Local Resources

Resiliency and Flood Resources

In Apalachicola, flooding and other drainage problems can result after several inches of rain in a short period of time or after several days of continued rain. Over the years, our community has experienced numerous rainfall events causing flood damage. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and other threatening weather can present flood hazards to residents due to high tides, storm surges caused by winds, and heavy rainfall.

Flood zones and evacuation zones are different. Flood zones are used for assessing a property’s flood risk, which can be caused by heavy rains as well as by tropical storms and hurricanes. Evacuation zones are based on a property's vulnerability to storm surges from a hurricane. Everyone lives in a flood zone, which may be high, moderate, or low risk.
Find your flood zone here.
Find your evacuation zone here.

Know before you buy

If you are looking at buying a property, it is a good idea to check out the possible flood hazards before you buy. Most homeowner's insurances do not cover flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider about your policy and consider if you need additional coverage.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) helps provide a means for property owners to financially protect themselves if additional coverage is required. The NFIP offers flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the NFIP. The City of Apalachicola participates in the NFIP. To find out how much flooding could cost you, estimate your premium and learn more about the NFIP visit www.FloodSmart.gov external site.

Building Smart

Floodproofing is one way to minimize property loss due to floods. Floodproofing may involve building walls or levees, elevating or moving structures, or sealing the structure. Reduce or avoid flood losses by building above the Base Flood Elevation.

What is Base Flood Elevation? The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during the base flood. BFEs are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps and on the flood profiles. The BFE is the regulatory requirement for the elevation of structures. The relationship between the BFE and a structure’s elevation determines the flood insurance premium. Apalachicola enforces specific building regulations to protect people and buildings from flooding while maintaining natural floodplain functions. Click here to access the City’s Floodplain Management Code.

The City of Apalachicola provides links to these sites as a public service. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the site by the City of Apalachicola. The City of Apalachicola does not monitor or control the content provided by these sites.