Hurricane Preparedness
Floods and Flood Zone Information
 One of the most devastating effects of a hurricane is flooding. However, flooding is not covered by most homeowners insurance policies. Many Fort Lauderdale residents live in or near a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which is a zone where flooding may occur in the event of heavy rainfall, a hurricane or other natural disaster. As a result, residents may elect or be required to obtain flood insurance, which is available to all residents as a result of the City’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
To help residents save money on their flood insurance premiums, the City of Fort Lauderdale participates in NFIP’s voluntary Community Rating System (CRS), which recognizes communities whose efforts go beyond the NFIP’s minimum standards. As part of the CRS program, the City implements and promotes public information and floodplain management activities regarding flood hazards, flood insurance, and ways to reduce flood damage. In exchange, the NFIP offers homeowners a discount on flood insurance premiums each year, which currently reflects a 10 percent savings for Fort Lauderdale residents.
For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program or the Community Rating System, visit www.floodsmart.gov or www.fema.gov/business/nfip.
FEMA Flood Zone Map, Elevation Certificates and Flood Insurance Rate Map
Fort Lauderdale residents can look up their FEMA Flood Zone using the City’s online “Property Information Reporter.” Simply enter your property address in the appropriate fields, then click “Go.” The Property Information Reporter will provide you with extensive information about your property, including your flood zone designation.
Residents can get a copy of their property's Elevation Certificate from the Building Services Department.
A FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map in PDF format can be viewed at http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/gis/files/maps/FEMA_24_36.pdf.
Flood Information Brochure
For more information, please download and read the Flood Information Brochure  .
FEMA Flood Zone Designations
Listed below are the FEMA descriptions for Flood Zone Designations that apply to the City of Fort Lauderdale:
- Zone A
Zone A is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the one-percent annual chance floodplains that are determined in the Flood Insurance Study by approximate methods of analysis. Because detailed hydraulic analyses are not performed for such areas, no Base Flood Elevations or depths are shown within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
- Zone AE and A1-A30
Zones AE and A1-A30 are the flood insurance rate zones that correspond to the one-percent annual chance floodplains that are determined in the Flood Insurance Study by detailed methods of analysis. In most instances, Base Flood Elevations derived from the detailed hydraulic analyses are shown at selected intervals within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
- Zone AH
Zone AH is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of one-percent annual chance shallow flooding with a constant water-surface elevation (usually areas of ponding) where average depths are between 1 and 3 feet. The Base Flood Elevations derived from the detailed hydraulic analyses are shown at selected intervals within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
- Zone AO
Zone AO is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of one-percent shallow flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain) where average depths are between 1 and 3 feet. Average flood depths derived from the detailed hydraulic analyses are shown within this zone. In addition, alluvial fan flood hazards are shown as Zone AO on the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
- Zone VE
Zone VE is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to areas within the one-percent annual chance coastal floodplain that have additional hazards associated with storm waves. Base Flood Elevations derived from the detailed hydraulic analyses are shown at selected intervals within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.
- Zones B, C, and X
Zones B, C, and X are the flood insurance rate zones that correspond to areas outside the one-percent annual chance floodplain, areas of one-percent annual chance sheet flow flooding where average depths are less than 1 foot, areas of one-percent annual chance stream flooding where the contributing drainage area is less than 1 square mile, or areas protected from the one-percent annual chance flood by levees. No Base Flood Elevations or depths are shown within this zone. Insurance purchase is not required in these zones.
For more information about flood zone designations, visit http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fq_revhm.shtm or call the City of Fort Lauderdale Planning and Zoning Department at 954-828-5203.
Flood Mitigation
In 2004, the City of Fort Lauderdale adopted the Broward County Location Mitigation Strategy (LMS). The City of Fort Lauderdale was involved in the initial preparation of this plan and continues to sit on the Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group and Planning Committee to monitor progress, make updates, and revise the plan. The LMS serves as the Floodplain Management Plan for the City of Fort Lauderdale for the purpose of the Community Rating System.
Tide Table
The Fort Lauderdale tide table for the current month is available online at http://waterfront-news.com/html/current_tide_table.htm.
Area Contractors
In the event that your property suffers flood damage, you may need to hire a contractor to make repairs. As a convenience to customers, the City of Fort Lauderdale is pleased to provide a list of area contractors. Please note that this list does not serve as an endorsement or referral of any kind. The contractor selected to conduct repairs is solely the decision and responsibility of the property owner.
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