Public Comments Open on Proposed Flood Insurance Rate Maps

MANATEE COUNTY – After months of collaboration and the regular sharing of information resulting in preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, officials with the incorporated and unincorporated municipalities in Manatee County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are asking the public to participate in a comment and appeal period. 

Flood maps show the extent to which areas are at risk for flooding by the one-percent-annual-chance-flood, also known as the base flood, and are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements. Property owners, renters, realtors, mortgage lenders and insurance agents in Manatee County are encouraged to view the preliminary maps. Anyone with comments or who would like to file an appeal has until May 6 to do so. 

An appeal is a formal objection to proposed base flood elevations or flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries and zones, or floodways. Appeals must be based on technical data that show proposed maps to be scientifically or technically incorrect. Anyone who makes an appeal must include the method, data and analysis used to support the claim. A comment is an objection to a base map feature change or any other non-appealable change such as correcting the spelling of a street name. 

Residents may view the preliminary maps online at http://www.mymanatee.org/gisapps/mapviewer/index.jsp.

The maps can also be seen at one of several community offices to view the maps in person. Concerned parties or call their local floodplain administrator with questions about where their property is located on the preliminary maps. 

Comments and appeals should be sent to a local official, usually a floodplain administrator or building official, who will send them to FEMA. Residents of unincorporated Manatee may submit their feedback to Floodplain Manager Sandy Tudor at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton or by calling her at (941) 748-4501, ext. 3843. 

City residents may report their comments at the following locations:

• Anna Maria City Hall, 1005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria — Bob Welch, Building Official, (941) 708-6130, ext 25 

• Bradenton City Hall, 101 Old Main Street West, Bradenton — Building Department, (941) 932-9405 

• Palmetto City Hall, 516 8th Avenue West, Palmetto — Neal Mazzei, Building Official, (941) 721-2166 

• City of Bradenton Beach - 107 Gulf Drive N, Bradenton Beach — Steve Gilbert, Building Official, (941) 778-1005 

• Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach — Building Department, (941) 708-5833

• Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key — Building Department, (941) 316-1966 

Once all comments and appeals are resolved, FEMA will notify Manatee County of the effective date of the final maps that will be used for local regulatory and insurance rating purposes. 

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow Manatee County Government on  Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.