Congress created the National Flood Insurance Program in 1968 and requires owners of mortgaged property in
Special Flood Hazard Areas to carry flood insurance. FEMA produces
Flood Insurance Rate Maps to determine these Special Flood Hazard Areas.
1984 Original Flood Maps
Flood Insurance Rate Maps for unincorporated Lee County were first adopted in 1984. FEMA has updated portions of the maps periodically since then. The last comprehensive map revision was effective Aug. 28, 2008. These maps resulted from a study of interior rivers, creeks, canals and other natural watercourses. This 2008 study had two major impacts on unincorporated Lee County:
- Previously unmapped areas, particularly in south Fort Myers and Estero, were assigned to AE zones.
- New regulatory floodways were determined. These are the areas along rivers, creeks, canals and other natural watercourses with additional regulations governing construction and the placement of fill.
FEMA is currently studying coastal hazards for Lee, Charlotte and Hendry Counties. As a result of that study, Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Lee County will likely be updated effective in 2020.
There are more than 150 Flood Insurance Rate Maps in Lee County, which:
- Determine which areas are in the Special Flood Hazard Area, where FEMA predicts there is a 1 percent annual chance of flooding.
- Establish
flood zones, which reflect risk and influence the cost of flood insurance.
- Establish a
base flood elevation, which is the height to which new structures must be built.
At no charge, Lee County will issue a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) letter to verify the current as well as the previous or time-of-construction flood zone for parcels in unincorporated Lee County. The FIRM letter also provides a variety of other flood map and flood hazard information. To request a FIRM letter for parcels in unincorporated Lee County, contact
FIRMinfo@leegov.com or 239-533-8948.
Flood Insurance Rate Map quick links: