television stations will provide information as part of the Emergency Broadcasting System:
| AM RADIO | TELEVISION |
|---|---|
| WIOD 610 | WTVJ Channel 4 |
| WQBA 1140 | WCIX Channel 6 |
| WINZ 940 | WSVN Channel 7 |
| WAQI 710 | WLTV Channel 23 |
| Miami Shores Police Department | (305) 759-2468 |
| Miami Dade Fire Department | (786) 331-5000 |
| Miami Shores Building Department | (305) 795-2204 |
| Miami Shores Planning Department | (305) 795-2207 |
| DERM - Department of Environmental Resource Management | (305) 372-6688 |
| South Florida Water Management | (800) 432-2045 |
| FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency | (770) 220-5200 |
Additional information on floods and flood protection is available at the Miami Shores Brockway Memorial Library, 10021 NE 2nd Avenue.
Zone A is the flood insurance rate zone determined by approximate methods, as no Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) are available for these areas. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
Zone AE is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds with flood depths greater than 3 feet. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
Zone VE is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to coastal areas that have additional hazards associated with storm waves. Mandatory flood insurance requirements apply.
Zone X and Zone X-500 are flood insurance rate zones that are outside the flood plain or with average flood depths of less than 1 foot. Flood insurance purchase is not mandatory
LETTERS OF MAP CHANGE (LOMC)
FEMA uses the most accurate flood hazard information available and applies rigorous standards in developing the FIRMs. However, because of limitations of scale or topographic definition of the source maps used to prepare a FIRM, small areas may be inadvertently shown within an SFHA on a FIRM even though the property (legally defined parcel(s) of land, structure[s]) is on natural ground and is at or above the elevation of the 1-percent-annual-chance flood. This elevation is most commonly referred to as the Base Flood Elevation, or BFE. Such cases are referred to as "inadvertent inclusions."
For other small areas, earthen fill may have been placed during construction, thereby elevating a small area within the SFHA to an elevation that is at or above the BFE. This construction may have taken place during the time the engineering study was being performed or subsequent to that study. Because of the limited extent of the elevated area and the limitations of the map scale, it may not have been possible for FEMA to show this area as being outside the SFHA and so these areas have been incorrectly included in the SFHA on the FIRM.
Recognizing that these situations do occur, FEMA established administrative procedures to change the designation for these properties on the FIRM. These processes are referred to as the Letter of Map Amendment, or LOMA, process and the Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill, or LOMR-F, process. Through these processes, an individual who owns, rents, or leases property may submit certain mapping and survey information to FEMA and request that FEMA issue a document that officially removes a property and/or structure from the SFHA. In most cases, the applicant will need to hire a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional Engineer to prepare an Elevation Certificate for the property. Upon receiving a complete application forms package, FEMA will normally complete its review and issue its determination in 4 to 6 weeks.
FEMA Information on LOMA and LOMR-F
COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA
An area of special flood hazard extending from offshore to the inland limit of a primary frontal dune along an open coast and any other area subject to high velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. The coastal high hazard area is identified as Zone V on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Special floodplain management requirements apply in V Zones including the requirement that all buildings be elevated on piles or columns.
An area within Miami Shores along Biscayne Bay is within the coastal high hazard area, V Zone.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE/IMPROVEMENT 50% RULE
The following definitions should assist you in determining if you fall under the 50% rule, special development regulations will apply:
Substantial Damage: Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to it’s before damaged condition would equal or exceed fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
Substantial Improvement means any combination of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, taking place during a one (1) year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvement. This term includes structures that have incurred "substantial damage" regardless of the actual repair work performed. This term does not, however, include any repair or improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of State of Florida or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications, which have been identified by the local code enforcement official prior to the application for permit for improvement, and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.
View the Flood Zone Maps using Miami-Dade County's Interactive Web Tool
Once you navigate to this web tool, Miami-Dade GIS Service: Flood Zone Maps enter your address to view the map for your area. Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. Contact the Miami Shores Planning Office at (305) 762-4864 to view the FEMA adopted new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Miami Shores, September 11, 2009 and to discuss your specific property.
View the FEMA Maps
You can also view the digital maps through FEMA's website. Please note that paper maps were phased out under FEMA's Map Modernization Program.
There are several options to view the digital maps. The choice will depend on your computer resources and information needs. The options are:
- Visit the FEMA Map Service Center and download the FIRMette Desktop Viewer. This application supports the maps in image format (.tiff or .png). This version supports FIRMette creation for both two-color and black and white maps. This application is to be used with a FEMA-DFIRM CD that can be ordered from the FEMA Map Service Center.
- Use the new FEMA MapViewer Application. This desktop application support the maps in ESRI shapefile format. First, download the MapViewer application and follow the instructions for installation.
This website provides zipped Keyhole Markup Language (.kmz) files through which users can view map overlays created from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer on Google Earth images.
Miami Shores adopted Chapter 8.5 Creation of Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance in response to FEMA requirements to adopt a flood damage prevention ordinance. The State of Florida incorporated floodplain management into the 2010 Florida Building Code (FBC) and included requirements for construction in the special flood hazard area (SFHA). The more restrictive of the provisions shall apply.
The requirements of Chapter 8.5 and the building code are in addition to the regulations of the underlying zoning district.
The Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) establishes the framework to ensure that Miami-Dade County and its municipalities are prepared to deal with these hazards. The CEMP coordinates the activities of these groups under the Emergency Support Function (ESF) System with a designated lead agency for a comprehensive approach to planning, response, and recovery from identified hazards.
The NIMS/ICS principles have been incorporated and institutionalized into the County’s response management model as illustrated through-out this document and in the policies and procedures of the County’s response agencies
The National Flood Insurance Program is a federal program created in 1968 to provide flood insurance to people who live in areas with the greatest risk of flooding, called Special Flood Hazard Areas. The program provides an alternative to disaster assistance and reduces the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. The program provides flood insurance, while at the same time encouraging the sensible management and use of floodplains to reduce flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters and business owners, provided their communities use the program’s strategies for reducing flood risk, including adopting and enforcing floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood damage. Community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program is voluntary. However, flood insurance and many kinds of federal disaster assistance are not available in communities that do not participate in the program.
Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage. These measures take a variety of forms and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or building, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.
A community's agreement to adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances, particularly with respect to new construction and substantial improvement to existing structures, is an important element in making flood insurance available to home and business owners.
Some areas within Miami Shores Village have been designated “Special Flood Hazard Areas” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Generally homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage, and disaster assistance programs will not cover all of your losses. However because Miami Shores Village participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. Federal law requires all properties located in the Special Flood Hazard Area that are secured by a federally backed mortgage (FHA, VA, FNMA, etc.) to carry flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance program provided by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) makes flood insurance available to everyone in the Village whether they live in a floodplain or not and even for properties that have never been flooded. Information on the cost and coverage of flood policies can be obtained from your insurance agent. If you own your home you can purchase coverage for the structure and the contents, if you rent you can purchase coverage for contents. In most cases there is a 30-day waiting period before the flood insurance policy becomes effective. For most people, a home and its contents are their greatest investment. Maintaining flood insurance to protect yourself from a devastating loss is essential. Be sure you have content coverage and that the policy limits are sufficient to cover the present day value of your potential losses.
As a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Ratings System (CRS), the Village takes measures to reduce and ultimately, eliminate the community’s exposure to floods. Presently, Village residents may receive a 10% discount on their flood insurance policy. Check with your insurance agent for details.
Visit the National Flood Insurance Program Page
PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE
Information is available from the National Flood Insurance Program at the link below:
Residential Coverage the Basics
Additional Links
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. Please contact the Building Department at 305-795-2204 to discuss what you may do to reduce the potential for flood damage to your new or existing home.
The Special Flood Hazard Area is the area that would be inundated by a 100 year flood.
Reference to a 100 year flood however is misleading because it does not actually mean a flood like that will only happen once every 100 years. A 100 year flood has a 1% chance of occurring yearly and what this means is the chance is small but you could have a 100 year flood two years in a row or twice in five or ten years.
Please be aware, properties that are not within the Special Flood Hazard Area may also be subject to flooding.
The SFHA is the area where the NFIP's floodplain management regulations must be enforced by the village and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies as described below. The SFHA includes Zones A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V.
Of the zones listed, the following SFHA Zones are found in Miami Shores: AE-7, AE-8, AE-9, AE-10, AH-11, VE and V.
The VE zone is a Special Flood Hazard Area found in Miami Shores in an area along Biscayne Bay. The VE zone is a coastal flood zone with velocity hazard (wave action) and additional regulations over and above those for the Special Flood Hazard Area in general, apply to development in the VE zone. Check with the Building Department for Details.
