Flood Protection

The Village of Estero is excited to announce our partnership with Forerunner, Forerunner’s platform gives our residents access to the latest details on flood risk for their property and makes it easier for our community to access relevant data and important documents, like Elevation Certificates (ECs.)

We now have a public website for community members to access the flood risk data for individual properties. This site makes it easy for homeowners, contractors, insurance agents, realtors, and more to learn about the flood-related risk for a property and the potential building and insurance compliance requirements associated with it. Check it out at https://esterofl.withforerunner.com. Feel free to send us a message through the Get Help Page and let us know what you need. We’ll look and get back to you as soon as possible!

You can use Forerunner to:

Each property in the state has a public profile that can be used by homeowners, contractors, insurance agents, realtors, and others to review the property’s available flood data. Search for a property on the homepage by address to find its flood zone, Base Flood Elevation (BFE), Design Flood Elevation (DFE), important flood compliance-related warnings, and more.

Need an Elevation Certificate for a permit or for insurance purposes? If there are documents on file for your property, you’ll be able to find it in the searchable Elevation Certificate page, or on the property’s unique public profile – saving you the cost of getting a new one.

If you’re hoping to make improvements to a property, you could be unknowingly nearing the property’s substantial improvement threshold. Review a property’s previous improvements or damages to understand possible limitations to your plans.

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Forerunner’s Get Help Page will allow you to contact your local floodplain management team directly with any questions you may have. Simply enter your information, include the address of the property you need help on, and share more information with us in the comments. You’ll receive a response as soon as possible.

Flood Protection Resources

Clicking a link below will cause you to leave the Village of Estero website and go to a website that is not operated by the Village. We are not responsible for the content, availability, or accessibility of linked sites. Clicking a link below equals your acknowledgment and agreement with the proceeding statements.

Flood-Proofing, Flood Insurance and Flood SafetyFlood-Proofing, Flood Insurance and Flood Safety

If you know a flood is coming, you should shut off the gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs. It is unlikely that you will get much warning, so a detailed checklist prepared in advance would help ensure that you don’t forget anything.

If you don’t have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because the Village participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal government and is available to everyone, even for properties that have been flooded.

Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually, these policies just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in Sunny Isles Beach, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the structure.

If you have flood insurance, double-check that the building coverage is adequate and make sure you have contents coverage.

Remember: Even if the last flood missed you or you have done some flood-proofing, the next flood could be worse. Flood insurance covers all surface floods.

Do not wait for the next flood to buy insurance protection. There is a 30-day waiting period before National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect. Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.

While recent improvements in construction practices and regulations have made new homes less prone to flood damage, there are a significant number of existing homes that are susceptible to flood losses. These losses can be minimized through some of the temporary and permanent retrofitting techniques, such as:

  • Constructing small flood walls or earthen berms.
  • Waterproofing walls and water tightening closures of doorways.
  • Raising your property above flood level.
  • Elevating and securing electrical appliances.
  • Under emergency conditions, sandbags can be used to shore structures, and elevating or covering furniture and valuables can help minimize damage.
  • Installing storm shutters and reinforcing garage doors to provide hurricane protection.

These measures are called floodproofing or retrofitting. More information is available at Fort Myers Regional Library at 2450 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901, phone number 239-534600. They are located under “Protecting your home and property from flood damage : mitigation ideas for reducing flood loss (2010)”

Important Notice: Remember, any alteration to your building or land requires a permit from the Building Department. Even re-grading or filling in the floodplain requires a permit.

For more information on these techniques, you may call the Building Department at 239-221-5036.

The National Weather Service monitors local weather conditions. If flooding from rain is anticipated, the Service will broadcast Flood Warning Notices through television, radio and wire services 36 hours in advance. These notices are intended to make you aware and help you prepare for possible flooding.

NOAA Weather Radios provide 24-hour continuous broadcasting of current and forecasted weather conditions.  The following are the identification or FIPS codes for Lee and our adjoining counties:

  • Fort Myers Channel 4 (162.475 MHz)
  • Lee – 012071
  • Collier – 012021
  • Desoto – 012027
  • Charlotte – 012015
  • Hendry – 012051WGCU-90.1FM is the Southwest Florida affiliate of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, a system created to communicate information statewide before, during and after an emergency.

Stations in the network are equipped to stay on the air even during power outages and will continue to provide information during the recovery of a major weather event or other emergency. Working in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Lee County Emergency Operations Centers, listeners can be assured of having access to the most up-to-date information.

Local TV Channels

TV STATIONS AFFILIATE LOCAL / SATELLITE
WUVF-LP Univision 2
WINK CBS 11.1
WTPH-LP Azteca America 14
WTLE-LP Unimas 18
WBBH NBC 20.1
WZVN ABC 26.1
WGCU PBS 30.1
WFTX FOX 36.1
WWDT-CA Telemundo 43
WXCW CW 46.1
WRXY CTN (Religious) 49.1
WLZE-LP Univision 51.1

Radio – AM

RADIO – AM ​
WAQI 710
WJBX 770
WWBA 820
WAXA 1200
WNOG 1270
WWCL  (Spanish) 1440
WAFZ 1490
WCCF 1580
WNPL 1460
WFLN 1480
WSRQ 1220
WLSS 930

Radio – FM

RADIO – FM ​
WGCU 90.1
WFSX 92.5
WIKX 92.9
WWDH 93.3
WXNX 93.7
WARO 94.5
WOLZ 95.3
WRXK 96.1
WINK 96.9
WTLQ 97.7
WZJZ 100.1
WAVV 101.1
WWGR 101.9
WJGO 102.9
WXKB 103.9
WSGL 104.7
WCVU 104.9
WJPT 106.3
WCKT 107.1

In the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, the City of Sunny Isles Beach might be required to evacuate. Evacuation maps can be located by clicking the link. Know your Evacuation Zone

If you know a flood is coming, you should shut off the gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs or to a higher place. It is unlikely that you will get much warning, so a detailed checklist prepared in advance would help ensure that you don’t forget anything.

  • Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there.
  • Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.
  • Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution.
  • Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Power Company or City emergency management office.
  • Have your electricity turned off by the Power Company. Some appliances, such as television sets, keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Don’t use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned, and dried.
  • Look out for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals.
  • Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
  • Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.
  • Evacuate: Sunny Isles Beach is on a barrier island where, even in moderate storms, flooding from a storm surge and strong winds can be life-threatening. Once Miami-Dade County gives the order to evacuate Zone B, for tropical storms or hurricanes, all residents in Sunny Isles Beach, both single and multifamily dwellings, ARE REQUIRED, BY FLORIDA LAW, TO EVACUATE. Evacuation routes include bridges and you should expect heavy traffic. To avoid traffic jams once an evacuation order is issued leave the area as soon as possible.

Several of the Viilages’s efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help:

  • Do not dump or throw anything into the ditches or streams. Dumping in our ditches and streams is a violation of the Miami-Dade County Code Section 15-6(2). Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug channels. A plugged channel cannot carry water and when it rains the water has to go somewhere. Every piece of trash contributes to flooding.
  • If your property is next to a ditch or stream, please do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. The city has a stream maintenance program which can help remove major blockages such as downed trees.
  • If you see dumping or debris in the ditches or streams, contact the Public Works Department at 239-221-5035.
  • Always check with the Building Department before you build on, alter, re-grade, or fill on your property. A permit is needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems on other properties.
  • If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, contact the Building Department at 239-221-5036.

Additional Flood Information

Below you will find links to copies of FEMA publications on flood protection. These documents are also available at Lee County Public Library.