Public meetings set for proposed Flood Insurance Rate Map changes

County property owners may soon see changes in their flood insurance requirements. To help explain the changes and what actions property owners may need to take, Pinellas County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are partnering to hold four Open House meetings Sept. 25 – 27. The meetings will provide information to property owners that may be affected by proposed changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

FIRMs show the extent and risk for flooding and are used to determine flood insurance premiums and building requirements. FEMA released the updated map in June, and many property owners are seeing a projected change in their flood risk. Residents can view their map change at www.pinellascounty.org/flooding/fema_firm.htm. Data has been updated since the original release in late June, so property owners who checked the map earlier should do so again.

The meeting dates and sites are as follows:

• Tuesday, Sept. 25: YMCA at Lealman Community Campus, 5175 45th St. N., St. Petersburg, 6 – 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 26: Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater, 6 – 9 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 27: Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th Street N., Seminole, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m.