Current Status: The Appeal and Comment Period deadline has passed. FEMA is actively reviewing appeals.
By federal regulation, all appeals must be delivered to Lee County, which will then forward them in a single submission to FEMA. Lee County will not review the content of these appeals, which must be based on the technical aspects of FEMA’s coastal surge modeling. To accommodate this process, the Lee County Floodplain Administrator has provided an Appeal Form to be completed by the applicant. This must accompany the appeal submission. FEMA will not accept appeals or comments that are not first submitted to the County.
FEMA's Federal Register Notice regarding the Appeal and Comment period
Newspaper Publication #1
Newspaper Publication #2
Residents and business owners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. Residents may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect. Appeals and Protests submitted to FEMA must include scientific or technical information that explains why you believe floodplain boundaries, base flood elevations or zone designations are incorrect. An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim. Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.
If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information—such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary—they can submit a written comment.
The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals. Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.
Directions for submitting appeals: Complete the Lee County Appeal Form. Submit the completed form and required back up documentation to FIRMinfo@leegov.com
Link to FEMA Requirements for Supporting Documentation
Link to general 2019 FEMA Preliminary Flood Map Revisions page
Link to the interactive "Find My Preliminary Map" Information app
Link to the Lee County Appeal Form