Hurricane and Storm Flooding Preparedness

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

This document is provided to assist in your personal or business preparations. The advice here comes from local, state, and federal sources, as well as the Red Cross.

See also:

FloodSmart.gov: FEMA Official site of National Flood Insurance Program

Hurricane Preparation for Construction Job Site: From Building Division

Now is the Time for Planning

As the hurricane season officially opens on June 1st, the City of Boynton Beach encourages residents to make preparations.

In recent years we have been affected by several hurricanes. While damages were limited and we avoided injuries, the tropical storms provided reminders of the importance of emergency preparations.

In making your own plans, we believe that it is especially important to consider these areas:

• Stockpiling of supplies that could be used in an emergency situation.
• Drawing-up an evacuation plan, regardless of where you live, to be used in the event that a life-threatening situation dictates that you leave your home or business.
• Planning of recovery steps that you could follow in the event of major storm damage to the community.

In the event of a damaging hurricane, City emergency crews will respond immediately. Calls will go out through Palm Beach County for aid from other local governments as well as to State and federal emergency agencies.

Still, it is important for residents to recognize that in a major community emergency, help may not arrive in the first hours. Basic services may not be restored for days.

In this kind of situation, there will be no substitute for proper personal and family emergency planning.

-- Wayne Bergman, Building Official, Department of Development, City Of Boynton Beach

I. Planning before, during and after the storm II. City Emergency Center III. Recovery activities and utility contacts

IV. Storm flooding information V. Flood Zone definitions VI. Additional Information

I. Planning before a storm is essential, experts say

Emergency management experts agree that when a hurricane threatens Boynton Beach, it Will be time for action, not for planning. Those responsible for preparing for hurricanes and for responding to the damage they can inflict on the community, urge all residents to make emergency plans now. Experts say that numerous factors should be considered in planning emergency responses. It is especially important that area residents consider the location of their homes, the type of structures, and personal or family circumstances.

Four options are recommended for consideration:

1. Stay Home? Be sure your home can withstand a hurricane and is on high ground away from the coast. Evacuate a mobile or a manufactured home.
2. Stay With Friends or Relatives? Make arrangements in advance, being sure the structure where you will go is safe and adequately supplied. Have an alternate plan for use if friends or relatives are away. Plan ahead on taking care of your pets.
3. Relocate Out of the Area? Know official evacuation routes, know where you are going, and have current road maps available. Leave early to avoid traffic, possible flooding, and high winds.
4. Go To A Public Shelter? Radio and television broadcasts will announce the opening of shelters by the Red Cross for Boynton Beach residents. Prepare a list ahead of time for essential and comfort items to take with you to a shelter, including medicines (secure prescriptions well in advance of the storm), valuable papers, and a three-day supply of food and water for every person evacuated. Activities or reading material are also advisable.

Before the Storm

• Have an emergency plan and supplies on hand.
• Have an evacuation route and destination planned.
• Follow evacuation orders if you live in an evacuation zone.
• Prepare to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours or more.
• Register with Palm Beach County Emergency Management information about any individuals with special medical or evacuation needs (712-6400).

During the Storm

• Stay indoors, even if winds subside, since the eye may be passing over and winds could resume. Listen to the radio for the All Clear announcement.
• Do not evacuate during the storm unless instructed to. Take refuge in a small interior room without windows.
• Get weather updates from a battery-powered radio.
• If the electricity goes off, unplug or switch off major appliances to avoid a surge when power is restored.
• Direct medical, police, and fire emergency calls to 911

After the Storm

• Stay off streets during clean-up, listen to radio and TV for advisories.

Public Shelters

Most Boynton Beach residents who want to use public shelters are asked by Palm Beach County to report to primary evacuation shelters in the city. Remember – space is limited!
Palm Beach County is responsible for ordering evacuations. A hurricane evacuation typically is aimed at removing residents from the most dangerous areas: the barrier island, mobile homes, and low-lying areas.
Public shelters are provided for residents who are unable to find shelter elsewhere. When a primary shelter is full, newcomers will be directed to another facility that has been opened by the Red Cross to handle the overflow.
If the area is threatened by a hurricane of "Category 4" intensity or greater, Palm Beach County Emergency Management plans to recommend an evacuation of the county.

Flood Insurance Recommended
Federal flood insurance provides coverage to protect homes and belongings from damage caused by rising water.
Local insurance agents can provide information about policies for homeowners and businesses through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Federal officials note that homeowner policies do not include flood coverage.
They also note that, "you do not have to live near the water to become a flood victim."

Be Prepared!

Palm Beach County's Office of Emergency Management provides extensive information on how to prepare for the hurricane season, on evacuations, and on how to survive tropical storms, at its Internet site located at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us.

Below are recommended steps to take in preparation for hurricane threats.

• Keep home in good repair. Tack down loose roofing and siding. Trim dead or broken branches from trees. The experts agree that homes can survive a hurricane's fury if a few relatively minor improvements, such as bracing the gable ends of roofs, are made. Contact your builder, a professional engineer, licensed contractor, or architect to inspect your home for structural integrity.
• Make plans and purchase materials to secure your home before the storm threatens (plywood, shutters, and/or protective window film; plastic sheeting, nails, etc.). Duct tape does not supply protection.
• Purchase a battery-powered weather alert radio.
• Inventory your property (a video tape is excellent) and store the information with insurance papers in a safe place (such as safety deposit box) or send a copy to a relative out of the area.
• Make sure your address (number) is clearly marked on your home.
• Review your insurance policies with your agent now.  Do you have homeowner's and flood insurance? Homeowner's insurance does not cover damage to your home or belongings caused by flooding. Flood insurance is available through an insurance agent or broker. If your home is substantially damaged (50% or greater), you will be required to rebuild to existing codes, which may mean elevating the structure. Will you be covered?
• Homeowners and tenants - are your contents and personal belongings covered? Will your insurance cover replacement costs?

MONEY or TRAVELERS CHECKS?
Boynton Beach Police recommend that residents consider having an adequate supply of traveler's checks on hand during the hurricane season to cover emergency situations.

While traveler's checks may provide less convenience than cash, police note that carrying large amounts of cash can be unsafe.

Getting any kind of currency in the days immediately following a hurricane impact can be difficult or impossible.

Storm damage can prevent banks from opening. Power outages can disable automated teller machines.

II. Boynton Beach goes on alert in response to hurricane threats, provides information and aid

As a hurricane approaches, the City of Boynton Beach takes steps to weather the storm and to assist the community with recovery.

During the hurricane season, departments are given daily updates on any tropical storms in the Atlantic. City workers go on alert when a hurricane threatens Boynton Beach.

As a storm approaches, listen to our twenty-four hour, seven day a week local radio station 1670 AM

To get updated information on storm preparations, residents can call 742-6455 or additional telephone numbers announced through news outlets.

The City will also assist with any evacuations ordered by Palm Beach County. At the direction of the County, the Red Cross will open local shelters. The City also has a Reverse 911 system to notify citizens of critical evacuation notices.

City activates Emergency Operations Center
Before a storm impacts Boynton Beach, the City will activate an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the East Water Treatment Plant.

It is from the EOC that emergency operations will be directed during and following the storm.  Immediately after a storm, police and fire department personnel will begin assisting residents. Everyone is encouraged to avoid travel as City workers begin clearing streets.

Emergency officials say anyone who is safe in their home should stay inside immediately after the storm. Rescue workers will go into damaged neighborhoods to search for people who need assistance.

Individuals who need to notify emergency crews about medical emergencies after the storm passes may have to flag down rescue teams if telephone contact is not possible.

III. Recovery activities aided by community's cooperation

The cooperation of everyone in the community will be required during recovery from the impact of a major hurricane, emergency officials say. When Hurricane Andrew record-setting rains left standing water in some residential areas, many homes remained dry until motorists drove through standing water at fast speeds. The resulting wakes pushed water into the homes. "There is a real need for cooperation by everyone during emergency periods," notes City Manager, Kurt Bressner.

Evacuations & Returns - Bressner said that Palm Beach County must put citizen safety first in calling for both evacuations or allowing a return to evacuated areas. "Palm Beach County has a responsibility to determine that the beach areas or other evacuation areas are safe before reopening them," Bressner said. "While we encourage the County to reopen the causeways just as quickly as possible, we understand the need for the delay. We ask that the residents be as patient as possible."

Repair Cautions – "One post-hurricane problem that has been experienced in other areas is the appearance of phony contractors who will accept money for repairs and then vanish," said Building Official Wayne Bergman. "If a hurricane causes extensive damage, the City would require that contractors register with the City. Each will be issued a letter indicating that they are registered." In dealing with any storm repairs, Bergman recommends that home or business owners get information including a contractor's business license number and a driver's license number.

Water Supply – "Immediately after a hurricane, residents should be wary of drinking water contamination until told that the supply is safe," warned Pete Mazzella, Deputy Utilities Department Director. Caution dictates that residents boil or otherwise treat drinking water until assured that is safe for consumption." An announcement that the water supply is safe will be issued as soon as is practical following a hurricane via news media.

IV. Storm Flooding Information

As you know, the Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Our area is very vulnerable to severe damage caused by high winds and associated flooding. This fact was shown when Hurricane Andrew struck the Florida east coast in the area of Homestead on August 24, 1992. Storm surge was experienced along coastal areas of the bay, but flooding was restricted to the coast, possibly due to the close proximity of canals.

In the event of a major hurricane threatens Palm Beach County, many low-lying coastal areas would be inundated to varying depths by the storm surge and exceptionally high tides which accompany the storm. Tides 3-4' above normal could occur 24-36 hours before the "EYE" of the hurricane reached the coastline. Many of the causeways, as well as mainland coastal roads, could be inundated well in advance of the storm's arrival, thus restricting or denying their use as evacuation routes.

Some areas that would possibly be subject to flooding by storm tides are:

Zone A/Category 1 – east of the U.S. 1
Zone B/Category 3 – east of the railroad tracks.

Persons living or working in these areas should be prepared to evacuate as soon as hurricane warnings are announced and seek shelter in hotels or motels west of the railroad tracks, an American Red Cross shelter, or in a friend's or relative's home. Evacuation should be completed early to avoid gale force winds and heavy rains that precede the storm's arrival.

FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
Flood watches (when conditions are right for flooding) and flood warnings (flooding is imminent) will be issued by local television and radio station. Residents in flood prone areas will also be warned of an actual emergency condition by the sounding of a steady siren tone provided by fire and law enforcement mobile units. When these signals are sounded, residents should turn to their local television and radio stations for information. Our local area emergency radio station is 1670AM.

FLOOD SAFETY
There are several actions that residents of flood hazard areas can take to decrease the potential of injury due to flooding:

Know the flood warning procedures.

• Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees.
• Keep children away from flood waters, ditches, culverts and storm drains.
• If your vehicle stalls in high water, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground.
• Evacuate the flood hazard area in times of impending flood or when advised to do so by the police or fire department.

Cut off all electric circuits at the fuse panel or disconnect all electrical appliances. Shut off the water service and gas valves in your home.

FLOOD INSURANCE
STANDARD HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT COVER LOSSES DUE TO FLOODS.

However, the City of Boynton Beach is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes it possible for Boynton Beach property owners to obtain federally back flood insurance. This insurance is available to any owner of insurable property (a building or its contents) in Boynton Beach. Tenants may also insure their personal property against flood loss.

The actual cost will vary depending upon the amount of coverage and the degree of flood hazard. We urge persons who live or own property in flood hazard areas to purchase flood insurance to protect themselves from losses due to flooding. This insurance is required in certain instances, such as the purchase of a home with a federally backed mortgage.

Residents need to be advised of the following:

• Premiums for flood insurance policy holders provide the financial recovery for insured flood losses – not tax funds. With insurance proceeds, policyholders can repair or rebuild damaged homes, clear away debris, and replace business inventories and personal belongings.
• Flood insurance claims are usually handled quickly, helping flood victims rebuild homes and businesses. Flood insurance claims are paid whether or not a federal disaster is declared.

To receive your Flood Elevation Certificate for your property and other information you may need to secure flood insurance, stop by the Boynton Beach Development Department at City Hall – Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or call (561) 742-6350 for instructions. We urge you to obtain as much information as possible about flooding.

Through the efforts of the Development Department, the City of Boynton Beach has obtained a Class 8 rating from the National Flood Insurance Program, which is one of the lowest ratings on the east coast of Florida. This provides a 10% reduction in flood insurance rates.

PROPERTY PROTECTION MEASURES

There are various actions that can be taken to flood proof structures. Electrical panel boxes, A/C condensing units, water heaters, and washers/dryers should be elevated or relocated to a location less likely to be flooded. Basement floor drains and interior and exterior backwater valves can be installed and interior floodwalls can be placed around utilities.

If flooding is likely, and time permits, move essential items and furniture to the upper floors of your home. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing. This action will help minimize the amount of damage caused by floodwaters.

Development Department personnel are available to review and critique construction plans to assist citizens in the elimination of flood hazards. The Department maintains a current list of contractors who are available to handle this retrofitting.

No construction, including the moving of earth, is allowed in the floodplain without a permit from the Development Department. If you are aware of construction taking place illegally in the floodplain, please contact the City's Code Compliance Division at (561) 742-6120. Residents can also help prevent flooding by maintaining swale areas, refraining from dumping into canals and waterways, and by reporting those activities to the City.

While there are no rivers in the City of Boynton Beach and little flooding has occurred in the past, those areas lying east of Federal Highway are particularly vulnerable to flooding from hurricane storm surges, and people living in those areas should be prepared if a major storm threatens.

Information is available the City Library and the Development Department concerning warning procedures, evacuation routes, signals used during the warning period, what radio station to listen to, how to flood-proof your home, how to install window and door covers, and how to protect household goods that may become water-damaged. Also, when a flood may be threatening, check about turning off gas and electricity.

If your homeowners association or condominium association would like to hold a workshop on hurricane/flood awareness, please contact Wayne Bergman, Building Official, at (561) 742-6350.

FLOOD HAZARD AREAS

Two types of flood hazard areas are designated in Boynton Beach – the Floodway and the Flood Fringe. To determine if you live, or own property, in a flood hazard district, contact the City of Boynton Beach Building Division at (561) 742-6350.

By following some simple precautions, you can rest easier if a storm or flood condition threatens our area. Contact your insurance carriers concerning availability of flood insurance rates and coverage for your property.

EVACUATION ZONES

Be aware that evacuation may be necessary east of the FEC railroad tracks for a Category 3 or higher hurricane.

See also: Palm Beach County Emergency Management System S.A.M.S. (Surge Area Mapping System)

V. What are the different flood hazard zone designations and what do they mean?

Zone A is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the 1-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.

Zones AE and A1-A30 are the flood insurance rate zones that correspond to the 1-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 is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of 1-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 is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of 1-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 AR is the flood insurance rate zone used to depict areas protected from flood hazards by flood control structures, such as a levee, that are being restored. FEMA will consider using the Zone AR designation for a community if the flood protection system has been deemed restorable by a Federal agency in consultation with a local project sponsor; a minimum level of flood protection is still provided to the community by the system; and restoration of the flood protection system is scheduled to begin within a designated time period and in accordance with a progress plan negotiated between the community and FEMA. Mandatory purchase requirements for flood insurance will apply in Zone AR, but the rate will not exceed the rate for an unnumbered Zone A if the structure is built in compliance with Zone AR floodplain management regulations.

For floodplain management in Zone AR areas, the property owner is not required to elevate an existing structure when making improvements to the structure. However, for new construction, the structure must be elevated (or floodproofed for non-residential structures) so that the lowest floor, including basement, is a minimum of 3 feet above the highest adjacent existing grade, if the depth of the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) does not exceed 5 feet at the proposed development site. For infill sites, rehabilitation of existing structures, or redevelopment of previously developed areas, there is a 3-foot elevation requirement regardless of the depth of the BFE at the project site.
The Zone AR designation will be removed and the restored flood control system will be shown as providing protection from the 1-percent annual chance flood on the National Flood Insurance Program map upon completion of the restoration project and submittal of all the necessary data to FEMA.

Zone A99 is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to areas within the 1-percent annual chance floodplain that will be protected by a Federal flood protection system
where construction has reached specified statutory milestones. No Base Flood Elevations or depths are shown within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

The Zone D designation is used for areas where there are possible but undetermined flood hazards. In areas designated as Zone D, no analysis of flood hazards has been conducted. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements do not apply, but coverage is available. The flood insurance rates for properties in Zone D are commensurate with the uncertainty of the flood risk.

Zone V is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to areas within the 1-percent annual chance coastal floodplains that have additional hazards associated with storm waves. Because approximate hydraulic analyses are performed for such areas, no Base Flood Elevations are shown within this zone. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

Zone VE is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to areas within the 1-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 are the flood insurance rate zones that correspond to areas outside the 1-percent annual chance floodplain, areas of 1-percent annual chance sheet flow flooding where average depths are less than 1 foot, areas of 1-percent annual chance stream flooding where the contributing drainage area is less than 1 square mile, or areas protected from the 1-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.

VI. Additional Information

Additional information may be obtained from the Palm Beach County's Office of Emergency Management (712-6400). That office also maintains an Emergency Management webpage.

Palm Beach County is the lead agency in hurricane responses and is responsible for ordering evacuations when required. Also visit Palm Beach County webpage,  Hurricane Preparedness 2007.

Extensive information on retrofitting your home and steps you need to take when recovering from a flood is available at the Boynton Beach City Library Reference area and the West Wing Building Division at City Hall.