FEMA Flood Map Update and Broward County's Levee

As part of an effort to update National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood maps throughout the country, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established criteria for recognizing levels of protection provided by levee systems. The criteria require the levee owner to provide data and documentation to show that the levee system meets NFIP design, operations and maintenance criteria.

Gathering the data to document a levee system's condition is a lengthy process requiring thorough analyses that must be performed by the levee owner concurrent with the FEMA map update. In order to give levee owners additional time to gather documentation required for full accreditation, FEMA has established a Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) status as part of its map modernization program.

1. What is a levee?
2. Who is responsible for building and maintaining the levees in Broward County?
3. Why is levee safety being addressed as part of FEMA's flood map modernization program?
4. Why is it important to understand the risks associated with levees?
5. What is a provisionally accredited levee (“PAL”)?
6. What must be done to gain full accreditation for provisionally accredited levees?
7. What does it mean for a levee system to be certified? How is accreditation different?
8. Who is responsible for complying with section 65.10 of the NFIP regulations?
9. What if a levee meets the PAL requirements?
10. How will a PAL be identified on a DFIRM?
11. How do the PAL designations for levee systems affect the communities in which they are provided?
12. How does FEMA evaluate levees that show as providing 1-Percent-Annual-Chance Protection on their Digital Flood Insurance Maps (“DFIRMs”)?
13. What happens if a levee system is decertified or cannot be certified? How does this impact the FEMA accreditation and mapping process?
14. What happens if the PAL expires before the levee owner can prove the levees are in compliance with accreditation requirements?
15. When is the deadline for the levee owner to prove the provisionally accredited levees are in compliance with the accreditation requirements?
16. Which areas in Broward County would be affected if these provisionally accredited levees are de–accredited?
17. Do I need flood insurance if I live in an area protected by a provisionally accredited levee?
18. How can I find out if my property is within an area protected by a provisionally accredited levee?
19. Why the current interest in levee system safety?
20. Where can I go for more general information on levee systems?