Flood Safety

Storm Nicole Drone Footage Dania Beach Flood

Many areas in Dania Beach are prone to flooding from heavy rain. Some floods develop slowly, while others such a flash-floods can develop in just a few minutes. Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-lying areas or near water. 
 
See the Dania Beach Flood Flyer for details. 

Flood Map

The primary features of flood maps are flood zones, which are geographic areas that FEMA has defined according to varying levels of flood risk and type of flooding. These zones are depicted on the published Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM). Everyone lives in an area with some risk of flood—it’s just a question of whether you live in a low-, moderate-, or high-risk area. The flood map reflects the current risks where you live, requirements for flood insurance coverage and may affect the cost of your policy.
 
 Tips to Reduce Your Risk Before The Flood

  • Make sure you have the right insurance coverage: Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage, so be sure to consider flood insurance for both your building and its contents. In moderate- to low-risk areas, qualifying homeowners can insure their properties with lower-cost Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs). There typically is a 30-day wait for a flood insurance policy to take effect.
  • Mitigate future loss: There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the impact of floodwater on your home and your belongings. For more information about flood mitigation options, visit FLASH.org.
  • Conduct a household inventory: Be sure to keep a record of all major household items and valuables. These documents are critically important when filing insurance claims. For help in conducting a home inventory, visit knowyourstuff.org.
  • Protect important financial documents: 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.
  • Plan for evacuation: Plan and practice a flood evacuation route. Ask someone out of state to be your “family contact” in an emergency, and make sure everyone knows the contact’s address and phone number.
  • Make a pet plan: Many shelters do not allow pets. Make plans now on what to do with your pets should you be required to evacuate your residence.

Sign up for CodeRED Emergency Notifications
Visit FEMA at floodsmart.gov

Dania Beach Flood Safety
Dania Beach Flooding Safety
Dania Beach Flooding Safety
Dania Beach Flooding Safety
Dania Beach Flooding Safety
Dania Beach Flood Zones Map

The Flood Hazard   

Everyone should know their flood zone!  Please follow this link: Broward Flood Zone Maps
 
 For further assistance please call the City Community Development Division at (954) 924-6805 to find out:

  • If a building is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area or not.
  • If the property is in an area that has had flood insurance claims filed repeatedly.
  • If the building is near an area that should be protected due to its natural floodplain functions.
  • If there is an elevation certificate on file for a building.
  • To learn how to access the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for the City.

Property Protection  

  • Elevate furniture and other household valuables and electrical appliances, or move them to higher floors.
  • Place sandbags in strategic places around your property.  Sandbags can slow down and divert flood waters.
  • Regrading your property to provide for better storage of stormwater runoff, installing an earthen berm along the perimeter, and elevating the existing structure are good flood damage protection practices.

Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or material require permits within the designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Some flood protection methods require a construction permit so always call the Community Development Division before making any alterations to your property at (954) 924-6805.  Staff can offer suggestions and visit your site to offer property protection advice.  Call the Public Services Department at 954-924-6808 for flooding issues within the public right of way.  The National Flood Insurance Program defines flood “as a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.”  If you see a project that does not have a permit sign, please contact the Building Division at 954-924-6805 to report the possible violation.

Flood Safety

  • Obey evacuation orders from officials.  Evacuation orders are issued for imminent storm surge, not wind.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route, and shelter locations.  Find your evacuation zone at Broward.org/Emergency.
  • Stay away from power lines and electrical wires.  Electrical current can travel through water.  
  • Do not drive through flooded roadways.  Roads may not be distinguishable from canals or ponds.
  • Do not walk through flowing waters.

Flood Warning System

The City of Dania Beach and Broward County depend on the National Weather Service (NWS) for impending flooding notification.  The NWS will issue flood advisories at least six (6) hours prior to expected heavy rainfall and possible flooding.  Watch The Weather Channel and have extra batteries on hand for a weather radio.

The City also utilizes the CodeRED Emergency Notification system, which allows the City to notify residents via telephone of an impending emergency.  All residents and businesses must keep the City informed of current telephone numbers for the CodeRED System.  Go to the City’s website at daniabeachfl.gov/codered to register or call (954) 924-6800. 

Vulnerable Population Registry

The Vulnerable Population Registration was designed as a joint partnership between cities and Broward County.  The registry allows people who are disabled, frail or has health issues to register in advance so that emergency workers may plan a better response to vulnerable residents in a recovery effort following a hurricane or other emergency.  Registering should not be considered as a guarantee that you will be provided services or be placed on a priority list for emergency responders; however, it will help us to be better prepared to respond after a disaster.  

To register, visit 

  • broward.org/atrisk - Emergency Preparedness for Residents At Risk
  • call 3-1-1 or
  • (954) 831-4000.

Flood Insurance

  • Everyone in Florida should purchase a flood insurance policy to protect their building and/or its contents, whether in a SFHA or not!
  • Most homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies do not cover property losses due to flood waters. 
  • Please note that there is usually a 30-day waiting period after purchase before coverage takes effect.  
  • The City of Dania Beach participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System program, which provides a discount on all flood insurance policies.  Be sure to look for this discount on your policy invoice.  
  • Call your insurance agent today to purchase flood insurance.  If you don’t have an agent, go to the FloodSmart.gov website, or call 1-800-427-4661 for help.  The City is available to assist. Call (954) 924-6805.

Stormwater Management

Water from rainstorms is managed through a system of swales, pipes and drainage canals. Much of the City does not have an active stormwater pipe system but relies heavily on swales.  Swales are meant to contain stormwater and not intended for parking. When vehicles are parked on swales they become impervious and will not allow water to flow and percolate. Constant water flow through canals, especially during heavy storms, is essential to flood damage protection in the City.  City and State laws prohibit dumping trash in waterways.  Please report violators to the Public Services Department at (954) 924-6808.

Only Storm Water Down the Drain   

  • Please keep in mind that it is everyone’s responsibility to insure that our waterways are kept clean.  
  • Oils, lawn clippings, cigarette butts and other substances should never be put down a storm drain.  
  • If you see someone improperly disposing of waste into the storm drain system or waterways, or any other illicit discharge, please call the Public Services Department at (954)924-3740.

Benefits of Natural Floodplains  

Natural areas of the City typically collect and retain stormwater runoff during rainfall events which can reduce the flooding levels within the developed areas of the City.  These natural areas also enhance the water quality of stormwater runoff by filtering through the ground.  

Sand dunes on the beach are nature’s protection against inland flooding from waves and high tides accompanying major storms.  It is everyone’s responsibility to protect these natural areas and keep them clean!  To learn more, go to the Broward County Public Library catalog, and search for “Protecting Floodplain Resources:  A Guidebook for Communities”.

For More Information

  • Go to the Broward County Emergency Management Department website at Broward.org/Emergency or call (954) 831-4000.
  • The Broward County Public Library has many flood-related documents.  Search the catalog for “flood” and “FEMA”.
Dania Beach Drainage Projects

Dania Beach Works to Reduce Flood Insurance Rates

The City of Dania Beach is making a concerted effort to reduce the rates that property owners pay for their flood insurance. Foremost in this effort is the work of the City’s Program for Public Information Committee, which is composed of both key staff members and community stakeholders representing the professions of real estate, law, and insurance. The committee strives to provide information intended to motivate the public to reduce flood damage, encourage flood insurance coverage and protect natural functions of floodplains.

Flood insurance rates, whichDania Beach Flood Insurance Rate Reduction PPI  are calculated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Flood Insurance Program, are determined in part by the work that each community does to reduce the effects of flooding in the community. Each participating community is given points for the totality of its efforts, and those points determine a classification in the Community Rating System (CRS). In 2018, the City of Dania Beach had a Class 9 rating, saving its residents and businesses 5% annually on typical flood insurance policies. The City had set as a goal the achievement of a Class 7, which would have increased savings to 15% but the City surpassed its goal and achieved a Class 6, which increases savings to 20% for properties within the city’s special flood hazard areas.  


The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum National Flood Insurance Program requirements.  The program identifies 10 different class rating levels based on the number and type of activities voluntarily initiated by the participating community.  Each level corresponds to a percentage discount on policy premiums within the municipality’s floodplain.

More information on Flooding: 

  1. Before the Flood
  2. Brochure Flood Preparation and Safety
  3. Dania Beach Flood Flyer
  4. Dania Beach Flood Zones Map
  5. Flood Risk Insurance Know the Facts
  6. Flyer Flood Safety Tips
  1. Flyer Guide to Flood Mitigation
  2. Flyer Protect Natural Resources
  3. 510 FMP - Progress Report 2018
  4. “The Peril of Flood” presentation from the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC)
  5. Regional Standards for Seawalls & Flood Barriers