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Flood prone areas are widely scattered throughout the county. Areas close to inland bodies of water and lower elevation areas in the northern and southern sections of the county are particularly susceptible to flooding. Coastal areas are subject to flooding from storm surge and exceptionally high tides. Drainage problems are created by prolonged periods of heavy rainfall to the point where the locks and pump stations become ineffective in preventing flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) designates high-risk flood areas as the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The SFHA is the area where the NFIP's floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies. A SFHA will be inundated by a flood event having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. This equates to a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Download a map of the Special Flood Hazard Areas in Palm Beach County. |
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