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The City of Long Beach has developed a Floodplain Management Plan (FMP) to assess the community's risk to flooding and set a strategy to reduce vulnerability. The City has had several public meetings as part of the planning process.

As a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the City of Long Beach actively seeks to increase flood awareness and decrease flood insurance rates for residents. Please use this page as a resource to learn more about flooding, insurance, and emergency preparedness.

Flooding

• FACT: Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster and cause millions of dollars in damage every year.

• FACT: Homeowners and renters insurance does not typically cover flood damage.

• FACT: Floods can happen anywhere--More than 20 percent of flood claims come from properties outside the high risk flood zone. FACT: Flood insurance can pay regardless of whether or not there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

• FACT: Most federal disaster assistance comes in the form of low-interest disaster loans from U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and you have to pay them back. FEMA offers disaster grants that don't need to be paid back, but this amount is often much less than what is needed to recover. A claim against your flood insurance policy could and often does, provide more funds for recovery than those you could qualify for from FEMA or the SBA--and you don't have to pay it back.

• FACT: Congress has mandated federally regulated or insured lenders to require flood insurance on mortgaged properties that are located in areas at high risk of flooding. But even if your property is not in a high risk flood area, your mortgage lender may still require you to have flood insurance.

 
Floodplain Management

Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risk of current and future flooding, resulting in a more resilient community. These measures take a variety of forms, are carried out by multiple stakeholders, and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or building, building codes, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances. While FEMA has minimum floodplain management standards for communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), best practices demonstrate the adoption of higher standards which will lead to safer, stronger, more resilient communities.  

 

Community Rating System

The NFIP utilizes a Community Rating System (CRS) to incentivize community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result of Long Beach's participation in the CRS program, eligible Long Beach policy holders enjoy a 15% discount on flood insurance premiums. 

To learn more about Long Beach's participation in the CRS rating system, visit www.longbeachny.gov/crs
 

Flood Insurance

For information on the National Flood Insurance Program visit www.floodsmart.gov
What do I need to know about flood insurance coverage?
How can I buy flood insurance?
How do I pay for or renew my flood insurance policy?
What factors determine how much I pay for flood insurance?

 

FEMA Flood Maps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  issued new floodplain maps that designate the entire City of Long Beach as a Flood Zone as of September 11, 2009.

If your property is now in the low risk zone (X), your pre-September 11 rate may be grandfathered, saving you hundreds of dollars yearly in flood insurance. If your home is now designated in a higher risk zone (AE), which encompasses virtually all of Long Beach, your lender will require flood insurance. If you intend to refinance a mortgage, your rate will be based on the new flood maps after September 11, 2009.

The City does not determine flood insurance rates; they are established by FEMA. However, the City is one of only a few communities on Long Island to participate in the Community Rating System (CRS) through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 

Check FEMA's flood maps here
 

Infrastructure

Infrastructure is instrumental to the City’s mission to rebuild Long Beach in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. By keeping resiliency and sustainability in mind during the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects the City and its residents will be better protected during from future storms. The Department of Public Works serves as the infrastructure arm of the City, providing a wide range of infrastructure-based services throughout the City, and specializing in the planning, design, and construction oversight of public projects throughout Long Beach.

For more information on infrastructure projects visit www.longbeachny.gov/infrastructure 

 

Emergency Preparedness - LB Ready

To prepare yourself and your family in cases of emergency, please find useful links below:
Preparedness tips & information
Sign up for emergency notifications
Emergency phone numbers
Weather Updates   

Tide Gage Forecast for: Reynolds Channel in Point Lookout and East Rockaway Inlet in Atlantic Beach

Check for emergency updates by visiting www.longbeachny.gov/LBready

 

Flood Tips

Before a Flood

• Purchase or renew a flood insurance policy. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect and can protect the life you've built. Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding. Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
• Know your flood risk. Learn if you live, work or travel through areas that are prone to flooding. To help communities understand their risk of flooding, FEMA creates flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs) to show the locations of high-risk, moderate-to- low-risk and undetermined risk areas. To check your flood risk, look up your address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
• Take photos and videos to conduct a household inventory, and keep a record of all major household items and valuables. These documents are critically important when filing insurance claims.

• Reduce the risk of damage from flooding by elevating critical utilities, such as electrical panels, switches, sockets, wiring, appliances and heating systems.
• In areas with repetitive flooding, consider elevating the entire structure.
• Make sure basements are waterproofed and your sump pump is working. Then, install a battery-operated backup in case of power failure.
• Installing a water alarm will also let you know if water is accumulating in your basement.
• Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
• Anchor any fuel tanks.
• Move furniture, valuables and important documents to a safe place.
• Store copies of irreplaceable documents (such as birth certificates, passports, etc.) in a safe, dry place. Keep originals in a safe deposit box.
• Build an emergency supply kit. Food, bottled water, first aid supplies, medicines and a battery-operated radio should be ready to go when you are. Visit Ready.gov for a complete disaster supply checklist.
• Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response.
• Make a pet plan. Many shelters do not allow pets. Make plans now on what to do with your pets if you are required to evacuate your residence.
• Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.
• Reduce local flooding by Implementing Green Infrastructure at your home or business.

 

 During a Flood

• Depending on where you are, and the impact and the warning time of flooding, go to the safe location that you previously identified.
• If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
• Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
• If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, then stay inside. If water is rising inside the vehicle, then seek refuge on the roof.
• If trapped in a building, then go to its highest level. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising floodwater. Go on the roof only if necessary. Once there, signal for help.

 

After a Flood

• Listen to authorities for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Avoid driving, except in emergencies.
• Snakes and other animals may be in your house. Wear heavy gloves and boots during clean up.
• Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock.
• Avoid wading in floodwater, which can contain dangerous debris and be contaminated. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
• Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
• Document Damage and Start Clean Up
• How Do I Start My Flood Claim?