CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP)

The City of Fort Lauderdale participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so that residents can obtain flood insurance to cover their property against loss from flood damage. Participation in the NFIP requires that the City provide residents with the following information to raise awareness of flood hazards and teach residents how to protect themselves and their property in the event of a flood in our area.


LOCAL FLOOD HAZARD
You are receiving this information because you live in an area that has experienced flooding in the past. Although 2006 and 2007 were mild storm seasons, the City did experience some flooding after Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and other unnamed storms in 2003 and 2004.

The majority of Fort Lauderdale is in or near a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which is an area where flooding may occur. In the event of a hurricane, rainstorm, high tide, storm surge or other natural disaster in our area, the waterways and sensitive drainage basins located throughout the City (Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, Middle River, C-13 East and C-12 basins, and the New River Canal) can overflow and cause flooding. Flooding in Fort Lauderdale is most likely to occur along our local rivers and canals.

You can determine whether or not you live in an SFHA by contacting the City's Planning and Zoning Department at (954) 828-3266. If you live in an SFHA, you may be required to obtain flood insurance. Flood protection assisted many local residents who suffered flood damage after hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.

Ficus Whitefly is Killing our trees/hedges!!!!!

ALERT- FICUS WHITEFLY INFESTATION

If you have a ficus hedge- you need to be very aware of the possible infestation of whitefly. It is an extremely virulent pest – fast moving- and will defoliate and kill your ficus in no time at all. If you have not noticed any brown or thinning patches on your ficus yet- all you need to do is look around the neighborhood and you will see numerous examples of it. At first, you might not realize you have a problem and may think that with water restrictions, your hedge just isn’t doing well-but within days you will have empty dead patches of ficus.

Even if you have not seen any sign of damage yet, take a look at the underside of a few green leaves. If you see a number of tiny little white spots on the underside of the leaf- you have whitefly and it will progress, without treatment, to the next stage of defoliation.

I am not advocating any particular company or method of treatment – but in searching for information on the pest came across a web site for a pest control company that had a very good article on the whitefly – so am including a link to that site – for the information it provides only- and to some other articles you can check out. See http://www.onetwotree.com/advisories.php?gclid=CJf0nJ-KuJQCFROI1QodixLVTQ

The bottom line- we lost so much foliage after Wilma - it took almost 2 years for my hedge to fill out- I don’t want to have to replant and start over and am hoping that the treatment I have been doing my yard will halt the progression – and that those of you who get this warning will pass it along to your neighbors as I’d hate to see the entire neighborhood with dead hedges. Don’t delay!

Also check out http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/Singhiella%20simplex.html

And http://blog.ewm.com/2007/12/04/whitefly-attacks-south-florida-ficus/

Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization

Hi All,

The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is updating its Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). To ensure that the new plan serves the needs of its residents, visitors and employers, the MPO is hosting a series of Public Workshops for the public to identify current transportation deficiencies and recommend the best transportation improvement strategies to correct these deficiencies at present and in the future.

The LRTP includes proposed financially feasible transportation improvement projects needed to meet the future travel demand of people and goods in the Broward County urban area. These projects include roadway, transit, pedestrian, bicycle, waterborne, and greenway facilities. The LRTP covers a 20-year period and is used by transportation officials and decision makers to guide the expenditure of transportation dollars.

The MPO has developed a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) for the 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan Update to ensure maximum public participation and to build consensus for the LRTP. As part of the public outreach program, local communities are invited to attend the following Public Workshops designed to provide an opportunity to learn about the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) process and decisions.

¨ Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Broward County Government Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL

¨ Thursday, July 24, 2008, 2 - 4 p.m.
South Florida Regional Planning Council, 3440 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 140, Hollywood, FL

¨ Monday, July 28, 2008, 6 - 8 p.m.
Northwest Regional Library, 3151 N. University Drive, Coral Springs, FL

¨ Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 6 - 8 p.m.
Southwest Regional Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL

¨ Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 6 - 8 p.m.
Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 N.E. Sixth St., Pompano Beach, FL

If you require workshop information in Spanish or Creole or special communications assistance, or for more information about the Public Workshops, please contact Adams Consulting Group at (954) 764-8500 or email mpolrtp@bellsouth.net.
God Bless,
John

Signal on 17th and 9th Ave is Being Taken Out Today

Hi All,

Cindi Hutchinson called me today to tell you all that the light on 17th Street and 9th Ave is being taken out today.

You will see temporary stop signs there now and the light just blinking red. In 2 weeks the whole light will be taken down.

Have a great 4th of July weekend !!!
God Bless,
John