Flood Facts: Important Information for Residents and Property Owners
Regarding Flood Risks
The Local Flood Hazard
The primary cause of flooding in Clay County is heavy
rainfall from tropical systems and afternoon thunderstorms. Many areas of the
County are low-lying and subject to flooding from rising water. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified portions of the County as a
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The
majority of these areas lie along the St. Johns River, Black Creek, Doctors
Inlet, and other creeks in the County, as well as along lake shores including
Kingsley Lake, Lake Asbury, Lake Brooklyn, and Lake Geneva. If you live in
unincorporated Clay County, you may contact the Clay County Planning and Zoning
Division to determine whether your property is in a SFHA. Zoning staff may be
reached by telephone (904) 278-4705), mail (PO Box 825, Green Cove Springs,, FL
32043), or in person (3rd floor of the Clay County Administration Building, 477
Houston Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043). Zoning staff can also provide
copies of elevation certificates for buildings constructed in the SFHA since
1996.
Other areas of the county are subject to flooding from stormwater runoff in
areas with local drainage problems. These areas may not be included in the SFHA.
Flood Insurance and Property Protection
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 are still vulnerable. The best way to prevent loss is to
know your
flood zone and protect or
retrofit your
property to minimize the possibility of floodwaters damaging the structure.
Common protection measures include elevating the building or utilities above
flood levels, relocating structures to higher ground, making wall openings near
the ground in non-habitable areas to allow the entry and passage floodwaters,
and constructing flood barriers such as berms or floodwalls. It is important to
avoid endangering a neighbor’s property due to your flood protection measures.
The second most important protection measure is to purchase flood insurance to
prevent financial loss if your property floods. For many people, their home and
its contents represent their greatest investment. There is a 26% chance that any
property will experience a flood during the life of a 30 year mortgage. Clay
County participates in the
National Flood Insurance Program, which makes
federally-backed
flood insurance available to all residents and property owners.
This flood insurance is required for properties in the SFHA purchased with
federally-backed mortgage programs or other federal financial assistance. There
is usually a 30 day waiting period before a flood insurance policy takes effect.
Residential buildings may be covered for up to $250,000 for the building and
$100,000 for the contents. Non-residential structures may be insured for up to
$500,000 on the building and $500,000 on the contents. Contents-only coverage is
available for renters. Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover losses due
to flooding.
The Flood Warning System
Clay County has an Emergency Management Plan includes
warning systems to rapidly provide citizens with current information on
impending storms or flood threats. The Clay County Emergency Operations Center
works with the cities, the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane
Center to monitor storm and flood threats and advise the community accordingly.
When a storm or flood threatens to impact the county, watches, warnings,
evacuation notices, and updates are announced on local TV and radio stations as
well as NOAA weather radio. An automated telephone communication system will
alert residents along Black Creek and portions of its North and South Forks of
impending flooding.
Stations to Monitor for Watches and Warnings
Radio
|
WAYR 550 AM |
WAYL 91.9 FM |
WGNE 99.9 FM |
|
WBWL 600 AM |
WJBT 92.7 FM |
WYKS 105.3 FM |
|
WOKV 690 AM |
WROO 93.3 FM |
WHJX 105.7 FM |
|
WUFT 89.1 FM |
WSOS 94.1 FM |
WEAG 106.3 FM |
|
WJCT 89.9 FM |
WFKS 97.9 FM |
WPLA 107.3 FM |
|
NOAA weather
radio 162.475 MHz |
NOAA weather
radio 162.550 MHz |
TV
|
WJXT-ind ch 4
Jacksonville |
WJCT-PBS 7
Jacksonville |
WTLV-NBC 12
Jacksonville |
WJXX-ABC 25
Jacksonville |
|
WAWS-FOX 30
Jacksonville |
WTEV-CBS 47
Jacksonville |
WUFT-PBS 5
Gainesville |
WCJB-ABC 20
Gainesville |
Flood Safety Measures Before a Flood:
• Purchase flood insurance.
• Prepare a family emergency plan and
survival kit.
• Protect property to
prevent damage.
When a Flood Threatens:
• Place sandbags to protect property.
• Elevate furniture above flood protection levels.
• Seal off sewer lines to prevent backflow.
• Protect important documents in waterproof containers.
• Monitor local media for evacuation notices.
During a Flood:
• Evacuate if told to do so.
• Turn off all utilities at the main connection.
• Do not walk through flowing water.
• Do not drive through a flooded area.
• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.
• Have electricity turned off by power company.
• Look out for stranded animals.
• Look before you step.
• Be alert for gas leaks.
After a Flood:
• Return home only when authorities advise it is safe.
• Avoid striking matches to prevent fires from gas leaks.
• Listen for drinking water safety news reports.
• Decontaminate and test
private wells.
• Avoid potentially contaminated floodwaters.
• Check for flood-weakened roads.
• Stay away from downed power lines.
• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
• Check for damage before entering buildings.
• Service damaged septic systems.
• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.
• Wear boots and thick gloves when cleaning up to avoid contamination or injury.
More information on flood safety is available from the
Federal Emergency
Management Agency,
FloodSmart.gov, the
American Red Cross,
Clay County Health Department,
Florida
Department of Community Affairs Division of Emergency Management, and
Clay County
Emergency Management.
Natural and Beneficial Functions of the Floodplain
Floodplains in their
natural state provide several beneficial functions. They are highly productive
areas providing habitat for diverse plant and animal communities such as Clay
County’s freshwater swamps and marshes which often support wading birds and bald
eagles. Local floodplains provide open space with aesthetic and educational
value for public enjoyment. They can spread flood waters over a large area,
reducing the speed of the water to reduce soil erosion. They act as a buffer
between the flood waters and developed areas to reduce potential damage to
buildings. They can improve water quality and help prevent algae blooms by
filtering impurities and nutrients from stormwater runoff.
Floodplain Development Permit Requirements
Any development in the floodplain requires a building
permit according to Clay County’s
Flood Hazard Reduction Ordinance. Residential
structures along with their utility service must be elevated to 1 foot above the
base flood elevation. Call the Planning and Zoning Division for more information
at (904) 529/278-4705, (904) 269/278-6301, or (352) 473-3711. If you suspect
that illegal floodplain development is occurring, call Clay County Codes
Enforcement at (904) 278/269-6310.
Substantial Improvement/Damage Requirements
If the cost of improvements or cost to repair damage to an
existing structure exceeds 50% of the market value, the building must be brought
up to current floodplain management standards. For residential structures, these
requirements typically mean raising the living area to 1 foot above the base
flood elevation (Flood Hazard Reduction Ordinance Section 7-2(a), Sections
7-3(a), 7-3(c), and 7-6(a-c)).
Drainage System Maintenance
Clay County 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 loss of stormwater capacity. Per
county ordinance and state statute it is illegal to dump trash and debris in
streams and other surface waters or any portion of public road rights-of-way.
Call the Clay County Public Works Department at (904) 269/284-6335 to report
local drainage problems. Call Clay County Codes Enforcement at (904)
269/284-6310 to report illegal dumping.
The following sources were used to prepare this
webpage:
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency
The United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management
The American Red Cross
The Clay County Health Department
The Clay County Fire and Rescue Department, Division of Emergency Management
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