True Flood Risk

Elevating Resilience in Florida 
   True Flood Risk is thrilled about the newly announced Elevate Florida program, unveiled at the Florida Chamber of Commerce Insurance Summit last week. This innovative initiative is a major step forward in helping homeowners in Florida protect their properties from flood damage.   As highlighted in Newsweek, Kevin Guthrie MA CEM FPEM, Executive Director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, shared the program’s vision: ‘We are working with our federal counterparts along with the folks here in the state of Florida to do some new things that are going to directly impact homeowners and their insurance rates and their National Flood Insurance.’   The program offers grants and low-interest SBA loans—no interest for the first year and a 2.8% rate thereafter—reducing financial barriers for flood mitigation measures. Unlike existing programs requiring a 25% upfront contribution, Elevate Florida allows federal SBA loans to cover this cost, making these measures more accessible for homeowners.   True Flood Risk conducted a comprehensive flood and financial risk assessment for Punta Gorda, FL, the community featured in the article. Our assessment revealed: -72% of properties have a high chance of flooding as a result of having a first floor elevation below the expected base flood elevation (FFE to BFE). -72% of properties need to be elevated to address current flood risks properties and an additional 22% would benefit today from risk transfer solutions like parametric or indemnity flood insurance.   Programs like Elevate Florida are essential for empowering homeowners, reducing flood risks, and easing the burden of rising insurance costs. We look forward to supporting these efforts with real-time data-driven insights and innovative solutions!   Reach out if you’re interested in receiving a complimentary copy of our True Flood Risk & Resilience Report for Punta Gorda, and check out the full article regarding Elevate Florida in Newsweek: https://lnkd.in/eSQcrHs8   #FloodResilience 
 #ElevateFlorida 
 #FloodRisk 
 #FloodInsurance #TrueFloodRisk

Flood Mitigation/Engineering Opportunity in Mount Vernon Westchester County, NY The City of Mount Vernon is requesting proposals from engineering firms for Contract #C000983, focused on their South Third & South Columbus Avenues Flood Mitigation Engineering Studies/Analysis. The deadline is December 16th. This critical intersection is a major entry and exit point off the Hutchinson River Parkway, known locally as “The Hutch.” It is surrounded by residential and commercial properties and key destinations like Wilson’s Woods Park and shopping areas. However, frequent flooding from stormwater backups during rainstorms and high tides presents a significant challenge for the community. 🏡 Insights from True Flood Risk Using our proprietary First Floor Height (FFH) estimator, we've mapped Mount Vernon and neighboring zip codes (10550, 10552, 10553, 10708). The findings underscore the need for targeted flood mitigation: -5.6% (775 properties) face a high flood risk today, based on first-floor height against expected flood levels. -This increases to 12% with just 1 additional foot of flooding. -73% of the community requires flood risk interventions, from house raising, basement filling to indemnity or parametric flood insurance solutions. 📊 Visualizing the Flood Mitigation Challenge Our analysis goes beyond data—we’ve created a detailed visualization of this intersection and surrounding neighborhoods, highlighting areas most vulnerable to flooding. 📥 Complimentary Access to Our Data and Report Want to learn more about Mount Vernon’s flood risk? We’re offering engineering and mitigation firms, as well as the public, a complimentary copy of our comprehensive report and dataset. Reach out to request your copy today! Together, we can make communities near and far more resilient. #FloodMitigation #FloodRisk #Engineering #CommunityResilience #TrueFloodRisk #WhenEveryInchMatters

This recent ABC Action News segment sheds important light on the complexities of flood insurance, highlighting how essential it is for property owners to fully understand their coverage. Jake Holehouse, CPCU of HH Insurance pointed out common misconceptions about "lower area finished" (LAF) spaces, which are often not permitted as living areas in special flood hazard areas and therefore aren’t covered by flood insurance. At True Flood Risk, our mission is to communicate a property's true flood risk, helping owners accurately assess their vulnerability and implement effective mitigation strategies. Understanding the specifics of your flood insurance coverage, along with a clear picture of your property's flood risk, can save more than just money—it can also prevent significant stress and protect personal safety. For example, consider the home in Crystal Beach, FL featured in this segment: FEMA has set the base flood elevation at 9 feet, but our estimates show the first floor elevation above sea level is 6.97 feet when factoring in the lower finished floor. This results in an FFE to BFE of -2.03 feet, meaning the home could experience up to 2 feet of water during expected floods. Based on our financial assessment of current and future flood risks in Pinellas County, we recommend considering filling in or abandoning the lower finished space for enhanced protection. We appreciate WFTS-TV for featuring stories like this, which help educate, advocate, and raise awareness within the broader community on these critical issues that impact so many. #Floodinsurance #WhenEveryInchMatters #Florida #CommunityResilience #PinellasCounty https://lnkd.in/gz-wbfjn

Expanding Flood Risk Insights in South St. Louis County A few weeks ago, we shared our thoughts on the tragic flooding near Gravois Creek in South St. Louis County, highlighting the urgent need for proactive flood risk management. The latest True Flood Risk & Resilience report conducts a deeper dive into ZIP code 63123, one of the areas significantly affected. True Flood Risk’s analysis uncovered some striking data. Based on current FEMA flood maps, only 1.8% of properties in this ZIP code are categorized as having a high flood risk based on our definition where the First Floor Elevation (FFE) is at or below the expected flood height. However, when we expand the flood extent by just 500 feet and examine first floor height (FFH), the percentage of properties at high risk jumps to 13%, exposing more properties with corresponding FFEs of zero or below which leads to extreme flood risk The images in the flash report demonstrate this shift: 📍 Image 1 (top): current FEMA flood zones in ZIP code 63123 📍 Image 2 (bottom): Expanded flood extent (500 ft), significantly increasing properties at risk This stark difference illustrates why it’s critical to go beyond traditional flood maps. Our data-driven approach helps to inform homeowners, insurers, and communities with a clearer picture of current and future risks—empowering them to take proactive steps to mitigate those risks, such as raising structures, filling basements, or installing protective flood proofing barriers. Understanding your True Flood Risk is the first step in building a resilient community. Let’s work together to protect lives, property, and neighborhoods and it starts today! #TrueFloodRisk #FloodResilience #ProactivePlanning #StLouis

WSOC-TV Eyewitness News recently highlighted the challenges faced by the Davis family in northwest Charlotte, whose home sustained over 66% flood damage from Hurricane Helene. True Flood Risk took a look at their property and estimates their property’s First Floor Height (FFH) at 2.33 feet and located in an AE high-risk flood zone. However, the lack of a defined base flood elevation (BFE) in this area complicates communicating precise flood risks to property owners. Like many others, the Davis family is caught between delayed flood insurance claims and Mecklenburg County’s buyout program. After over 50 days of waiting—well beyond the expected timeline—they remain in limbo, unable to move forward. This story underscores the urgent need for deeper insights into flood risks, better communication about expected flood heights, and faster support for families facing devastating losses. True Flood Risk is committed to delivering property-specific insights that empower better decisions and build resilience for families like the Davis family. Interested in learning more about your property's true flood risk? Request a free flood risk and resilience report today. https://lnkd.in/ghC8EcWS #FloodResilience #FloodRisk #KnowYourTrueFloodRisk

Georgetown, TX Officials Share Updates on New County Floodplain Data NBC affiliate KXAN-tv recently reported that Georgetown city officials are urging residents near floodplains to consider and secure flood insurance. At an October 22 community meeting, officials presented preliminary findings from their Atlas 14 floodplain study, revealing that rainfall intensities in Williamson County have increased by 15% over the past 20–30 years. According to Wesley Wright, Georgetown’s systems engineering director and floodplain administrator, these changes mean additional properties may now be at risk of flooding compared to current FEMA flood maps. It is anticipated FEMA will update their maps in the coming year which could lead to higher flood insurance premiums for properties previously not in a floodplain. A Closer Look at Georgetown’s Current and Future Flood Risk True Flood Risk analyzed nearly 31,000 properties in Georgetown using our patented technology to instantly estimate property-level First Floor Height (FFH), First Floor Elevation (FFE), and combined the data with potential flood extents, historical weather events and FEMA NFIP claims data among other factors, the analysis revealed: -16% of properties are at risk of flooding today. -This increases to 27% with just 6 inches of flash flooding. -49% of properties face risk with 1 foot of flash flooding. Take, for example, the community center featured in the True Flood Risk visualization tool: Estimated First Floor Height (FFH): 0.58 feet. Currently located in an X flood zone, but only 208 feet from the 100-year floodplain (1% annual chance floodplain). True Flood Risk & Resilience Recommendation: Flood insurance is strongly advised based on current risk. For long-term resilience, elevating the property is identified as the optimal financial mitigation strategy based on future flood projections. Act Now: Protect Your Property True Flood Risk provides rapid, property-level and community flood risk assessments, enabling smarter, data-informed decisions to safeguard your assets and community. Want to explore risk in other communities in Williamson County or your own neighborhood? Request free access to our risk assessment report and dataset today! #KnowYourTrueFloodRisk #FloodInsurance #FloodResilience

Latest Update on Flooding in Lafayette, LA The Lafayette Parish School System issued a press release addressing school closures due to extreme weather. Over the span of just three hours, parts of Lafayette Parish received 4-7 inches of rainfall, which the National Weather Service has classified as a 20-25 year Flash Flood Event. Officials reported that water entered nine schools, though no severe damage has been identified. According to the Acadiana Advocate, students at Comeaux High reported floodwaters entering parts of the school, including the band and choir rooms and the library. As shown on our dashboard below, this school is located in an AE flood zone with a first floor height of 0.50 feet, underscoring its vulnerability. We’ve updated our visualization tool to reflect the latest range of experienced flash flooding in Lafayette, incorporating additional schools and academies within the Lafayette Parish Public Schools system. These events highlight the vital need for real-time flood monitoring tools and proactive flood risk management to safeguard communities and critical infrastructure during weather events of any scale. We are also happy to report all schools are expected to reopen on Thursday. Want to learn more? Contact us to discover how our tools provide actionable insights during flood events and help communities prepare, respond, and recover effectively. #FloodRisk #LafayetteLA #CommunityResilience #TrueFloodRisk

Devastating scenes shared by X user GeoTechWar: Over 3,000 residents have been forced to evacuate due to rising floodwaters in Malaga. The building housing Claque Tours, with a first-floor height of just 0.58 ft, highlights the vulnerability of properties in such conditions. According to True Flood Risk's property-level flood report, flood insurance was strongly recommended for this location, especially if elevating the property wasn’t feasible. Protect your property before it’s too late. Learn how True Flood Risk can help you assess vulnerabilities and plan for resilience. Contact us today to explore actionable insights for flood risk management. #FloodRisk #DisasterPreparedness #CommunityResilience #TrueFloodRisk #FloodInsurance

Happening Now in Lafayette, LA In the last 30 minutes, KLFY NEWS 10 reported that heavy rains have caused localized flooding, leading to the closure of all Lafayette Parish public schools today due to flash flooding. At True Flood Risk, we quickly analyzed the public schools in Lafayette Parish and confirmed that, given the rain accumulated overnight, this decision aligns with our flood risk data. We’ve also connected with friends on the ground in Lafayette, who shared that some schools are still in the process of sending students home, but everything is being handled in a safe and orderly manner. This highlights the vital importance of proactive flood risk assessments to empower communities, schools, and local governments to make real-time, informed decisions that prioritize safety and resilience. Interested in actionable data to help your community prepare for and recover from flood events? Let’s work together—reach out to learn more about our insights and solutions. #FloodRisk #LafayetteLA #DisasterPreparedness #TrueFloodRisk

Monitoring the Edisto River Flooding True Flood Risk has been closely tracking the Edisto River as it continues to impact Colleton, Orangeburg, and Dorchester Counties in South Carolina. Reports indicate that portions of Colleton County are still facing significant flooding due to the river’s high water levels. The Ghivans Ferry area is expected to crest tonight, offering hope for relief. Flooding Analysis in Edisto Island To highlight the flood risk in Colleton County, True Flood Risk recently conducted an analysis focused on Edisto Island. Using our patented technology to instantly estimate first-floor heights of properties, combined with FEMA flood zones, ground elevation, expected base flood elevation levels, historical weather and claims data, we estimate that 49% of properties in Edisto Island are at risk of flooding. Data and County-Level Reports Available True Flood Risk provides detailed, actionable insights to help local governments, insurers, and residents better understand current and future risks. These insights are critical for effective disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery. Need help? If your property or community in South Carolina is affected by Edisto River flooding and you’d like access to our flood risk insights or assessments, reach out—we’re here to support you. #FloodRisk #EdistoRiver #CommunityResilience #DisasterPreparedness #TrueFloodRisk