Tag: Hurricanes

Building Permit – Stop All Work

Post author By Mark
Post date May 27, 2008
No Comments on Building Permit – Stop All Work

Looks like a builder got caught up in the new Holmes Beach City permit approval process.

This house was red flagged 2 weeks ago after demolition work had begun. The notice states the reason to be ‘no permit’.

Two months ago the City of Holmes Beach reviewed its building code after discussion with FEMA rules on floodplain insurance.

Subsequently, a draft code was approved and went into effect, with a projection that new permits received by April 9th would be issued in 30 days.

However, demolition began on this property early April, with walls removed, roof peeled back, and interior gutted.

Tags Building, Hurricanes, Taxes

Environment

2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

Post author By Mark
Post date May 13, 2008
No Comments on 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

The official start to the Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1st. Now is a good time to make preparations for an emergency evacuation and formulate your disaster plan.

The Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project has published its forecast for the Atlantic basin hurricane activity, based on 58 years of past data and predictive statistical analysis. Early season forecasts are for the following:

Atlantic Hurricane Season	April 2008 forecast	1950 – 2007 average
Named storms (>35mph)	15	9.6
Hurricanes (>72mph)	8	5.9
Major hurricanes (>111mph)	4	2.3
US landfall likelihood	69%	52%
Gulf Coast landfall	44%	30%

Tags Advisories, Hurricanes, Tropical Storms

Community Environment Politics Real Estate

FEMA Rules ReRule

In another episode of the continuing non-reality show of “Let’s see what FEMA rules are today”, letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the local island cities offices announced that buildings “having the lowest floor one foot or more below the base flood elevation will no longer be eligible for the CRS discount.”

The Community Rating System is a method of assessing cities’ overall exposure to flood damage loss. By installing adequate drainage systems and enforcing building codes to mitigate flood damage, communities can be eligible for a 5 – 45% discount for residents’ flood insurance premiums.

FEMA’s new edict beginning May 1st excludes specific properties “at high risk” and “not compliant” in the “Special Flood Hazard Area” from getting the community discount. A homeowner will discover if he is excluded when their flood insurance policy comes up for renewal – the policy will have a small zero in the CRS discount box.

Tags Advisories, Hurricanes, Taxes, Tropical Storms

Environment Politics Real Estate

FEMA Rules On Floodplain Insurance

Post author By Mark
Post date April 2, 2008
1 Comment on FEMA Rules On Floodplain Insurance

City of Holmes Beach commissioners presented their first reading of a draft new ordinance related to building code and permitting in the city’s floodplain.

The 31-page ordinance is the result of FEMA, (We’re Here To Help You), having questions about code implementation and compliance with current standards.

On February 12th, the city commissioners put a moratorium on new building permits until a new regulations could be researched and analyzed. The March 25th meeting brought to light the draft reading.

The new regulations are expected to improve ranking with the National Flood Insurance Program system, which provides discounts for cities that participate in the government’s flood insurance program.

Tags Advisories, Hurricanes, Taxes, Tropical Storms

Environment Politics Real Estate

We’re Here To Help You

As if the housing market slowdown were not enough to challenge local contractors, now Holmes Beach City has stopped issuing all building permits.

The City of Holmes Beach Commissioners decided the building department stop granting “requests for construction, reconstruction, or improvement of buildings or structures within the flood hazard areas” beginning February 12th. All building is halted while compliance is being studied and codes compared with other communities.

Caught in this moratorium is a partly rebuilt 1950’s house. New walls, windows, and roof were constructed last month but work has now stopped. The city is considering that it may even have to be torn down again.

Tags Advisories, Hurricanes, Taxes