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Flood Plain Management
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Contact: |
Planning Director | Address: | 1600 Huntington Lane
Rockledge, FL 32955 | Phone: | 321 690-3984 | Fax: | 321 690-6481 | Hours: | Monday - Friday
8:00AM - 5:00PM |
Additional Links: | Link to Page | Link to Page | Link to Page |
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Rockledge Flood Facts
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS REGARDING THE RISK OF FLOODS IN ROCKLEDGE
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The Local Flood Hazard In Rockledge, the primary threat of flooding results from the “ponding” of water during heavy storms. Some flooding can result from overflow of small ditches and streams during significant storm events, especially when the ocean and river tides are running higher than normal. Since Rockledge is relatively flat, however, stormwater sometimes simply overwhelms street drainage and storm outfall devices. Leaves and other debris can clog storm drains, causing water to back up into
lower-lying areas. Residents are encouraged not to blow yard waste (i.e. grass clippings, leaves, and small branches) into the street to prevent clogging of the stormwater grates and other similar devices. |
The Flood Warning System In the event of a major storm, the City receives notification from the Brevard County Emergency Management Center and certain City departments are put on alert. Local news media sources (radio and television) are notified and distribute instructions to the public. If needed, the City Fire and Police Departments may notify area residents by door-to-door personal contact, telephone, and use of sirens and public address systems. During significant storms, the City Police and
Fire Departments monitor storm updates and pass information on to media sources for distribution. Brevard County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) The City of Rockledge works with the Brevard County EOC, the National Weather Service, and the National Hurricane Center to monitor flood and storm threats and advise the community accordingly. Brevard County-Rockledge Emergency Operation Plan When a storm or flood threatens to impact the City, City staff monitors the event, relying on information from Brevard County officials and the National Weather Service for detailed and site specific information regarding storm conditions and flood threats. The National Weather Service issues updates, warnings, and evacuation notices. The following stations service the Rockledge area:
- NOAA Weather Radio Frequency 162.550 MHz out of Viera
- Weather Radio, Police Scanner, Tunable VHF Radio
- WHKR 102.7 FM; WLRQ FM 99.3 FM;
- WAOA-FM 107.1 FM; WHTQ 96.5 FM;
- WWKA 92.3 FM; WSHE 100.3 FM
- WTKS-FM 104.1 FM; WPIO 89.3 FM;
- WBVD 95.1 FM; WFIT 89.5 FM
- Any AM/FM band radio receiver
- TV Channels 6, 9, 27, and 65 Orlando
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You can protect yourself from flood hazards by taking measures to ensure the safety of life and property before, during, and after a flood occurs. If evacuation becomes necessary be sure that you turn off all utility services at the main connection. Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your
feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to see how deep the water is. Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridges further down the road may be may be washed out. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electric current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Power Company or County emergency management office. |
Flood Insurance For many people, their home and its contents represent their greatest investment. Property losses due to flooding are not covered under most standard homeowners insurance policies. You can protect your home and its contents with flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP
is a federal program established by Congress in 1968 that enables property owners to buy flood insurance at reasonable rates in participating communities. In return, participating communities carry out flood management measures designed to protect life and property from future flooding. The NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its Federal Insurance Administration. The City of Rockledge NFIP number is 120027. To find out more about flood insurance for your property and its contents, contact your insurance agent. There is a usually a 30 day waiting period before a flood insurance policy takes
effect, so don’t wait until a storm threatens before you secure the flood insurance you need. The following chart lists the amounts of maximum coverage available to property owners within the Brevard County. BUILDING COVERAGE Single Family Dwelling $250,000 Other Residential
$250,000 Non-residential $500,000 Small Business $500,000 CONTENTS
COVERAGE Residential $100,000 Non-residential $500,000 Small Business $500,000 |
Property Protection Measures Every year, flooding causes more property damage in the United States than any other type of natural disaster. While recent construction practices and regulations have made new homes less prone to flooding, many existing structures remain susceptible. Throughout the country there is a
growing interest from property owners to develop practical and cost effective methods for reducing or eliminating exposures to flooding. Several effective ways include acquisition and relocation of a building to a site not subject to flooding, construction of floodwalls or berms to keep water away from the property, or retrofitting structures to make them floodproof. Retrofitting is a different approach from the other ways because the property itself remains subject to flooding while the building is modified to prevent or minimize flooding of habitable space. There are several recognizable approaches to retrofitting:
- Elevation of the structure above flood protection levels.
- Construction of barriers. (floodwalls, berms)
- Dry floodproofing. (water tight floor and wall systems)
- Wet floodproofing. (permits entry and passage of flood waters)
In the event of pending flood threats it is always advisable to take the following emergency actions:
- Sand bagging to reduce erosion and scouring.
- Elevate furniture above flood protection levels.
- Create floodway openings in non-habitable areas such as garage doors.
- Seal off sewer lines to the dwelling to prevent the backflow of sewer waters.
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- Floodplain Development Permit Requirements
Any development in the floodplain requires a building permit according to Section 30.20 of the Rockledge Land Development Regulations. To obtain a flood zone determination, contact the Rockledge Building Department at 321-690-3984. |
Substantial Improvement Requirements The City of Rockledge requires that if the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s assessed tax value, the building must meet the same construction requirements as a new building. Substantially damaged buildings must also be brought up to the same standards (e.g., a residence damaged so that the cost of repairs equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s value before it
was damaged must be elevated above the base flood elevation). The assessed value of the structure, as listed by the Brevard County Property Appraiser’s Office, shall be determined before the improvement is started, or if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage or destruction occurred. |
Drainage System Maintenance A community can lose a portion of its drainage system carrying or storage capacity due to dumping, debris, soil erosion and sedimentation, and overgrowth of vegetation. When this happens, flooding occurs more frequently and reaches higher elevations, subjecting properties otherwise protected to unnecessary risk of damage. Keep grass clippings and other debris out of stormwater drainage systems to prevent clogging and loss of stormwater storage and treatment
capacity. If you experience or are aware of any localized drainage problems, including illegal dumping, please notify the Rockledge Public Works Department at 321-690-3961 so that the problem can be corrected. |
Natural and Beneficial Functions of the Floodplain These benefits take many forms: Natural flood and erosion control: Providing flood storage and conveyance, reduce flood velocity, controls erosion of beachfront structures. Water quality: Filters nutrients and impurities from storm water runoff. Ground water recharge: Reduces frequency and duration of surface flow. Biological resources: Supports high rate of plant growth, provides breeding and feeding grounds and enhances water fowl habitat. Societal resources: Provides open space
and aesthetic pleasures, and in areas of scientific study, provides opportunities for environmental research. |
Community Rating System Rockledge participates in the Community Rating System (CRS), a part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), provides a mechanism for reducing flood insurance premiums to reflect what a community does beyond the NFIP’s minimum requirements. The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that rewards community actions that reduce flood risk through discounted flood insurance rates. |
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