"Everybody is exposed to some flood risk" FEMA updates St. Johns County flood zone map

FEMA’s drawn up new flood zone maps for St. Johns County for the first time in more than a decade.

Action News Jax Courtney Cole spoke to the county's Floodplain manager to find out why they're being changed and that means for you.

"There's always a possibility. [If it’s a ]Category 5, you can forget all of those lines on the map,” Dave Lee told Action News Jax.

That's why Lee told Action News Jax as long as he lives in St. Augustine Beach, he will make sure he has flood insurance.

Lee has lived in the coastal city for the last 8 years.

He told Cole some of his neighbors, however, don't feel as strongly.

"We're over 8-feet above sea level. My next door neighbor didn't buy it,” said Lee.

Since FEMA updated the flood zone maps in St. Johns County and made them available in December 2018, many neighbors could find out their risk for flooding has reduced.

“Here in St. Johns County, the last major update was in 2004. So this current update, started the process in 2016, and they became effective on December 7, 2018,” said Patrick Doty, the St. Johns County Floodplain manager.

Doty says the new version is more accurate.

"In this case, between 2004 and 2016—the technological advances, and coastal modeling, flood modeling, hydrology—it's just advanced a lot. During that period of time, it's also to kind of keep up with the advances of technology and capability of engineering, to better reflect what our flood risks are,” Doty told Action News Jax.

When Action News Jax Courtney Cole asked him what took so long to update the flood zone map—he said FEMA has to create one for every community in the country.

“You have to keep in mind that this is a process that happens in every community in the United States of America. It's a pretty long line to wait in!” Doty said.

When it comes to how many people it will affect, Doty said it's hard to tell.

"That's kind of a tough question to answer because the answers haven't been sweeping, one way or another. It kind of varies throughout St. Johns County,” said Doty.

Doty told Action News Jax most of the coastal areas and the St. Johns River area has been updated on the new map.

“With that, I would encourage anybody in that area—if you live near the St. Johns River, if you live near the Intercoastal, if you live near the Atlantic Ocean, check and see what your flood zone is now.”

Doty said there are about 10 different types of flood zones in St. Johns County.

The easiest way to do that is through the St. Johns County Flood Zone Viewer.

It's free and explains what type of flood zone you live in and your flooding risk.

Cox Media Group