City of Fernandina Beach
Press Release
Contact Mary Hamburg
(904) 310-3102
April 25, 2018 3:43 p.m.
The City of Fernandina Beach has obtained a Flood Simulation model in an effort to further educate the community on flood dangers and prevention methods.
“Right now, we are scheduling presentations in local fifth grade classrooms, but our goal is to reach even more citizens”, says Angie Lester, Administrative Coordinator in the City Building Department. She plans to set up a booth at the Amelia Island Farmer’s Market in May and is also manning a booth at the upcoming Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival. Each of these activities garners the City points in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities. A high rating results in discounted flood insurance premium rates for citizens.
The City previously borrowed a similar device from the Florida Floodplain Manager’s Association (FFMA) which was shared with students at the Atlantic Recreation Center and Yulee Elementary 5thGrade. Due to the excellent educational program Lester created, “Traveling Floodplain,” she, along with representatives from Nassau County, FL, was asked to present at the recent statewide FFMA conference. Lester was also awarded a scholarship from the FFMA for the National Association of Floodplain Managers’ conference in Phoenix, Arizona, which has been recognized as the most important floodplain conference in the United States. “I am excited to take a course on Elevation Certificates and natural ways to earn more CRS credits”, noted Lester.
For additional information or questions regarding floodplain management and relevant educational tools, please contact Building Official/Floodplain Manager Tony Perez-Guerra at [email protected] (904) 310-3139.
Congrats to Angie and others involved in this educational effort. Of great value to the students as well as the property owners on the island and surrounding area.