Seminole County Flood Facts

Flooding is an act of nature which respects no boundary lines, either community or personal. Flooding in Seminole County is caused by heavy rainfall that occurs in short periods of time, as is common during seasonal thunderstorms and storm surges that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes. Tropical storms and hurricanes can cause flooding, not just along a coastline but far inland as well. Because of Seminole County's location on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and because of its low lying areas, there is always a flood threat from heavy storms. Due to this threat, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified portions of the county as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). These maps designate areas of 100-year flood and base flood elevations. In recent years, Seminole County has experienced storms and hurricanes. The potential for flood losses in Seminole County always exists. Residents should know and respect this flood loss potential and be prepared to deal with this hazard accordingly.