Flooding and Stormwater

The stormwater program focuses on protecting public health and property from flooding, and improving and protecting the quality of our lakes and waterways.

You probably walk, cycle or drive by a stormwater pond almost every day. Stormwater ponds are often mistaken for lakes in Osceola County; however, these ponds play a unique role in managing our surface water quantity and quality. Stormwater ponds are designed and constructed to reduce downstream flooding, and play an important role by catching and filtering polluted run-off from roads, parking lots and over-fertilized lawns. While some pollutants biodegrade within the stormwater pond, others are more persistent and accumulate in the sediment. Therefore, one should never swim or eat fish from a stormwater pond.

Low risk areas can be susceptible to "localized flooding" when a large amount of rainfall exceeds the capacity of the storm drainage system. In large storm events, streets are designed to hold excess water when the systems are at capacity. After the storm event, the water should slowly decline within a day or two. If the water remains in the street for more than a couple of days, there may be maintenance needed in your area. Most drainage systems in unincorporated Osceola County are maintained by the Road & Bridge Department. Call them to report clogged drainage systems at 407-742-7500.

The sewer system and the storm drain system are two completely separate systems. The sewer system takes all household wastewater and routes it through a plumbing system into a treatment plant. The stormwater system routes rainwater off the streets into the storm drains, and empties directly into creeks, rivers, and lakes. Stormwater systems do not typically have an odor generated by the water source. Therefore if a strong odor is associated with with a drain/ manhole issue, please contact your sewer provider first.

The term "100-year flood" is misleading. It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years. Rather, it is the flood that has a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded each year. Thus, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time or even within the same month. Because this term is misleading, FEMA has also defined it as the "1-percent-annual-chance flood." The "1-percent-annual-chance flood" is the term that is now used by most Federal and State agencies and by the National Flood Insurance Program. Additional floodplain FAQs can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on the FEMA website.

Ownership or maintenance responsibilities? Contact your HOA first to determine ownership and maintenance responsibilities. For additional assistance determining ownership, you may contact the Osceola County Property Appraiser’s Office or Osceola County Public Works at 407-742-0662.

For possible pollution (illicit discharge) into a pond, ditch, lake or stream, or for damage to stormwater structures, contact Osceola County Public Works at 407-742-0662.

For lawn and landscape care, you may contact UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, at 321-697-3000.

Any substance released into the separate storm water drainage system that is not composed entirely of stormwater or uncontaminated groundwater. Examples of illicit discharges include dumping of motor vehicle fluids, household hazardous wastes, chlorinated pool water, paint, grass clippings, leaf litter, or animal waste. If you witness illicit discharge taking place, please call Osceola County Public Works at 407-742-0662.

Algae are probably what you see. They are simple plants that live in our ponds. When we have warm, sunny weather, algae can grow very rapidly. This can often lead to excessive algal growth which is commonly referred to as an algae bloom. Neighborhood ponds are usually part of a community stormwater treatment system. The water from lawns drains downhill, into ditches and swales, down streets and into storm drains which connect to the ponds and collect pollutants like fertilizers, pet waste and motor oil, along the way. Fertilizers provide our lawn and landscapes with the nutrients needed for growth. Lawn clippings and tree leaves are a source of nutrients that eventually find their way into ponds. Clippings left on the road or sidewalk are usually washed into swales or ditches and eventually down into storm drains where they release their nutrients as they decompose. Excess fertilizers, lawn clippings and pest waste contain the nutrients plants and algae need to grow. By limiting the amount of excess nutrients that enter our stormwater ponds, we can prevent algae blooms and unwanted plant growth.

Sometimes it is necessary to use chemicals or other options to treat the algae. Another way is to prevent fertilizers and other nutrient sources from entering the pond (source control). Follow University of Florida/IFAS Florida Yards and Neighborhoods recommendations for Florida Friendly Yards. Do not exceed the recommended application rate on the fertilizer bag. Never apply fertilizers directly next to a pond. Provide a buffer of at least 10 feet from the edge of the fertilizer swath and the edge of the pond to prevent fertilizer from going into the pond. Check the weather to make sure you are not applying fertilizer before a storm. This will prevent the newly applied fertilizer from running off into the pond, and save you money by not wasting fertilizer!

There are a variety of things that can cause a fish kill. Lack of oxygen in the water, changes in water pH, viruses, bacterial infections, and even rapid fluctuations in temperature are naturally occurring things that cause fish kills. The majority of fish kills that occur in Florida are due to natural causes. Fish need oxygen in the water in order to breathe. As plants die off, microbes use up the oxygen in the water to decompose the plant material, which decreases the amount of oxygen in the water available to fish. Fish kills can also result from a drop in water temperature. Most of the fish that die under these circumstances are non-native fish species, because they cannot tolerate the cold temperatures. While pollutants are typically not the direct cause of fish kills, excessive nutrients can cause algal blooms which reduce the amount of oxygen available for this fish. This is why it is very important to prevent pollutants from entering our waterways, so that we can continue to protect our water resources for all living creatures.

No. Feeding ducks may be fun, but it can be harmful to the ducks and your pond. Ducks can lose their ability to find food naturally, leading them to become dependent on humans for food. Ducks and other birds and wildlife, such as sand hill cranes, can find food just fine all on their own. Feeding may also encourage ducks to grow into large flocks, which can be a nuisance and make a large mess. Excess manure from large flocks may result in an algal bloom, growth of nuisance vegetation, and costly pond maintenance.

Some ponds are the responsibility of the Home Owners Association (HOA), some are managed by the property management association, and some are managed by the county or the city. Regardless of who has the financial responsibility for maintenance, all of the neighbors who live in the area can help keep ponds clean and healthy and reduce maintenance costs. If you are unsure of who has responsibility for managing and maintaining your pond, first contact your HOA to determine if it is responsible for pond maintenance. If your HOA does not maintain your ponds, you may wish to contact Osceola County Stormwater, 407-742-0662, who can help identify stormwater pond ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

There are three basic maintenance activities necessary to maintain ponds:

• mowing
• aquatic weed control
• structural inspections and repairs

Mowing is done primarily for aesthetic purposes, but also allows for easier maintenance of the pond and structures. Before mowing begins, all trash and debris should be removed from the area to prevent it from entering the stormwater pond, which will also prevent clogging of the structure. Aquatic plant management should be managed to maintain at least 50% open water to ensure the structure does not become clogged with plant and other debris. This will also maintain pond capacity which will help prevent flooding. Inspections of the stormwater pond and structures are also recommended to ensure the pond and structures are working as intended.

• Fertilize landscapes appropriately.
• Don't fertilize before a storm.
• Sweep fertilizer from sidewalks and driveways into the yard.
• Keep leaves and grass clippings in the yard, not in the street or storm drain.
• Pick up after your pet and put the waste in the toilet or in the garbage.
• Pick up litter so it does not float or blow into the pond.
• Don't pour chemicals, like oil or gasoline, on the street or down the storm drain.
• Only rain should go down the drain.

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a program implemented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reward communities, such as Osceola County, which undertake flood plain activities beyond the requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The CRS is a point system program- the greater the number of points earned by a community the greater the reduction in flood insurance premiums for the citizens of that community.

Osceola County began participating in the CRS is 1995 and currently has earned enough CRS points to be awarded a class 6 rating. This class 6 rating means that the citizens of Osceola County who have flood insurance are receiving a 20% discount on their premium.

An Elevation Certificate is a document issued by a Registered Florida Land Surveyor indicating the lowest floor elevation and the Base Flood Elevation. The Base Flood Elevation is also known as the 100-year flood elevation. Insurance agents usually request these documents when writing a flood insurance policy. They need to know the difference between the lowest floor elevation and the Base Flood Elevation in order to quote an accurate rate. In general terms, the higher the floor elevation is above the flood elevation the lower the premium will be.

You can obtain a blank Elevation Certificate from our office or by visiting the FEMA web page. However, the form will need to be completed by any Registered Land Surveyor. Check your telephone directory/yellow pages under surveyors and ask for an estimate.

These forms are available on the FEMA Find an Insurance Form page. Or you can pick up a blank form from our office located in the Osceola County Administration Building on the 1st floor in Suite 1100.

You can determine this by locating your property on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Osceola County, unincorporated areas. These maps are available online, or for anyone to view in the Osceola County Administration Building on the 1st floor in Suite 1400. Generally, the flood plain can be divided into three different zones:

• The Special Flood Hazard Areas inundated by the 100-year flood plane (Zone A & Zone AE)
• The Floodway (located within Zone AE)
• Other flood areas located outside the 100-year flood plain (Zone X-shaded and Zone X)

The Flood Plain Technician can assist you in determining the flood plain status of any property located in the unincorporated areas of Osceola County, Florida. You can submit a request online here. We will need the following information:

• Personal Identification: Your name, phone number, fax number
• Property Identification: Physical address, parcel identification number, legal description

If you do not have the property identification information please contact the Property Appraiser's Office at (407) 742-5000. This information will expedite your request for flood zone determination.

Please phone your request to (407) 742-0200 or fax it to (407) 742-0203.

A Flood Plain Permit is a permit which is issued by the Engineering Office to those who want to build a structure on property located within a 100-year flood plain. The Flood Plain Permit will ensure that the lowest floor elevation meets the requirements of the Flood Plain Ordinance which is one (1) foot above the 100-year flood elevation.

All building permits are reviewed by the Stormwater Management Section and a Flood Plain Permit is issued for all structures being built within the 100-year flood plain. There is no additional cost for the Flood Plain Permit.

A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR)is a document issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which changes the flood plain information indicated on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The Osceola County Stormwater Management Section is the repository for these documents. They are available to the public during regular office hours or fax us the "Citizen Request for Flood Plain Determination Form" located under the Request Forms section of the Stormwater Management website.

LOMR forms are available on the FEMA paper forms page.

The flood plain technician will provide you with the following: The flood zone designation, base flood elevation (if available), community number, panel number, suffix, date of FIRM, letter of map revision (if available), and elevation certificate (if available). The flood zone designation, base flood elevation, community number, panel number, suffic, date if FIRM will be sent to you on a form letter. Copies of any letter of map revision or elevation certificate (if available) which pertain to the property will also be provided to you.

The flood plain technician will either fax or mail the form letter, per your request, and any additional information to you. Flood plain information given over the phone will be limited to flood zone designation, base flood elevation, community number, panel number, suffix, and date of FIRM.

To order FIRM call the National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, toll free at 1-800-358-9616.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program enabling property owners to purchase insurance protection against losses from flooding. This insurance is designed to provide an insurance alternative to disaster assistance to meet the escalating costs of repairing damage to buildings and their contents caused by floods. Please be advised that flood insurance is an additional insurance policy separate from a homeowner insurance policy, and not all insurance agencies carry this type of policy. Be sure to ask your insurance agent today.

Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities (Osceola County) and the federal government. This agreement states: That if a community will implement and enforce measures to reduce future flood risks to new construction in special flood hazard areas, the federal government will make flood insurance available within the community as a protection against flood losses which do occur.

Osceola County began participating in the NFIP in 1982 with the enactment of the Flood Plain Ordinance. The main objectives of this ordinance are: to protect citizen's lives and health, to control alteration of natural flood plains, and to insure that all new construction projects are notified if a property is located in a flood hazard area.

The toll free phone number for the NFIP is 1-800-358-9616.

A 100-year storm has a 1% probability of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. In Osceola County this storm event is one that rains 12.9 inches of rain in a 96 hour period.

This could be a result of one of the following: It is possible that your property was incorrectly located on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) or that the FIRM has changed due to a restudy or revised map. It is also possible that the home was constructed prior to Osceola County's participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), at that time FIRM was not in existence for this community. Structures that were built prior to 1982 and are located within the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) can qualify for flood insurance with a "pre-FIRM" rate.

Yes, flood insurance is available for structures located in these low risk areas. Just ask your agent for the Preferred Risk Policy.