Flood panels were touted as the wave of the future in hurricane protection, replacing sandbags and providing more reliable protection, but safety and structural damage concerns have led the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reassess the value of the panels.<\/p>\n
In the Town of Fort Myers Beach, residential flood panels are largely not allowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlood panels for mitigation are not permittable,\u201d Fort Myers Beach spokesperson Abigail Eberhart said.<\/p>\n
In Fort Myers Beach, one of the main issues with flood panels is the town\u2019s high flood zone. The entire town is a special flood hazard area. Another issue is concerns from FEMA that they can sometimes be a risk to the structural integrity of a home in certain cases.<\/p>\n
Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay said \u201cmy goal is to make sure all of the development and all of the projects on the island, and everybody\u2019s property on the island is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKannay said there is also no permitting process to allow for flood panels. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot do that here because of where we are in those flood maps and those flood zones,\u201d McKannay said. \u201cWe\u2019re just not in a position where we can\u2019t implement such a policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
McKannay said after Hurricane Ian and the town\u2019s placement on probation by FEMA through the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA informed the town that flood panels aren\u2019t allowed for any residential properties. There are some exceptions for commercial uses that are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All plans are reviewed by the town\u2019s floodplain manager and planning staff.<\/p>\n
McKannay said the town\u2019s main reason for not allowing flood panels is to be compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program, so the town can continue to receive flood insurance discounts for property owners.<\/p>\n
When FEMA visited the town in July, McKannay asked how the town was being reviewed for compliance in the National Flood Insurance Program. McKannay asked for the standards. \u201cWhat they evaluated us on is if our policies are compliant with FEMA and the state,\u201d he said. The review led to a long list of properties that were put under review. \u201cWe were successfully able to get put over that line to be put into the Community Rating System\u201d and back into the National Flood Insurance Program, McKannay said.<\/p>\n
At present, there are no established regulations or codes that would allow the Town of Fort Myers Beach to issue permits for installation of flood panels as mitigation measures on residential and residential use structures, Eberhart said. Due to the construction requirements and designation of a coastal high hazard area VE (velocity elevation) flood zones, dry floodproofing is not permitted for compliance or mitigation.<\/p>\n
Other entities use similar standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida Building Code does not support flood panels for residential structures,\u201d Lee County officials said, adding \u201cUnincorporated Lee County residential applicants are not eligible for permits for flood panels. But commercial applicants would be.\u201d<\/p>\n
City of Sanibel officials echoed the county statement pertaining to residential structures, adding that commercial food barriers do require a permit.<\/p>\n
\u201cDry floodproofing, making a structure watertight by sealing openings with certified panels and waterproof materials is allowed only for commercial and other non-residential structures located below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in AE zones and is not permitted in VE zones,\u201d the City of Cape Coral stated.<\/p>\n