Severe Repetitive Losses

The Severe Repetitive Losses (SRL) property group consists of any NFIP-insured property that has met at least 1 of the following paid flood loss criteria since 1978, regardless of ownership:

      (a) 4 or more separate claim payments of more than $5,000 each (including building and contents payments); or the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeds $20,000; or

      (b) For which at least two separate claims payments (building payments only) have been made with the cumulative amount of the building portion of such claims exceeding the market value of the building.

For both (a) and (b) above, at least two of the referenced claims must have occurred within any ten-year period, and must be greater than 10 days apart. Multiple losses at the same location within 10 days of each other are counted as 1 loss, with the payment amounts added together.

Repetitive Loss Areas

Miami-Dade County prioritizes the mitigation activities in repetitive loss areas, based on the number of claims placed in each neighborhood.

Miami-Dade County is often considered as ‘ground zero’ for sea level rise, increased inland flooding, and other effects of climate change. In 2013, Florida passed legislation to create Adaptation Action Area (AAA) designation for areas uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts to serve as a planning tool and to encourage technical assistance and funding opportunities.

In 2015, after the approval of Resolution R-44-15, Miami-Dade County added the tool to its Comprehensive Development Master Plan, Land Use Element, and is currently working to identify Adaptation Action Areas (Policies LU-3K, LU-3L and LU-3M).

Currently the County is prioritizing the Arch Creek Basin, as a pilot Adaptation Action Area, as part of a comprehensive strategy that has the goal improve the resilience of the entire community to Climate Change and natural disasters, in addition of mitigation of repetitive losses.

The 2,838 acre Arch Creek Basin is located east of I-95, main roadways include sections of US 1 and State Highway 922 (NE 125th Street). The study area encompasses land within four municipalities: North Miami (1,784 acres), Miami Shores (51 acres), Biscayne Park (332 acres) and North Miami Beach (92 acres). The remaining 579 acres are located within unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

The County is also prioritizing the Shorecrest Area.

The County prioritizes drainage capital improvement projects in areas with most repetitive losses, flood complaints, and low lying areas, with flood protection levels of service below the threshold identified in the Comprehensive Development Masterplan (CDMP).

For the latest list of funded projects consult the latest County’s Adopted Budget, Volume 3, searching under the keyword “drainage”. This document also include a list of unfunded needs.

Protect Your Property

There are things you can do to minimize or eliminate property damage before a flood event occurs. Grading your property, elevating and securing electrical appliances, placing all low lying electrical fixtures on separate electrical circuits, and using flood resistant materials on exterior surfaces are some ways you can help yourself. Under emergency conditions, sand bags can be used to protect structures from flood waters, and elevating or covering furniture and valuables can help minimize damage.

The Stormwater Utility also provides flood protection assistance to citizens, in the form of site visits and advice on how to protect your property from flooding. Please call Miami-Dade County’s Contact Center at 311 or 305-372-6688 to report any unusual flooding in your area or to request a site visit for your property.

Paying for Flood Mitigation

Flood mitigation of a property can be expensive. One affordable solution for homeowners and homebuyers is to finance the flood mitigation activities over time is the FHA's 203(k) loan program. A 203(k) loan helps borrowers by ensuring a single, long-term, fixed or adjustable rate loan that covers the acquisition or rehabilitation of a property.

Eligible flood mitigation activities include, but are not limited to:

• Structural elevation of the home above Base Flood Elevation (BFE);
• Relocation of the home to a non-flood prone site;
• Dry floodproofing (e.g., make structure water-tight);
• Relocating utilities and systems out of a basement;
• Wet floodproofing (e.g., installing flood vents);
• Structural alterations and reconstruction; and
• Adding or replacing roofing, gutters and downspouts.

For additional information on FHA's 203(k) Rehabilitation Program, please visit http://bit.ly/2mmStwv

The FEMA Guidance for Severe Repetitive Loss Properties provides additional information on insurance policies for Repetitive Loss Properties.

Mitigation

The SRL grant program was originally authorized by the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, which amended the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, to provide funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to severe repetitive loss structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In 2012, The Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act eliminated the SRL program. The SRL Mitigation opportunities are now part of the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant (HMA) Program, under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program. 

If you live in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County please contact 305-372-6466 for information on the availability of mitigation grants.