Agenda 01/09/2024 Item #16A 2 (2024 Southwest Florida Coastal Flood Studyw/digital Flood Insurance Rate Map for Collier County)01/09/2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to accept the staff summary for the 2024 Southwest Florida Coastal Flood Study (SWFL -
CF) edition of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
(DFIRM) for Collier County.
______________________________________________________________________________
OBJECTIVE: To provide a summary of the history of Collier County's participation in the FEMA National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) through the different editions of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), which identify the
flood risk for County residents.
CONSIDERATIONS: Collier County has participated in the NFIP since September 14, 1979, when the first Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) were published. Subsequent amendments to the FIRM occurre d in 1983, 1984, 1986,
1992, 1995, 1998, 2005, and 2012. To this day, the 2012 FIRM is known as the "effective map" because it is the
FIRM that the county uses in daily operations, such as regulating development within the floodplain and for flood
insurance ratings. In context, since 1979, Collier County has been regulating the development of the floodplain. By
2010, FEMA transitioned its floodplain mapping requirements into electronic digital products called the DFIRM.
Current Effective Map (2012 DFIRM)
In 2004, the County began an initiative to update the FIRMs. The project was jointly funded by the County and the
City of Naples and included developing a Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) partnership agreement between
FEMA, Collier County, the City of Naples, and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The
original effort was based on the available Light Detection and Range (LiDAR) topographic elevation data received
by the County in 2003. The Board authorized this action through an emerge ncy authorization and contracted with
Tomasello Consulting Engineers, Inc. (TCE).
It took six (6) years of effort by staff, the County’s consultant TCE, SFWMD, FEMA, and FEMA’s contractor,
Michael Baker Jr., Inc., to complete the computerized modeling and mapping of the floodplain to the satisfaction of
all the parties involved. By 2010, FEMA transitioned its floodplain mapping requirements into electronic digital
products called the DFIRM. Additionally, the County purchased new LiDAR elevation data that was completed and
provided to the County in 2010.
The FIRM amendment transition from 2005 to 2012 was the most significant flood map change for Collier County
regarding the increase in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), generally known as areas subject to 100-year floods.
While the 2005 map edition contained mostly areas subject only to coastal flood hazards, the 2012 edition extended
to the inland parts of the County, translating to more than 90% of the County within an SFHA.
2012 Appeal (2010 LiDAR, Physical Map Revisions # 1 & # 2)
Staff reviewed the 2010 LiDAR and found it provided better ground elevation information than the 2003 LiDAR.
Accurate ground elevation information is essential to provide County property owners with an accurate
determination of their flood risk and access to fair flood insurance premium rates. In 2011, FEMA denied County
staff’s request to incorporate the new 2010 LiDAR into the FIRM product. With the Board’s approval, staff and
TCE prepared an appeal of the Preliminary DFIRM for two of the drainage basins.
On May 16, 2012, the Board adopted the effective DFIRM that consisted of eight basins that depicted the 2003
LiDAR and two basins that depicted the 2010 LiDAR. The eight basins that depicted the 2003 LiDAR were divided
into two planned submittal packages, which ultimately became Physical Map Revision (PMR) applications #1 and
#2, each with their separate case number issued by FEMA.
PMR #1 was submitted to the LOMC Clearinghouse on June 7, 2013. It was processed through the initial review
and then forwarded to FEMA Region IV on January 14, 2014, for further detailed review and processing. The
County submitted PMR #2 to the LOMC Clearinghouse on June 29, 2015, where it was briefly reviewed and then
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forwarded to the FEMA Region IV.
Due to limited funding, FEMA Region IV informed the county it would need to wait until Congress appropriates
the funding for the PMRs. On December 22, 2015, FEMA Region IV provided confirmation they had programmed
funds to process the PMR. Currently, PMR#1 and PMR #2 are both completed. Collier County is waiting for
FEMA Region IV to release the preliminary DFIRM.
Risk MAP Coastal Study
In 2014, FEMA initiated the Southwest Florida Coastal Flood Study (SWFL-CF Study). This Study includes
Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties, and it is part of a larger FEMA program referred to as Risk
Mapping, Assessment, and Planning program (RiskMAP), conducted by Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning
Partners (RAMPP). The restudy is based on a model that has been applied to most of the Gulf and Atlantic coastal
areas. After RAMPP conducted several analyses to compare the County’s effective DFIRM with the restudy model,
FEMA determined the RAMPP analysis provided more accurate coastal elevation informat ion than the County’s
effective 2012 DFIRM model.
On December 31, 2019, FEMA released the preliminary FIRMs for a new map amendment for Collier County. This
new edition encompasses just the Coastal Areas, involving 82 map panels from 156 total from the County FIRM.
As part of the map adoption process, FEMA has a process that includes public outreach, appeal, and a comment
period before the preliminary maps become official. In March 2020, Collier County staff, in coordination with
FEMA, the City of Naples, and the City of Marco Island, held three public meetings to explain the changes in this
upcoming map edition.
In March 2021, the 90-day appeal period began for any party that believed it was affected by the preliminary map.
The Base Flood Elevations (BFE) shown on the flood maps are determined by experienced mapping experts using
the latest engineering methods and computer modeling incorporating historical storm and topographic data. The
results are based on the professional expertise of the mapping engineers, the amount of data collected, and the
precision of measurements made. Therefore, an appeal must be based on data and documentation showing that the
proposed flood elevations detailed on the preliminary maps and in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) re port are
scientifically or technically incorrect. Parties interested in appealing the changes must demonstrate that better
methodologies or data exist and provide alternative analyses incorporating those methodologies and data.
On August 8, 2023, FEMA sent the Letter of Final Determination (LFD) to the County, establishing the new map's
effective date as February 8, 2024. This letter advises that affected jurisdictions must adopt or show evidence of
adopting the NFIP's compliant flood regulatory standards before the FIRM becomes effective. For the past three
years, Collier County staff has been working on changes to the Local Floodplain Management Ordinance to meet
NFIP regulations and standards, including this upcoming 2024 map edition.
Floodplain Management Operations
In accordance with Chapter 62, Collier County Code of Laws, the County will adopt the new Collier Coastal Flood
Map on 02/08/2024. In addition to the referenced map changes, the NFIP has updated its legacy flood insurance
rating system, which is now known as Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0). Between October 2021 and April 2023, the NFIP
fully implemented RR 2.0. Pre-RR 2.0 policies (“existing policies”) are currently on an 18 percent annual premium
increase “glidepath” towards their full-risk premium. In contrast, any new flood policy issued on or after October 1,
2021, is rated based on the full-risk premium (no glidepath). To mitigate the impacts of RR 2.0 immediately, the
NFIP has recently created the “Real Estate Transaction - New Application” process. This process allows the
transfer of an existing residential building flood policy from an existing residential seller to a buyer within one year
of any residential real estate transaction closing.
In addition to participating in the NFIP since 1979, Collier County has also engaged in the NFIP Community
Rating System (CRS) since 1992. The CRS program is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and
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encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP.
Collier County engages in 17 of the 19 credited scoring higher regulatory activities offered by the CRS program. Of
the 17 credit scoring activities that the County participates in, there are 56 sub -categories for which staff must
produce documentation. Collier County attained a Class rating of 5 in 2015. This ranking provides a 25% discount
to property owners who purchase flood insurance and subsequent insurance premiums through the NFIP. That
discount annually provides over $9 million of savings across 65,000+ flood insurance premiums within
Unincorporated Collier County.
Through the County’s CRS program efforts and NFIP’s new residential “Real Estate Transaction” option, the
County has and will continue to directly assist NFIP policyholders in identifying available flood policy premium
savings.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no impact on the current Growth Management Plan standards
to ensure the adequacy and availability of viable public facilities.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been approved as to form and legality and requires a majority vote
for Board approval. - DDP
RECOMMENDATION: To accept the staff summary of the February 8, 2024, FEMA DFIRM SWFL-CF for
Collier County, FL.
Prepared by: Christopher Mason, CFM, Director, Community Planning and Resiliency, GMCD
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Collier_FIRM_Timeline_1979-Present (PDF)
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01/09/2024
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.2
Doc ID: 27428
Item Summary: Recommendation to accept the staff summary for the 2024 Southwest Florida Coastal Flood
Study (SWFL-CF) edition of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate
Map (DFIRM) for Collier County.
Meeting Date: 01/09/2024
Prepared by:
Title: – Building Plan Review & Inspections
Name: Christopher Mason
12/06/2023 12:46 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Department Head - GMD – Growth Management Community Development Department
Name: James C French
12/06/2023 12:46 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Community Development Department Diane Lynch Additional Reviewer Completed
12/18/2023 3:35 PM
Growth Management Community Development Department James C French Growth Management Completed
12/20/2023 5:43 PM
County Attorney's Office Derek D. Perry Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 12/28/2023 4:01 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 12/28/2023 4:23 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 12/29/2023 8:40 AM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 12/29/2023 1:49 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 01/03/2024 12:47 PM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 01/09/2024 9:00 AM
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SWFL Coastal Flood
(SWFL-CF) Study: Collier
County, FL
•2014-2019 (preliminary)
•FEMA-initiated through their
Risk Mapping, Assessment
and Planning (RiskMAP)
initiative for the nation's
coastal Flood Insurance
Studies and Flood Maps
•Coastal only
•Replaces original coastal
portions of County PMRs
based on updated coastal
elevation information from
FEMA
•02/08/2024 -Collier County's
map adoption date
16.A.2.a
Packet Pg. 369 Attachment: Collier_FIRM_Timeline_1979-Present (27428 : 2024 SW FL Coastal Flood
Collier County Physical
Map Revisions (PMRs) 1
& 2
•2013 -Present
•County-Initiated, in
partnership with FEMA
•Based on current, effective
2012 Collier County Flood
Map
•Update stormwater basins
with updated LiDAR (ground
elevations)
•Updates non-coastal/inland
portions of Collier County Flood
Map
•Awaiting finalized version of
combined PMRs from FEMA
(TBD)
16.A.2.a
Packet Pg. 370 Attachment: Collier_FIRM_Timeline_1979-Present (27428 : 2024 SW FL Coastal Flood
Collier County Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) Timeline
1979 –Present (Map Suffixes A-K)
1982 & 1983 (B & C)
Map Panel
Rev.
1979 (A)
Initial FIRM
2013
PMR 1 & 2
Appeal
2014 -2020
•2014-Coastal Flood (CF) Study
•2020-Preliminary Coastal Flood
(CF) Map
1986 (D)
FIRM
Rev.
1992 & 1998 (E & F)
Map Panel
Rev.
2005 (G)
FIRM
Rev. (1st DFIRM)
2012 (H)
FIRM/DFIRM
Rev. (Current)
08/2023
CF Map
Letter of Final
Determination
02/08/2024
CF Map
Adoption (J)
03/2020
CF Map
Public
Outreach
2024
PMR 1 & 2
Appeal
Finalized –
TBD (K)
16.A.2.a
Packet Pg. 371 Attachment: Collier_FIRM_Timeline_1979-Present (27428 : 2024 SW FL Coastal Flood