Federal emergency officials are preparing to release updated flood maps for the Alligator Creek Watershed, a change that could newly require some Clearwater-area property owners to carry flood insurance while lifting the requirement for others. The Alligator Creek Watershed spans 5,546 acres across eastern Pinellas County, with 3,452 acres in Clearwater, 1,775 acres in unincorporated Pinellas County, and 318 acres in Safety Harbor, according to the City of Clearwater. City and emergency officials have scheduled three community open houses to walk residents and business owners through the science behind the changes and how the updated maps will be implemented.
The proposed Flood Insurance Rate Maps could shift flood insurance requirements for dozens of local property owners, as reported by the Tampa Free Press. Public comments and formal appeals open through the FEMA-run Forerunner website starting Friday, and property owners can already search their address on Clearwater’s Forerunner portal to see individual lot details, flood zones, and regulatory elevations. The tool also lets owners compare their current flood status against the proposed update using the Effective FIRM and Preliminary FIRM tabs.
Clearwater’s Floodplain Administrator, Gene Henry, has said hundreds of properties within city limits face altered flood designations, with more properties shifting into high-risk zones than moving out of them, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The watershed is bisected by US Highway 19 and drains into Old Tampa Bay via Alligator Lake, and it includes major local landmarks such as the Clearwater Airpark, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Spectrum Field, Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, and Cliff Stephens Park, per the same account.
What the Open Houses Will Cover
Residents will get three chances to ask questions before the appeal clock runs out. The first open house takes place September 12 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the East Community Library, 2465 Drew St. The second is scheduled for September 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 2nd St. N., and the third returns to the East Community Library on November 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m…