Flood Warning System:

Pinellas County flood warnings are broadcast by local television stations, including PCC-TV (Spectrum 637, WOW 18, Verizon 44), as well as by the National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio. Tune in to these media stations for instructions during times of possible flooding, including storms. Listen for weather updates, evacuation orders and expected storm arrival times.

Find out if your home is at risk for flood and educate yourself on the impact a flood could have on you and your family

• Flood Watch:
  Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

• Flash Flood Watch:
  Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

• Flood Warning:
  Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

• Flash Flood Warning:
  A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Notification / Stay Connected: 

Staying connected to important information can help you, your family, and your business survive the storm.
Pinellas County has several additional methods of communication to keep you informed. You can:

• Register for  ALERT PINELLAS- Pinellas County will notify you of an emergency with phone and text messages!
• Sign up for E-Lert- newsletter.  During emergencies, subscribers will receive emergency bulletins and instructions.

To find your evacuation level visit Know Your Zone, just type in your address or call the Interactive Hurricane Evacuation Level Inquiry Line at (727) 453-3150 for information, call (727) 464-3800 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Safety Tips 

• Prepare Ahead: The information and links to resources will assist you in your planning, but how well you do it is up to you. Take the time to prepare ahead, you'll be glad you did.

• Before a Flood:
  • Find out what your flood risk is.
  • Avoid building in a floodprone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
  • Retrofit your property: Elevate the A/C, water
    heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
  • Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
  • Purchase flood insurance for your home, business, or rental.
  • Know Your Zone.
  • Make an emergency plan to protect you, your family, and your pets. Pet friendly shelters are limited.
  • Protect you home by Building Smart.
  • For more information on what to do before, during and after a natural disaster, visit Emergency Management.

• During a Flood:
  • Do not panic.
  • Know your hurricane evacuation level, know your evacuation routes and plan where you will go.
  • Prepare a small bag with essentials.
  • Tune in to local media for flood watches and warnings.
  • Heed warnings from officials – evacuate when orders are given.
  • Have battery-operated flashlights, radios and televisions in working condition.
  • Shut off water service, gas service and electricity to your home.
  • Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
  • Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.
    • Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
    • One foot of water will float many vehicles.
    • Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

• After a Flood:
  • Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.
  • Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated or electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
  • Avoid moving water.
  • Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
  • Stay away from downed power lines and report them to the power company.
  • Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
  • Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
  • Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.
  • Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
  • Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.
  • Watch for critters such as snakes, raccoons, possums and insects that may have "moved" into your evacuated home, since they too look for shelter and relief from flood waters.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS)

The U.S. Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) with the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The NFIP is a Federal program enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance as a protection against flood losses in exchange for State and community floodplain management regulations that reduce future flood damages.

The NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. In exchange for a community’s proactive efforts to reduce flood risk, policyholders can receive reduced flood insurance premiums for buildings in the community.

The Town of Redington Beach participates in the NFIP, making federally backed flood insurance available to you. The Town also participates in the CRS, which provides you with a discount on your flood insurance premium.

Flood Insurance Discount

The Town of Redington Beach participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS) and currently has a rating of 7 with 10 being the lowest and 1 being the highest rating. Each rating below 10 gains property owners in Redington Beach a 5% reduction in their flood insurance premiums. Since Redington Beach is currently rated at 7, we enjoy a 15% reduction. If you haven’t already done so, you need to advise your insurance agent that Redington Beach has a NFIP/CRS rating of 7 at this time, so you receive the proper discount. Insurance writers should know this now, but it is best to check. Remember normal homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Also you must have flood insurance to participate in some grant programs.

Find a Flood Insurance Agent

Flood insurance protects your home. But, before you protect your home, you’ll need to find an agent who lives near it. Visit floodsmart.gov to locate an agent near you.

Get Flood Insurance for Your Home, Business, or Rental.

You are not covered for flood damage under your homeowner’s or tenant’s insurance, these policies specifically exclude flooding. The entire town is prone to flooding, so you should consider getting flood insurance.

Flood insurance covers you for damage to your home, business and contents due to surface accumulation of water from inland or tidal flooding and erosion due to flooding.

Don’t assume that you’re safe from flooding just because you live on the third floor of your condo building. If a severe flood wipes out the ground floor of your building, all of the other units in the building (including your own) may become uninhabitable as well.

Flood insurance rates are calculated based on a variety of factors, including FEMA flood zone , structure elevation, and building construction. Policies can be purchased for contents only, building only, or both contents and building coverage. Getting an Elevation Certificate will help agents properly rate your policy.

Flood insurance has a 30 day wait period before coverage starts, so you will not be insured if you wait until a flood forecast to take out your policy.

Get an Elevation Certificate for an Accurate Rating

An Elevation Certificate (EC) is an administrative tool of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) used to provide elevation information necessary to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances and to determine the proper insurance premium rate.

If an Elevation Certificate has been prepared for your property and it was submitted to the Town, you can get a copy by clicking here or contacting the Town at (727) 391-3875.