Item I02 I2
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor Craig Cates,District 1
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Michelle Lincoln,District 2
James K.Scholl,District 3
m' David Rice,District 4
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
October 18, 2023
Agenda Item Number: I2
2023-1581
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Building and Permitting
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Ed Koconis
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: A Resolution of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
Adopting the Monroe County Multi jurisdictional Program for Public Information Update; and
Providing for an Effective Date.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System(CRS) is a voluntary
incentive that encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP
requirements. Participation in the program is based on a point system. The more points you score, the
more discounts you receive for NFIP policy holders.
Adoption of the Program for Public Information (PPI)update, which is required every five(5)years per
the CRS program, is one of the activities providing points to assist in maintaining the County's (and
every municipality in the county as they all participate) score.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
On April 12, 2017 the Board adopted the Monroe County Multi jurisdictional Program for Public
Information through Resolution 113-2017.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
PPI Update 2023 Final.docx
PPI_Resolution_Update.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
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N/A
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Monroe County ,
Multi ' ri- u �d�ctiona
far Program Public
Information
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March 21, 2017
(Revised 7/10/2018)
(Updated 8/1/2023)
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Contents
List of Tables i
1. Background 1
2. Objective 2
3. The PPI Committee 2
4. Assessment of Public Information Needs 5
4.1 The Flood Hazard 5
4.2 Natural Floodplain Functions 8
4.3 Priority Areas 9
4.4 Flood Insurance Coverage Assessment _ 10
4.5 Coverage Improvement _ 14
4.6 Coverage Improvement Message 15
4.6. Priority Audiences 15
4.7. Current Outreach Efforts 16
5. Outcomes and Messages 19
6. Delivering the Messages 21
7. Outreach Projects 23
& Flood Response Projects 26
9. Implementation and Evaluation 31
List of Tables
Table2. Repetitive Loss.................................................................................................................. 9
Table 3. NFIP Policies in the SFHA ............................................................................................... 10
Table 4. Insurance Coverage Table Categories ........................................................................... 10
Table S. Insurance Coverage by Occupancy Type....................................................................... 11
Table 6. Summary of Pre and Post FIRM Policies........................................................................ 14
Table 7. Current Outreach Projects............................................................................................. 16
Table 9. Planned Outreach Projects ............................................................................................ 23
Table 10 Annual Public Information Projects.............................................................................. 25
Table11.Type of Project ............................................................................................................. 26
Table 12. Flood Protection Messages for All Monroe County Communities............................. 27
Table 13. Flood Response Planned Projects................................................................................ 29
Table 14. Flood Response Project Delivery................................................................................. 29
Table 15.Type of Flood Response Project .................................................................................. 30
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1„ Background
Monroe County is located in the southernmost region of Florida.The County consists of a largely
uninhabited mainland section, mostly contained within Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress
National Preserve, and the chain of islands known as the Florida Keys. More than 99 percent of the
County's population lives in the Keys.
The Florida Keys consist of a uniquely situated archipelago, 220 miles in length, located between the
Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They have 600 miles of exposed coastline.The majority of these
islands are bordered by a mangrove plant system. Unlike many of Florida's coastal barrier islands,
sandy beaches are uncommon and are mostly located on the Atlantic side of the islands.
Essentially, the Florida Keys consist of a string of coral islands with an average elevation of 4 to 7 feet
above mean sea level. Much of the Keys would be flooded in a Category 5 worst case storm event. Two
sections in the City of Key West and several coral ridges on Key Largo are the only areas above the
predicted flood level.
The Monroe County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan notes that:
Monroe County's highway transportation system is exceptionally unique in that a single road
with connecting bridges forms the backbone of the entire county transportation network, and
the sole link to the Florida mainland.
United States Highway One (US 1) is two-lane highway for most of its length. It links the islands with 41
bridges. The bridge system comprises a total of 19 miles of the 126-mile-long roadway.
US 1 is the main evacuation route for the Florida Keys.
The Florida Keys have been named by the National Hurricane Center as an area most prone to the
effects of tropical cyclones. In addition to this risk, they are a popular destination for 15,000 to 50,000
seasonal and holiday overnight visitors. Shelters located in Monroe County do not provide adequate
protection for evacuees in the event of a Category 3 or stronger storm. Therefore, evacuating the
population plus the visitors is a major issue, complicated by the fact that there is only one highway
serving as the sole evacuation route.
An increase in the frequency of flood inundation has been predicted due to the impacts of climate
change and the resulting sea level rise. These changes mean that the County's citizens need to be
educated on both the larger floods from hurricanes and the smaller, more frequent, floods from local
storms and king tides.
One important floodplain management program is the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and its
Community Rating System (CRS). All six communities in the County participate in the CRS. In 2016,
Monroe County, Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West, agreed that, given the unique flooding hazards
in the Florida Keys, enhanced and uniform communications are critical elements in saving lives and
avoiding property damage. Therefore, they would work together to prepare a joint Program for Public
Information (PPI).
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In 2018, the PPI was revised to include the City of Key Colony Beach. The 2023 PPI Update includes the
City of Layton. The PPI now includes all municipalities in Monroe County. The Committee agrees that
having all of the municipalities disseminating unified messaging is vital to educate citizens on how to
best prepare for flooding and to protect life and property in a flooding event.
„ Objecfllve
The objective of this Program for Public Information is to develop and deliver unified messages to
affected residents and businesses so they will take actions to reduce their exposure to the danger and
property damage caused by flooding.
This Program for Public information was prepared following a step-by-step process encouraged by the
Community Rating System.
a ®
MENOMINEE
As part of the 2023 Update to the PPI, each step of the process was evaluated and updated as directed
by the PPI Committee.
„ The M Comm ttee
The Monroe County Program for Public Information began with the creation of the PPI Committee with
representatives of both public stakeholders and local governmental staff. All Monroe County
jurisdictions were invited to an organizational meeting in April of 2016 to discuss the formation of this
PPI Committee. It was decided that each community participating in the PPI would have committee
members appointed by their local governing boards.
More than half of the committee members are from local stakeholder groups which include lending
institutions, the real estate industry, insurance agencies, the University of Florida, and Fair Insurance
Rates for Monroe (FIRM). The balance of the committee members consists of floodplain administrators
and the Monroe County Public Information Officer.
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The PP| Committee Members are updated due to staff changes, the addition of Key Colony Beach and
Layton along with shifts in Stakeholder availability to participate with the PPI Committee. The updated
committee isinTable 1. below.
Resident City of Key Colony Beacli
Karl Bursa 7 77,-)oeacl1 7
Building Assistant City of Key Colony Beach
Jay W. Hall
Senior Vice Presiden t Coi,nimercial Ban ker "T'r u i s t City of Key West
Rebeca Horan,
Insurance Agent Keys Anchor Insurance Agency City of Key West
Raj Rallhirns�ing
Building Official City of Key West
Brian Shea
Planning Director City of Maraffion
Real Estate Agent Coldwell Banker Scli nitt Real Estate Co. City of Maratlion
Theresa Faber
Commercial Loan Officer Centennial Bank City of Marathon
County Extensions Director University of Florida, Extension Village of Islands
Realtor Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate Co. Village of Islands
Floodplaiin/CRS Coordinator Village of Islands
Mimi Young
CRS Coordinator Layton
Realtor Caldwell Bankers Layton
Kristen Livengood
Public Information Officer Monroe County
Vice President Sales Insurance Office of Aimerica Monroe County
Michele White
President Monroe County Market First Horizon Bank Monroe County
Mflike Maurer
MOCO Resident Monroe County
Torn Hairffling
Coi,nimissioner Key Colony Beacli
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The PPI Committee has met bi-annual since 2015 to accomplish the following tasks.
®®® Assess and identify any additional county wide public information needs.
®®® Determine if the priority groups that warrant special outreach attention are still appropriate.
®®® Evaluate the PPI messages and outcomes and make recommendations as necessary.
®®® Identify the need for new outreach projects to convey messages.
®®® Examine other public information initiatives.
The meetings were held in a public forum. Notifications of these meetings were published on the
Monroe County Website. Additionally, email notifications were sent to local officials, emergency
management, and floodplain development staff and the public information officers in the participating
jurisdictions.
The first official PPI Committee meeting was held on June 28, 2016. The meeting was opened with a
general overview of the steps found in the above outline. Committee members exchanged ideas
regarding current effective outreach, and the need to fill the gaps within outreach projects designed to
relay clear messages. The umbrella outcome was that the target groups of critical concern should begin
to change their behaviors and act to reduce exposure to flood-related hazards.
The second meeting of the PPI committee on August 28, 2016, included the discussion of the inventory
of projects and messages currently disseminated by local jurisdictions, stakeholders, and other public
entities. Each committee member was given the information summarized in the tables in Section 4.4
Flood Insurance Assessment. The consensus of the committee was that an assessment of the current
level of flood insurance coverage should be included in the PPI and monitored by the Committee.
At the third meeting on November 15, 2016, the group focused on stakeholders and priority messages.
The PPI committee heard two guest speakers, Jonathan Rizzo, a Warning Coordination Meteorologist
with NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), and Julie Botteri, Upper/Middle Keys Stringer and Web
Editor for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC). NWS and TDC have been longtime
partners in disseminating messages to visitors, businesses, local government and citizens.
It was decided that:
®®® The PPI should continue the current partnership with the NWS.
®®® FIRM (Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe) will continue to promote acquisition of flood
insurance, provide education, and relay important messages to other groups.
®®® The University of Florida Extensions will partner with, and endorse, the PPI messages to
targeted groups.
®®® The PPI will support the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management's "Get A Plan!"
campaign.This campaign delivers the same messages supported by the committee.
The final meeting was held by the PPI Committee on March 21, 2017. The messages and projects were
agreed on and the overall directions for the Multi-jurisdictional Monroe County Program for Public
Information were discussed. The Committee unanimously voted to recommend approval of the
program to each of the community's governing body.
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The PPI Committee began working on an update to the PPI during the 2021 PPI meetings. In 2022 the
Committee agreed on the necessary 2023 updates to the PPI. It was decided that the partnership with
stakeholders has been successful and should be continued.
The PPI Committee's final updated recommendations on target audiences, outcomes, messages, and
outreach projects are summarized in Table 8. Minutes of the committee meetings are available
separately.
4.. Assessment of Pubhc lnfoirmafllon Needs
4.1 The Flood Hazard
Monroe County is in an area of the United States most vulnerable to the threat of
r� flood damage due to tropical cyclones (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical
depressions). The frequency and severity of flooding is expected to increase in the
future due to sea level rise. Climate change has also been predicted to cause more
frequent and severe rainfall events.
Based on SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) mapping models, the National
Hurricane Center has determined that the Florida Keys would be inundated by storm surges from all
categories of hurricanes and some tropical storms (see Figure 2, next page). Because of this, the
Monroe County Evacuation strategy for a Category 3 or greater storm calls for a mandatory evacuation
of all Monroe County residents and visitors.
The inherent erratic and irregular tracks of tropical cyclones make it difficult to predict where
hurricanes will make landfall. Severe weather is often localized to a specific area due to the
geographical makeup of the Florida Keys. The time needed to evacuate all visitors, residents, hospitals,
and Special Needs clients could range from 12 hours to more than 30 hours.
A problem unique to the Florida Keys—due to its remote location and single evacuation route by land—
is the need to begin evacuations well in advance of a storm's projected landfall, before the storm's
track and intensity can be qualified with any great certainty. During years with multiple storm threats
and evacuations for cyclone impacts that ultimately never make landfall, the public becomes very
complacent with evacuation warnings, increasing the likelihood that greater numbers of people won't
evacuate.
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Another important factor in the time required to prepare for a hurricane threat and subsequent
evacuation is the influx of tourists attending annual events, peak vacation windows and holidays. These
reasons, coupled with the limited capacity of US1, the main evacuation route, have compelled Monroe
County to implement a phased evacuation system (see Figure 1).
Figure 1, Evacuation Mop
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Zone 1:MM 0 to MM 6
Zone 2:MM 6 to MM 40
Zone 3:MM 40 to MM 63
Zone 4:MM 63 to the three-way stop at CR 905-A
Zone 5:CR 905-A to mainland Monroe County,including Ocean Reef
In all storm categories, any visitors (tourists, campers, day-trip travelers, etc.), will be the first to be
instructed to evacuate to the mainland in order to ensure their safety. In the event of a rapidly
escalating storm, a general evacuation to the mainland would be necessary. It is imperative to have a
communications program in place to provide crucial information to help visitors safely exit the Florida
Keys.
Figure 1, Florida Keys Sorge Mop
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The Florida Keys have weathered numerous hurricanes and tropical storms. The paragraphs below
describe six most significant storms. The "Big Six," caused the lion's share of the NFIP claims in the
Keys.
Hurricane Georges—September 1998
Hurricane Georges had winds of up to 155 mph,just below Category 5
status. The eye of the storm passed near Key West. Upon making landfall,
Hurricane Georges brought a storm surge of up to 12 feet on Tavernier
Key. With waves, as high as 10 feet, many parts of US1 were underwater.
Georges' waves damaged an estimated 1,536 houses, and destroyed over
170 residences.
Hurricane Mitch— November 1998
I9 Mitch formed in the western Caribbean Sea and ultimately struck Florida
as a strong tropical storm. Mitch caused a storm surge of up to 4 feet in
the lower Florida Keys before making landfall on the Florida west coast.
Many buildings that had been damaged by Hurricane Georges were
leveled by Mitch. In all, Mitch caused $40 million in damage in Florida
and two deaths from drowning.
Hurricane Irene—October 1999
Irene struck Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. While moving through the
Keys, Irene produced a storm surge of up to 2.3 feet in Key Vaca,
while Key West reported a surge of 1.5 feet. Irene produced heavy rainfall
in the Keys, including 12 inches of rain in Key West. The rain flooded
roads throughout the Keys, prompting officials to close 50 miles of US 1.
Hurricane Rita —September 2005
Rita passed approximately 45 mi south of Key West as a Category 2 storm.
YID Most of the Keys experienced rainfall accumulations of three or more
!III inches. A maximum storm surge of 5 feet was recorded, with at least 200
flooded homes in a four-block section of Key West. The Upper Keys
suffered extensive damage from this storm system. Claims to NFIP for
flood damage were submitted from the entire 126 miles stretch of the Florida Keys.
" "" �` Hurricane Wilma —October 2005
Flooding from Wilma occurred twice. First, the approaching storm pushed
water across the Florida Keys from south to north. As the storm finally
crossed into the Everglades, all the water that had been pushed there by
the storm was released as Wilma crossed the peninsula. The water then
raced back across the Lower Keys a second time and emptied into the sea.
The "backwash" of up to 8 feet constituted the peak of the storm surge.
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Hurricane Irma —September 2017
Irma made landfall as a category 4 hurricane in the Florida Keys. The
combined effect of storm surge and the tide produced maximum
inundation levels of 5 to 8 ft above ground level for portions of the Lower
Florida Keys from Cudjoe Key eastward to Big Pine Key and Bahia Honda
Key. Irma caused widespread devastation across the affected areas and
was one of the strongest and costliest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin.
Conclusions: Based on the 2023 PPI review of past flooding and the threat of increased hazards due to
climate change, the PPI Committee concluded:
®®® The primary threat to life safety in the Florida Keys is flooding from hurricanes and larger
storms that may over wash the islands.
®®® The best way to protect against this life safety threat is evacuation. There are many obstacles to
evacuating the Keys in time, so public information messages on how to do it right are vital.
®®® The primary threat to property is flooding from storm surge and waves from hurricanes and
larger storms.
4.2 Natural Floodplain Functions
Monroe County is home to many varieties of protected or endangered species of wildlife.These
species and their habitats deserve protection. A great deal of emphasis has been placed on the
protection of Species Focus Areas in Monroe County.
II I�Il�iiiiiiiii I !!i„ � IIIIIIIII III,, II II pill III
Measures to be taken for the conservation and protection of the natural floodplain and habitat areas
include:
®®® Preventing disturbance to areas that provide critical flood water storage and filtration
functions, including mangroves, salt ponds, saltmarsh and buttonwood wetlands, and
freshwater wetlands.
®®® Preventing excessive clearing and disturbance to natural upland vegetation within the
floodplain.
®®® Minimizing any alteration of natural drainage patterns within the floodplain.
®®® Protecting areas that provide natural water storage and filtration, such as wetlands.
In addition to limiting development related activities that have an adverse impact on natural floodplain
functions, the 2022 State Florida Statutes, Article XL, Chapter 704.06 (b) and (f) prohibits the dumping
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of waste or other materials that are detrimental to drainage and flood control. Each community
participating in the PPI has multiple ways of reporting illegal dumping. Code enforcement procedures
are in place to limit or stop offenders.
Conclusions: The PPI Committee concluded that the public information program should continue to
encourage citizens to appreciate the natural beauty and environment in the Keys by protecting
endangered species and their habitat, preventing detrimental development, and reporting illegal
activity or uses of land within the floodplain.
4.3 Priority Areas
The 2023 review of the current flood maps, the history of flooding, and the projections for the future
led to the conclusion that there are two types of priority flood hazard areas:
1. The entire area of the Florida Keys is subject to inundation and/or isolation by flooding. People are
at risk everywhere. The entire Keys can be considered priority area #1 because the entire Keys
would be under water during a Category 5 hurricane and the entire area should be evacuated when
a large storm threatens.
2. Priority area #2 is where there is repetitive flooding. Repetitive loss properties are properties
where two or more flood insurance claims of at least $1,000 were paid over a ten-year period. A
review of the communities' flood insurance records found that 96% of the repetitive loss properties
got their designation from the Big Five storms discussed above.
Mapping repetitive loss areas is a requirement for participation in the Community Rating System.
Each community with repetitive loss areas continues to monitor the repetitive loss data and update
the repetitive loss area accordingly.The table below summarizes the areas affected.
For the 2023 update, the Committee discussed adding a priority area which would include areas
subject to tidal flooding due to sea level rise. However, it was decided that not enough data and
mapping exist at this time to determine the specific priority area. In addition, at this time, the tidal
flooding is limited to streets.The committee will reassess this during the annual meeting.
Table 1® Repetitive Loss
rrV.'C r 111
Islamorada, Village of Islands 4,980 221
City of Key Colony Beach 1,098 160
City of Key West 10,807 1,301
City of Layton 182 0
City of Marathon 4,773 176
Monroe County 21,875 7,477
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4.4 Flood Insurance Coverage Assessment
The committee began reassessing the level of flood insurance coverage by looking at three sets of data
provided by FEMA:
®®® Policy coverage by FIRM Zone,
®®® Coverage by type of occupancy, and
®®® Coverage for pre-FIRM and post-FIRM buildings
It was concluded that coverage by FIRM Zone remain exactly the same as was previously reported and
would not be productive because almost all the policies, like the land in the County, are in the SFHA.
Risk Rating 2.0 has also been implemented and insurance rates are determined by risk rather than
FIRM Zone furthering the argument to look at total coverage rather than coverage by Zone. Here are
the numbers:
Table 2. NFIP Policies In the SFHA
e
Islamorada, Village of Islands 95%
City of Key Colony Beach 100%
City of Key West 85%
City of Layton 100%
City of Marathon 100%
Monroe County 96%
The other two sets of data were worth assessing. The number of policies by type are compared to the
number of buildings by type, using data from the County property assessor and local GIS data. There
was not an exact match of occupancy type, but as seen in Table 4, the categories are close:
Table 3. Insurance Coverage Table Categories
Table S Category Insurance Property Assessor and Local GIS
Single family home Single family home Single family home, mobile home,
Multi family residence 2-4 family, all other residential Multi-family, condominium units and buildings
Table 6 Category
Pre-FIRM Pre-FIRM Certificate of occupancy issued before 12/31/1974
Post-FIRM Post-FIRM Certificate of occupancy issued after 12/31/1974
*All six communities' FIRMS were issued before 12/31/1974. A building constructed after that date is considered
Post-FIRM if the FIRM was published earlier.
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The PPI Committee has been reviewing the number of buildings insured under these categories and
reporting the trends annually in the CRS Annual PPI Progress Report since 2016. In general, the trend
has been that the number of policies has decreased slightly while the average coverage per building
remained fairly steady.
Coverage by occupancy: Coverage by single family is useful, however, the multi family coverage
percentage and amount of coverage appear skewed by the number of condo buildings and unit
policies. This is particularly evident in Key Colony Beach due to the disproportionate number of condo
units to single family occupancies ratios in the city. The Committee also discussed that comparing the
total number of residential (Single Family and Multi-Family) may give a better picture of the NFIP
insurance trends by occupancy. The results of the coverage by occupancy are demonstrated in Table 5
below.
Table 4® Insurance Coverage by Occupancy Type
Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Occupancy
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 1,904 4,057 47% $545,611,000 $286,560
Multi-Family 1,259 121 1040% $277,558,900 $220,460
Total 3,163 4,178 76% $823,169,900 $260,250
Occupancy Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 3,656 7,852 47% $1,016,653,900 $278,078
Multi-Family 2,813 897 314% $603,881,300 $214,675
Total 6,469 8,749 74% $1,620,535,200 $250,508
Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Occupancy
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 474 720 66% $127,990,200 $270,022
Multi-Family 527 378 139% $109,723,000 $208,203
Total 1,001 1,098 91% $237,713,200 $237,476
Occupancy Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 731 149 49% $18,079,400 $247,663
Multi-Family 7 311 23% $2,017,000 $288,143
Total 80 180 44% $20,096,400 $251,205
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Occupancy Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 1,974 3,698 53% $508,149,300 $137,412
Multi-Family 1,110 527 211% $239,379,200 $215,657
Total 3,084 4,225 73% $747,528,500 $242,389
Occupancy Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Number Number Covered Amount Average
Single Family 9,093 20,855 44% $2,323,484,650 $255,525
Multi-Family 3,933 948 415% $697,196,000 $177,268
Total 13,026 211803 60% $3,020,680,650 $231,896
It was noted that the data provided is for total coverage. The data does not show if policies include
contents coverage. Nationally, most policies do not, so it can be assumed that most policies in Monroe
County do not have contents coverage. That assumption is supported by the fact that the average
policy is below the maximum available for structure-only coverage ($250,000 for 1—4 family
residences and $500,000 for five or more family residential and nonresidential policies). The
Committee decided that although the NIFP insurance coverage for residential structures has remained
fairly stable, and the amount is understandable, the coverage the but could also be improved,
especially if the policies do not include contents.
Pre- and Post-FIRM building coverage: Table 6 on the next page shows the amount of coverage based
on the age of the buildings.
In Key West, pre-FIRM buildings have higher levels of coverage. Key West is a historic City with older
properties that hold higher values, which explains why the coverage is higher for pre-FIRM
buildings. However, as noted earlier, the amount coverage on all properties could be improved.
Key Colony Beach coverage continues to indicate that the number of condo units insured are inflating
pre-and post- FIRM coverage estimates.
The County coverage for pre-and post-FIRM building has moved toward being evenly split.
Coverage Influencers:The committee recognized that there are challenges to relying on a public
information program to improve flood insurance coverage. The decision to purchase an NFIP flood
insurance policy is dependent on a myriad of factors, including, but not limited to:
®®® The increasing cost of flood insurance under RR 2.0
®®® RR 2.0 reporting of the CRS discounts on NFIP policies
®®® The economic climate
®®® Structure values
®®® Structures with Federally backed loans
The Committee discussed two additional factors that may be influencing insurance trends:
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Citizens Flood Insurance Requirement:
Flood insurance coverage is now required as of April 1, 2023, for new Citizens personal residential
policies that include wind coverage for covered property within the special flood hazard area. The
requirement to secure and maintain flood coverage for Personal Lines residential policies will be
phased in for all such policyholders over the next four years under a plan the Florida Legislature
approved in December.
The flood insurance requirements apply only to Citizens policyholders who have a Personal Lines
residential policy.
New Personal Lines residential policyholders seeking Citizens coverage, including coverage for the peril
of wind, in areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Special Flood
Hazard Area are required as of April 1, 2023, to have flood insurance coverage to be eligible for a
Citizens policy. Existing Citizens policyholders in designated FEMA flood hazard areas whose policy
includes wind coverage will be required to have flood insurance to renew their Citizens policies on or
after July 1, 2023.
For all other Citizens Personal Lines residential policies that include wind coverage, the flood insurance
requirement will be phased in for new and renewing policyholders over the next four years as follows:
January 1, 2024, for policies insuring property valued at $600,000 or more
January 1, 2025, for policies insuring property valued at $500,000 or more
January 1, 2026, for policies insuring property valued at $400,000 or more
January 1, 2027, for all other policies
Citizens does not provide flood insurance, and flood coverage is not provided under standard
multiperil policies. Requiring flood coverage better protects you from potentially expensive out-of-
pocket repairs. Federally backed mortgages typically require flood insurance for properties located
within flood zones.
If you don't wish to purchase flood insurance, you will not be eligible for a Personal Lines residential
policy with Citizens. Contact your agent to discuss options that may be available within the private
insurance market. Private policies that may offer more comprehensive coverage now might be
comparably priced. Citizens' policyholders are subject to a potential assessment of up to 45% of their
premium following a major storm or series of storms.
It is key to note that it is estimated that more than 90% of the insurance coverage in Monroe County is
through Citizens.
RR2.0
Risk Rating 2.0 is a new pricing methodology from FEMA for flood risk. It is designed to better reflect a
property's unique flood risk while also providing rates that are easier for agents and policyholders to
understand. It will use the latest actuarial practices to set risk-based rates, allowing consumers to make
more informed decisions about flood insurance and reducing the complexity for insurance agents to
generate quotes. Some customers may experience a change in premium. To make the changes more
IPa ge 113
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equitable, FEMA will look at detailed flood risk variables such as distance to a water source, flood
frequency, flood types, and property characteristics like the cost to rebuild and elevation.
The Committee annually addresses the question of adequate flood insurance coverage.
4.5 Coverage Improvement
Recommendations: The Committee continues to agree that flood insurance coverage does not appear
to be adequate and could be improved. While it is impossible to expect a public information program
to control coverage, the committee determined that tracking the number of polices and coverage
would clearly be useful.
To that end, the committee recommends that flood insurance policy counts be monitored annually.
Each year, the spreadsheet used to create Tables 5 and 6 will be populated with current data and
community building counts. The calculations will provide information regarding the general trends of
insurance coverage in each jurisdiction that can then be compared to trends in previous years. The
annual assessment will also track and report on the outside factors that may be impacting the decision
of residents in purchasing new flood insurance policies and the renewal of those already in existence.
Table 5. Summary of Pre and Post FIRM Policies
mom
Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Number Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 869 1,670 52% $241,900,100 $278,366
Post-Firm 2,600 3,278 79% $720,360,300 $277,062
Total 3,469 4,948 70% $962,260,400 $277,388
Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Number Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 539 223 242% $113,895,400 $211,309
Post-Firm 480 j 497 97% j $130,562,800 $272,006
Total 1,019 720 142% $244,458,200 $239,900
Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Number Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 3,819 5,622 68% $1,055,517,800 $276,386
Post-Firm 3,289 4,720 70% $880,218,900 $267,625
Total 7,108 10,342 69% $1,935,736,700 $272,332
Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Number Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 33 69 48% $8,137,400 $246,588
Post-Firm 60 j 117 51% j $18,548,000 $309,133
Total 93 186 50% $26,685,400 $286,940
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Policies in Force Buildings %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Number Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 1,433 1,989 72% $322,146,700 $224,806
Post-Firm 1,975 j 3,153 63% j $556,631,600 $281,839
Total 3,408 5,142 66% $878,778,300 $257,857
EM
Policies in Force Building %of Buildings Amount of Coverage
Type Number Amount Covered Dollar Average
Pre-FIRM 3,865 6,877 56% $833,401,600 $215,628
Post Firm 9,027 j 17,002 53% j $2,475,873,750 $274,274
Total 12,892 23,879 54% $3,309,275,350 $256,692
4.6 Coverage Improvement Message
The following recommendations were made by the committee to promote the value of insuring one's
property for damage by a flood:
1. Encourage evaluation of flood insurance for sufficient coverage, including that for contents, by
renters, owners, nonresident owners and business owners in the repetitive loss areas.
2. Inform all residents that homeowner' insurance policies do not cover damage from flood.
3. Educate property owners and residents in repetitive loss areas of ways to reduce risk from flood
which could lower flood insurance premiums.
4. Inform home buyers of the importance of knowing the flood risks and the availability of NFIP
flood insurance.
5. Continue partnerships with community stakeholders in order to promote the understanding of
how flood insurance works and ways to mitigate risk.
4. . Priority Audiences
Some areas and people deserve more attention than others. For that reason, a Program for Public
Information should identify priority areas and audiences that would receive different messages.
After reviewing and assessing the flood hazard threats and flood insurance data, the PPI Committee
continues to recommend the following priority audiences (Pas):
PA#1: is priority area #1, i.e., All residents, businesses, and visitors in the Florida Keys. As noted in
Section 4, people are at risk everywhere. People throughout the Keys (including tourists) need to know
about the flood hazard, evacuation and safety precautions, rules for construction, and protecting
natural floodplain functions.
PA#2: is priority area #2, the repetitive loss areas. Repetitive loss area owners need information on
ways to protect their properties from repeated flooding.
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PA#3: is key professionals involved with real estate transactions. Real estate and insurance agents
along with lenders need to know how to help protect house hunters and others looking for property by
advising them of potential flood hazards and the benefits of flood insurance.
PA#4: the tourist industry. The ultimate audience is all tourists. However, they are hard to contact, and
it is difficult for a centralized program to reach them all.Therefore, the audience for PPI materials
would be the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that deal directly with tourists. The PPI
materials should advise these businesses to give tourists information on flood hazards, evacuation
procedures, and flood safety measures.
PA#5: The electronic media, radio and television stations that cover the Keys. They should give
listeners and viewers messages on the flood hazard, evacuation procedures, and flood safety
measures.
PA#6: Building department customers, i.e., everyone considering a construction project, needs to
know to hire a licensed contractor.
4.7. Current Outreach Efforts
The PPI Committee reviewed the outreach efforts currently being implemented by public agencies and
private organizations. These are listed in Table 7, below.
Table 6® Current Outreach Projects
Keys Weekly and
Contractor Licensing Licensed Contractor Barometer
Board Advertisement County-wide Newspaper Annual
FEMA Various Brochures County-wide Building Department Ongoing
Property Insurance Users
FIRM Guide County-wide FIRM Website Ongoing
FIRM Mitigation Workshops County-wide YouTube Ongoing
Islamorada EM Events Islamorada Booths Annual
Islamorada Newspaper Insert Islamorada Brochure Annual
Islamorada RL Brochure Islamorada Brochure Annual
Islamorada,
Islamorada, Marathon, Marathon, Key
Key Colony Beach, Key Colony Beach, Key
West, Layton, MOCO Website West, Layton, MOCO Website Ongoing
Key Colony Beach Hurricane Season Letter Key Colony Beach Letter Annual
Key Colony Beach RL Area Letter Key Colony Beach Letter Annual
Key West RL Brochure Key West Brochure Annual
Key West Real Estate Brochure Key West Brochure Ongoing
Key West Website County-wide Website Ongoing
Brochure to Lenders,
Key West Realtors, Insurance Industry Key West Brochure Annual
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Keys Weekly Hurricane Guide County-wide Brochure Annual
Layton Flood Brochure Layton Brochure Annual x2
a. 1b ID 0 1 0
Layton Target Group Letter Layton Letter Annual
Marathon Flood Brochure Marathon Brochure Annual
MOCO Building Facts on Flooding MOCO Everyone Brochure Annual
MOCO Building Repetitive Loss Outreach MOCO RL Areas Brochure Annual
Know Before You Buy MOCO Realtors,
MOCO Building Brochure Lenders, Insurance Letter and Brochure Annual
MOCO EM Evacuation Signs County-wide Signs Ongoing
Newspaper Insert/
Citizen, Barometer,
MOCO EM Protecting Paradise County-wide Keynoter Annual
MOCO EM Channel 76 Broadcast County-wide Television Annual
Various Presentations
MOCO EM Monroe County EM County-wide Events Annual
Emergency Management
MOCO EM Website County-wide Website Ongoing
MOCO EM Facebook County-wide Social Media Ongoing
MOCO EM Flood Brochure EM Events County-wide Monroe County EM Various
Monroe County Media Book
MOCO PIO and Flood Brochure Media Media Blitz Annual
NWS Facebook County-wide Social Media Annual
Hurricane Program and
NWS Keys Responding to Disasters County-wide Workshop Annual
NWS Keys Storm Spotting Class County-wide Workshop 2 Annual
Florida Keys NWS
NWS Keys Website/publications County-wide Website Ongoing
NWS Keys FB and Twitter County-wide Social Media Annual
Publix Hurricane Brochure County-wide Brochure Ongoing
Tourist Related
TDC Prepared in Paradise County-wide Businesses Ongoing
Tourist Related
TDC Tourist Industry Workshop County-wide Businesses Annual
TDC Facebook County-wide Social Media Annual
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An assessment of these current efforts concluded that they provide a lot of coverage on flood
insurance and floodplain management issues, in addition to hurricanes and hazard topics. The
Committee felt that the following media would be the most effective and supportive of the PPI's
messages.
News media
Media outlets distribute current weather conditions, warnings, evacuation and emergency response
information as needed during and after approaching storms. Newspapers post an annual hurricane
guide that includes information about warning systems, preparation for storms and storm safety.
It is important to note that there are no local TV news stations on the Keys and that all TV broadcast
news comes from the mainland.The communication of pertinent local information becomes a
challenge given the difference in the potential impact of storms on the mainland in comparison to
those experienced in the Keys.
NWS Key West
Before hurricane season, NWS Key West provides outreach to educate residents and visitors of the
potential dangers associated with hurricane season. The messages include ways to stay informed,
prepare for storms and evacuate safely. NWS disseminates messages in the following ways:
it ®®® Hurricane Awareness Week
® Social media
®®® Booths at local events
7_7 ®®® Various workshops
* ®®® Website information, brochures, videos, up-to-date weather
Tourist Development Council (TDC)
The Florida Keys TDC has a formal communication program that is closely coordinated with local
emergency management officials. The TDC provides crucial information to ensure that visitors are able
to safely exit the Florida Keys in the event a hurricane threatens the region. The TDC communicates
their messages by:
®®® Hosting an annual "Hurricane Preparedness Workshop for KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY
the Tourism Industry "
pp tt,, rn�awr,�,ev r,eos4a oo mf�,F�,�,em�a�,a i n �,
® fC'PU r',p .�f'a" rn NnCf ,r Hurrlcmne Cer Cae FloriAn Kryn N C f YN tfrer
®®® Posting hurricane information on the TDC website :;,„ 5 of""'dmv, C� ,yb,,,x.,u r.
^--^^^� -^•_^^ Compiled and 1—otunitted by the Monroe
homepage for the duration of the hurricane season County Tourist Development Council
®®® Social media posts to Facebook and Twitter Nov 8,2022.2:16Pi°.
® Keys Remain Out of Watch or Warning
®®® Participation in the annual Media Blitz Regions for Tropical Storm Nicole
®®® Distribution of the "Protecting Paradise" Brochure
FIRM (Fair Insurance Rates Monroe)
FIRM's outreach program has a strong emphasis on obtaining adequate insurance and the proper
rating of risk. This grassroots organization has recently begun offering a series of workshops to help
residents understand insurance and the value of mitigation. An "Insurance Users Guide" is posted on
the FIRM website in addition to other valuable information related to purchasing flood insurance
coverage. FIRM also maintains a YouTube channel with videos on mitigation.
IP a ge 1 18
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Monroe County Emergency Management
The Monroe County Emergency Management Division is responsible for the coordination of response
to storm events in all of Monroe County. The Division actively promotes storm safety, preparedness,
warning, shelters, and evacuation plans. A variety of methods is employed for delivering relevant
information regarding storm events, and preparedness including:
®®® Interactive Website
®®® Booths at local events
®®® Publications in local newspapers
®®® Alert notifications ME=
®®® Social media
OF/IFAS Extension Monroe County
The Monroe County Extension Office is dedicated toward serving Monroe County by providing
objective information to individuals, businesses, and agencies for better decision making and by
creating programs and services that provide learning opportunities that empower people to improve
their lives.
The OF Extensions Office has supported the PPI effort since the Program's beginning; and continues to
participate on the PPI Committee and is a Stakeholder for the Flood Facts Brochure.
U IFAS Extens ion
FUNIVERSITY FLORIDA
Communities
The committee also reviewed additional projects currently being implemented by the participating
jurisdictions. These projects were largely put in place to meet the CRS and NFIP objectives that include
mailers to everyone, the SFHA, repetitive loss areas, insurance agents, realtors, and lenders. Other
efforts include outreach via messages on websites and social media, and the distribution of
publications at events and public buildings.
5.. Outcomes and Messages
e
The committee came to the following conclusion: Despite the abundant and even redundant
messaging in Monroe County by the public and private sector, gaps would continue to exist in
communicating important without the current projects implemented by communities as recommend
by the PPI Committee. The jurisdictions are doing a good job of filling these gaps.
The primary objective of the PPI is to encourage people to change their behavior. In order to achieve
this behavioral change, the committee selected the outcomes, i.e., what they wanted to actually
change. Outcomes are indicators, not exact measures of the success of these campaigns. Progress
toward the outcomes will be tracked and reported at the annual committee meeting.
The outcomes and messages recommended by this PPI report are in Table 8 on the next page
IP a ge 1 19
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Table 8. Topic, Outcome and Messages
. r
1. Know your flood hazard
Outcome: Everyone evacuates when told
Message: All areas of the Keys are subject to a flood hazard ✓ ✓ ✓
Outcome: Increased requests for map information
Message: Find out what FEMA mapped flood zone you are in ✓ ✓
Outcome: Residents in repetitive loss areas are aware of the hazard
Message: Your property is in an area that has repetitively flooded ✓
2. Insure your property
Outcome: Improved flood insurance coverage
Message: Call your agent to discuss your coverage ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3. Protect your property from the hazard
Outcome: Increase in requests for mitigation assistance
Message: Contact your community for flood protection assistance ✓ ✓ ✓
Outcome: Increase in the number of permits for mitigation projects
Message: *Elevate your equipment above the flood level ✓
4. Protect people from the hazard
Outcome: Increase in the number of peoples signed up to receive alerts.
Message: Sign up for alerts ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Outcome: Everyone evacuates when told
Message: Prepare a flood evacuation plan ✓
5. Build responsibly
Outcome: Fewer cases of unpermitted work
Message: Check with the Floodplain Official before planning a project ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
6. Protect natural floodplain functions
Outcome: Increase in reports of illegal activities
Message: Keep natural areas undisturbed ✓ ✓
Message: Report illegal dumping or clearing ✓ ✓
7. Building mitigation
Outcome: Decrease in the number of insurance claims
Message: Learn about mitigation options and available mitigation programs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
8. Hurricane evacuation—1
Outcome: Everyone evacuates when told
Message: Know your evacuation zone number ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
9. Hurricane evacuation—2
Outcome: Everyone evacuates when told
Message: Get a mobile flood app on your phone ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
10. Licensed Contractors
Outcome: Fewer cases of unpermitted work
Message: Hire only licensed contractors ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
*Each community can add the required elevation above flood level
e 1 20
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„ Dehveiring the Messages
ge
The committee has recognized that an effective program for communication must be concise and
progressive and should take into consideration current trends in the way people get their news. A
variety of message delivery methods were discussed. The committee has determined that the
following six means of delivery will most effectively reach the primary target audience.
Direct Mail Brochures& Letters—
Direct mail is an effective means of communication for audiences such
as the SFHA and the repetitive loss areas. This focuses on the hazards
specific to these areas and can be integrated with Web and social
p g
media in an effort to direct the recipient to more detailed discussion of
e
topics most important to each of the areas. Brochures and letters can
also provide contact information to aid in contacting local officials. The
use of QR codes will also be incorporated to solicit the reader's active
participation.
QY,,NOT READY?
Informational material in public places— ITART NOW,
Target audiences were described in some
° instances as "customers” who frequent IN
businesses or local governments and other �
public places. Informational material is
useful for the tourist industry and residents
in order to communicate potential hazards, preparedness and evacuation
f
procedures during hurricane season. Materials placed in many different,
locations that convey the same messages are likely to have a very high
saturation rate for diverse audiences.
i 1r cadw� Guide
�� .�������' Public workshops—
Annual workshops held with the media, tourist industry and local residents
provide 2-way communication between the target groups and local officials.
Flaradise Stakeholders often hold workshops in conjunction with emergency
management to convey messages in a unified way.
Booths at events—
Information for Events and outdoor activities are popular and 41
Florida Keys
trnveters well attended in the Florida Keys by both
dwing the
ltkant/cbasin residents and visitors alike. Local emergency
hum ean management departments as well as
seersnr¢ g p �
stakeholders such as the NWS place booths at
F'10 idd I CYS major festivals and events. "
c,y\vcst
...• fra..uhi4.can
(9) MANAGEMENT
fl Rat t'k,l P 0 E C 0 IJ t,11 Y, I°°�..
IP a ge 121
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TV—
Monroe County does not have local news reporting TV stations. All news is sent from neighboring
counties. Since television is still the number one source of news, it is imperative that the media in the
surrounding areas be kept abreast of local conditions. Monroe County conducts a "Media Blitz" on an
annual basis to ensure that the media has current emergency and contact information. The TV stations
are provided with both written and digital material. Monroe County does have TV Channel 76, a local
outlet that broadcasts public meetings and pre-recorded material.
Internet websites—
Today, an overwhelming number of people, including seniors, search the Internet for news and events.
Search engines are used as a means to obtain immediate answers to questions and current events.
Currently, the only news source outranking the Internet is TV. Locally maintained websites on the
Internet can offer readers much more in-depth information regarding the flood hazard, how to prepare
for a weather event, protecting property and lives, and a vast array of other flood- related topics.
Website information is easily kept up-to-date with the most current information. This is a distinct
advantage over printed materials that become quickly outdated and obsolete. In fact, most printed
material provides website addresses and tells the reader to "go" to the site for more information.
Social and mobile media—
Social media is an essential tool for emergency management. It allows emergency management to
communicate with our community and share information quickly and efficiently. A Pew Research
Center study conducted in 2021, the study states that; "Fully 81% of Americans get at least some of
this news through websites, apps or social networking sites. And this digital news intake is increasingly
mobile. Among those who get news both on desktop computers and mobile devices, more than half
prefer mobile."
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0
IP a ge 22
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7„ Outreach Projects
Based on the public information needs assessment and the review of current outreach projects in
section 4, the PPI Committee endorsed the current projects and recommended improvements to
some. The projects will include priority messages that encourage taking actions to produce the
outcomes identified in Table 8.
Table 7® Planned Outreach Projects
® W �
1 Facts on Flooding Brochure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2 Repetitive Loss Area Brochure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3 Know Before You Buy Brochure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
4 TDC Hurricane Confab ✓ ✓ ✓
5 Licensed Contractor Signs ✓
6 Media Blitz/ Flood Brochure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
7 Brochures in Permitting Department ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
8 Keys Weekly Hurricane Guide ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
9 KW Licensed Contractor Notice ✓
10 Evacuation Signs ✓
11 Channel 76 Monroe County TV ✓ ✓ ✓
12 Social Media ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
13 EM County-wide Events/Flood Brochure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
The main goal of the PPI is to develop a coordinated approach to the communication of public
information. This is accomplished by delivering unified messages from multiple sources directed to
priority audiences. In order to ensure that there is unified messaging throughout the communities'
public information; recommendations are made for the following activities:
Map Information Service: Providing accurate hazard information is a vital component in the continuing
effort to protect lives and property. All jurisdictions will publicize the availability of personal assistance
provided by the FIRMs and understanding other risks associated with flooding and other special flood
related hazards. The PPI Committee recommends that, where applicable, the information provided by
each community should include the items underlined:
®®® All FIRM panel information
®®® FIRM zone and base flood elevation
®®® Coastal High Hazard Area
®®® Coastal Barriers Resources Act areas
®®® A note that even if a property is outside the SFHA, all parts of the Florida Keys are subject to
flooding from a large storm
®®® Preserved wetlands
®®® Species focus area
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Hazard Disclosure: Realtors and prospective buyers are of special concern to all of Monroe County and
are identified by the PPI as a priority audience. The PPI Committee recommends that real estate
agents be sent a brochure to give to customers looking to purchase property. The brochure advises the
buyer to contact their local floodplain official to "Know Before You Buy." Realtors should also receive a
publication endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and FEMA outlining what they should
know and say to customers about flood risk and flood insurance.
Website: As discussed earlier, the Internet is fast becoming one of the primary means in which people
access news and information. Websites allow for more in-depth exploration into topics of concern to
each audience reader and can be tailored to local conditions. The PPI Committee recommends that all
four communities' websites and Monroe County Emergency Management website include links to
other websites that have more detailed information on the PPI's priority topics and messages.
The websites should be checked monthly to ensure the links are still working. They should be updated
annually to reflect the changes recommended by the PPI committee during the annual evaluation
process.
Flood Protection Assistance: One of the priority messages determined by the committee is mitigation
for flood prone structures. Flood protection messages are included in the outreach to residents of the
repetitive loss areas and SFHA. The outreach projects proposed in this PPI should include reminders
that property owners are encouraged to call their community's floodplain official for assistance with
flood and repetitive flooding issues on their property.
The staff providing the assistance should remind everyone that they face a flood hazard regardless of
their location. They should encourage property owners to consider mitigation efforts both large and
small in order to reduce flooding loss. They should also promote those retrofitting measures that can
impact flood insurance premiums.
Drainage Maintenance:The State of Florida regulation prohibits dumping of non-solid waste in any
waterway and all local jurisdictions have local codes that prohibit dumping of solid waste on any
property, whether privately or publicly owned. One of the PPI priority messages is to encourage
citizens to report illegal dumping. That message should be included in all outreach projects possible,
including those disseminated to all people, not just those going to the SFHA or repetitive loss areas.
IP a ge 124
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Table 10 identifies the annual projects that the committee decided would most be appropriate to
deliver the important messages outlined in Table 8. Many of the projects are endorsed by locally
recognized stakeholders and community elected officials. Some of the projects were already being
implemented while others were created to fill "gaps" recognized by the committee.
Table 8 Annual Public Information Projects
OF
OP 1. Facts on Flooding Brochure CRS Coordinator Mailed to everyone June Extensions
OP 2. Repetitive Loss Brochure CRS Coordinator Mailed to RI-As June FIRM
Key real estate
professionals, i.e.
lenders, insurance and
OP 3. Know Before You Buy CRS Coordinator real estate agents June FIRM
TDC, MOCO PIO, Workshop Tourist
OP 4.TDC Hurricane Workshop NWS Industry May NWS
OP. 5. Licensed Contractor Signs MOCO Permitting customers Ongoing
TDC, MOCO PIO, Face to Face meetings
OP 6. Media Blitz NWS with all media May NWS
OF
OP 7. Brochures Permitting Dept. CRS Coordinator Displays public places Ongoing Extensions
60K Distributed to all
OP 8. Keys Weekly Hurricane Guide Hurricane Guide businesses county-wide Ongoing Keys Weekly
Contractor
OP 9.KW Licensed Contractor Building Department License
Notice MOCO Hurricane Guides May Board
OP 10. Evacuation Signs MOCO EM 120 Miles of US 1 Ongoing
Hurricane
OP 11. Channel 76 MOCO TV MOCO EM Local TV Broadcast Season
OP 12. Social Media MOCO PIO Facebook and NextDoor Ongoing
5 Various OF
OP 13. County-wide Events MOCO EM Booth at Events Events Extensions
Note:OP#1 is endorsed by elected officials
The committee acknowledged that different types of projects are more effective than others for
reaching priority audiences. Table 11 demonstrates the project types. The project types are:
Targeted projects (T) — Projects distributed directly to all the members of a priority audience. The
messages clearly explain that the recipient is receiving the messages because he/she is part of a
priority audience.
General Outreach Projects (G)—These are newspaper articles, signs, tweets, presentations, etc.that
reach out to the audiences, but don't necessarily reach all the members.
IP a ge 125
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Informational Projects (1)—Typically these are brochures, flyers and similar documents that are in a
public place or made available on request. Unlike General Outreach, the audience has to seek out the
messages in Informational Projects. For CRS purposes, websites are considered to be informational
projects.
Table 9® Type of Project
Ib �
Facts on Flooding Brochure T
Repetitive Loss Area Brochure T
Know Before You Buy Brochure T
TDC Hurricane Confab G
Licensed Contractor Signs G
Media Blitz/ Flood Brochure G
Brochures in Permitting G
Department
Keys Weekly Hurricane Guide I
KW Licensed Contractor Notice G
Evacuation Signs G
Channel 76 Monroe County TV G
Social Media- FB and ND G
County-wide EM Events G
:: Flood Response Projects
Projects in Table 10 are to be implemented every year. They convey flood protection measures that
are appropriate for motivating people to take steps to protect themselves and their property from
damage prior to a flooding event. Flood response messages are delivered just prior to, during, and
after a storm or flood. The messages typically tell people to take short term precautions to prepare for
and recover from an event. The committee reviewed and made minor updates to response outcomes
and messages in Table 12 on the next page:
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Table 1 . Flood Protection Messages for All Monroe County Communities
1. Know your hazard
Outcome: Reduced number of rumor related calls to hotline
Message: Know where to turn for reliable and up-to-date ✓ ✓ ✓
information
Message: Sign up for alerts @ Monroecountyem.com ✓ ✓
3. Protect property from hazard
c Outcome: Less damage from flying debris
,° Message:Trim your trees and bring in outdoor furniture ✓ ✓
o Message: Put shutters or plywood on windows ✓
E Outcome:Visitors stay informed and evacuate as asked
L_
0
H Message: Visit the Florida Keys Website ✓ ✓
c 4. Protect people from hazard
Outcome: People follow evacuation procedures
iMessage: Evacuate if told to do so ✓ ✓
N Message: Mobile home residents must evacuate for all hurricanes ✓ ✓
8. Hurricane evacuation
Outcome: People evacuating don't get stranded
Message: Do not get on the road without a chosen destination ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
9. Hurricane preparedness
Outcome: Mobile homes do not become debris
Message: Check your mobile home tie-downs ✓
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2. Insure your property
Outcome: People buy insurance
Protect yourself from the next flood with flood insurance ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
4. Protect people from hazard
Outcome: People stay safe
Message: Monitor TV, Radio and internet for when is it safe to re- ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
enter
Outcome:Access to information from mobile device
Message: Check-in with family and friends by texting or social media
S. Build responsibility
Outcome: Flooded buildings properly repaired
Message: Hire a licensed contractor ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Message: Contact local floodplain official for information on ✓
regulation
7. Building Mitigation
Buildings built or repair stronger and safer
Message: Contact the local floodplain official about grants to ✓ ✓
rebuild.
Message:Talk to your insurance agent. Your flood policy could help ✓ ✓
with the cost to elevate your building.
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Based on the public information needs assessment in Section 4 and review of current flood response projects,
the PPI Committee concluded that the projects listed in Tables 13 continue to be appropriate and relayed
priority messages that are consistent with the finding of the assessment. As with the annual public information
projects, the committee found that many of the existing project's relay and repeat the important messages for
flood response both before and after a storm or flooding event.
The committee also determined that along with the priority topics of know your hazard, insure your property,
protect your property and people, that special attention should be given to 3 additional topics, which are
hurricane evacuation, hurricane preparedness and building mitigation. The desired outcomes and messages are
included in Table 12.
Table 11. Flood Response Planned Projects
p, y
1 News Releases ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ %%%% ✓ ✓ ✓
2 Social Media ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3 MOCO EM Website ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ %%%%%'' ✓ ✓ ✓
Since pre-event projects need to be delivered quickly and reach as many audiences as possible,the committee
continues to support unified messages delivered via TV new, radio, internet and social media. The information
delivered by these methods can be updated quickly to reflect current conditions. The communities in the FL
Keys coordinate with the NWS Key West, the TDC and the Monroe County Emergency Management Director and
the Monroe County PIO to ensure that messages are consistent.
Table 14 identifies the projects that the committee decided would be appropriate to deliver the important
messages when preparing for a storm event and to help with the recovery efforts.
Table 12. Flood Response Project Delivery
Everyone
Visitors
MOCO PIO Businesses
FRP 1. News Releases NWS Mobile home residents NWS
Everyone
MOCO PIO Visitors
NWS Businesses NWS
FRP 2. Social Media TDC Mobile home residents TDC
Everyone
Visitors
Businesses
FRP 4. MOCO EM Website MOCO PIO Mobile home residents NWS
IP a ge 29
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Flood response messages will be disseminated as deemed appropriate by the Monroe County
Emergency Manager and the Monroe County Public Information Officer (PIO). Jurisdictions and TDC
will support and mirror the projects and messages. The general projects are listed in Table 14. The
Monroe County Public Information Officer in conjunction with the County Division of Emergency
Management will work together to update the flood response projects annually just prior to hurricane
season.
FRP#1 News Release—The MOCO Emergency Manager and the MOCO PIO will identify which
news releases will include the messages in Table 10.
FRP#2 Social Media Messages and Posts—The MOCO Emergency Manager, MOCO PIO, TDC
and NWS Key West will coordinate posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter. The messages will
be repeated and updated to reflect current conditions.
FRP#3 MOCO Website—All messages for residents and visitors will be repeated on the MOCO
website. All jurisdictions are encouraged to provide links to the MOCO website with the goal
being unified and constant messages appropriate for the flood event.
It was concluded that although most of the projects and messages would be appropriate for all
audiences, there are certain audiences that need to be reached with specific messages. Table 15
below is an accounting of the types of projects deemed most effective in reaching the target
audiences. The description of each type of project is included in the narrative prior to Table 11.
Table 13.Type of Flood Response Project
1 News Releases T T T T
2 Social Media G G G G G G
3 MOCO EM Website G G G G G G
IP age 130
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„ lmpllement fllon and Evaluaflon
The PPI committee will meet once each year in November or early December to review activities and
evaluate the program. At the Committees request, the meeting months may be shifted if necessary
due to storm events or other foreseen circumstances.
The Committee will review the following outcomes:
®®® Requests for FIRM information
®®® Numbers of flood insurance policies, by category
®®® Flood protection assistance request
®®® Number of permits for mitigating floodprone property
®®® Number of people registered for alerts
®®® Evaluation of code cases for flood related unpermitted work
®®® Code cases for illegal dumping or clearing
®®® Number of mitigated repetitive loss structures
PPI committee will also review insurance coverage trends and evaluate projects. An evaluation report
will be prepared and sent to the governing boards of each jurisdiction and submitted with each
jurisdiction's annual recertification. Where the evaluation indicates, revisions are warranted, such as
replacing a project or redirecting messages, the committee will vote to adjust the projects accordingly.
In the years where there is a storm event the committee will review emergency management after
action reports to evaluate:
®®® Evacuation statistics including occupancy of shelters and traffic counts on US 1 if available
®®® General information on the extent of flooding
®®® General information on injuries and property damage
®®® Statistics on flood-related construction and violations for unpermitted work
Every five years, the entire PPI will be updated, and insurance coverage evaluated.
IP a ge 131
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9 MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
10 RESOLUTION NO. -2023
11
12 A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
13 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPTING THE MONROE
14 COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC
15 INFORMATION UPDATE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN
16 EFFECTIVE DATE
17
18
19 WHEREAS, Monroe County is currently a participating community in the National
20 Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); and
21
22 WHEREAS, Monroe County became eligible and entered FEMA's Community Rating
23 System (CRS) in 2016; and
24
25 WHEREAS, Monroe County's voluntary participation in the NFIP's Community Rating
26 System (CRS) provides residents of unincorporated Monroe County with a 35% discount on a
27 standard NFIP flood insurance policy in the Special Flood Hazard Area; and
28
29 WHEREAS, The Monroe County Commission supports the goal of a CRS Program for
30 Public Information (PPI) to broaden public understanding of flood hazards, mapping, planning,
31 and insurance; and
32
33 WHEREAS, The CRS Program requires an update of the PPI every five (5)years; and
34
35 WHEREAS, The Monroe County Program for Public Information Committee has
36 identified important messages to be communicated to target audiences in a Multi jurisdictional
37 Program for Public Information;
38
39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
40 COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
41
42 Section 1. The Board hereby adopts the Monroe County Multi jurisdictional Program for
43 Public Information Update, a copy of which is attached hereto.
44
45 Section 2. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
46
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I PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
2 Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 18th day of October, 2023.
3
4 Mayor Craig Cates
5 Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein
6 Commissioner Michelle Lincoln
7 Commissioner Jim Scholl
8 Commissioner David Rice
9
10
11
12 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
13 OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
14
15 BY:
16 Mayor Craig Cates
17
18 (SEAL)
19 ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, Clerk
20
21 By MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
22 Deputy Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM
23
24
25 KELLY DUGAN
26 ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY
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