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Flood Protection
Since homeowners or renters insurance polices do not cover losses due to flooding, the City strongly urges you to buy or continue your flood insurance to protect yourself from potentially devastating losses. Fort Pierce participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS). Because of the City's participation in the CRS program, the residents receive up to 20% discount on their NFIP premiums. Tenants may also insure their person property against flood loss.
Contact An Insurance Agent for Information
The average annual premium for this insurance will vary depending upon amount of coverage and degree of flood hazard.
We urge people who live or own property in flood hazard areas to purchase flood insurance to protect themselves from losses due to flooding.
Flood insurance is required in certain instances, such as the purchase of a home with a federally backed mortgage. (If there are no mortgages on your property, it is still advisable to protect your property with flood insurance.)
The City provides information regarding flooding hazards in your area. For more information about the FIRM, Coastal Construction Control Line, repetitive loss areas, floodways, and coastal barrier resource areas, call the CRS Coordinator at 772-467-3198. You can also view the flood map on-line.
Recently completed elevation certificates are available on our website or through the Building Department.
Also view our City of Fort Pierce Hurricane Tracker for up to date information on a pending storm.

Contact the Building Department before you build on or alter your property.
Any development (including placing or removing fill) in the flood plain requires a building permit. If you suspect that illegal flood plain development is occurring, call the Building Department at 772-467-3198.

Every year, flooding causes more property damage in the United States than any other type of natural disaster. While recent construction practices and regulations have made new homes less prone to flooding, many existing structures remain susceptible. Throughout the country there is a growing interest from property owners to develop practical and cost effective methods for reducing or eliminating exposures to flooding, several effective ways include acquisition and relocation of a building to a site not subject to flooding, construction of floodwalls or berms to keep water away from the property, or retrofitting structures to make them flood proof. Retrofitting is a different approach from the other ways because the property itself remains subject to flooding while the building is modified to prevent or minimize flooding of habitable space.
There are several recognizable approaches to retrofitting:
Elevation of the structure above flood protection levels
Construction of barriers (floodwalls, berms)
Dry flood proofing (water tight floor and wall systems)
Wet flood proofing (permits entry and passage of flood waters)
In the event of pending flood threat, it is always advisable to take the following emergency actions:
Sand bagging to reduce erosion and scouring
Elevate furniture above flood protection levels
Create floodway openings in non-habitable areas such as garage doors.
Seal off sewer lines to the dwelling to prevent the back flow of sewer waters.
Mitigation is defined as the effort to reduce or eliminate loss of life and property by lessening the impacts of disasters. In order for mitigation to be successful, we need to take action BEFORE the next disaster so we can reduce the human and financial loss.
Studies show that one dollar ($1) spent on mitigation now will save us four dollars ($4) in the future.
Some examples of mitigation:
- Hurricane shutters for a home, business or government building.
- Elevation of a flood vulnerable building or home
- Drainage improvement projects.
- Road/bridge improvement projects.
- Public information and outreach programs that educate the community on disaster risk, preparedness, and mitigation.
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Contact Us
-
Paul Thomas
Building Official
Email
For Building Department Lien Searches
Email
772-467-3718For Building Department Plan/Permit Research
Email
772-467-3718Physical Address
300 Orange Avenue 3rd Floor
Fort Pierce FL 34950
Mailing Address
100 N. U.S. Highway 1
P.O. Box 1480
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Ph: 772-467-3718
Fx: 772-467-3849
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.