Jupiter's Flood Hazards 

With the Loxahatchee River running through town, and the Jupiter Inlet and the open Atlantic Ocean to its east, Jupiter and the surrounding area is vulnerable to flooding from seasonal rains and hurricanes. Most vulnerable are low-lying areas, areas along canals and lakes, and coastal areas prone to tidal surges. Because Jupiter’s flood hazard areas are quite scattered, every property has the potential to experience flooding.

To better understand about flood zones and hazards please see our list of Flood Zone Definitions.

Preparing for a Flood

If you live in an area prone to flooding, you may need to secure your home against flooding or even evacuate. Some actions you should take to secure your home or before you evacuate are listed below:

• Bring in outdoor furniture.
• Move essential items to an upper floor, or elevate them.
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
• Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

In addition to the above, if you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:

• Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to see how deep the water is.
• Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed away and canals may not be distinguishable from roads.
• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution.
• Report downed power lines to Florida Power & Light (1-800-468-8243) or to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department (911) immediately.

Insurance Information and the National Flood Insurance Program

Flood Insurance Information

Most people consider their home and its contents their largest investment. You should consider protecting this investment financially with flood insurance. Whether you live in a designated flood hazard area or not, you should consider protecting this investment financially with flood insurance. Since standard homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact our region. Call your insurance agent or go to FEMA's website to find an appropriate agent. Contact the Building Department at (561) 741-2286 for help with flood zone determination, elevation certificate availability, and for questions about the purchase of flood insurance to protect your building and its contents. For most new policies there is a 30-day waiting period for flood insurance coverage to begin. For renters, flood insurance can typically be purchased on the contents of the home.

Flood Map Determinations

To find out if a property is:

1. Located in a flood zone;
2. Vulnerable to stormwater drainage problems;
3. In an area with natural floodplain functions that should be protected; or
4. In need of historical flood information.

Please call the Building Department at  (561) 741-2286 and provide the property address and your contact information. The Building Department can also tell you if a FEMA Elevation Certificate, which includes flood insurance rating data is on file for a property. For more information on flood protection and flood insurance visit FloodSmart.gov, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program.