Anna Maria Island took heavy surge from both Helene and Milton in 2024. The 7-mile barrier island is largely in VE/AE flood zones — elevation is the rebuild path forward.
Anna Maria Island is largely in FEMA VE flood zone (Coastal High Hazard)
Helene and Milton (2024) caused substantial damage across all three municipalities
Most island homes need 6–10 ft of structural elevation to meet BFE
Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile barrier island in Manatee County, comprising the municipalities of Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. The 2024 hurricane season — Helene in September followed by Milton in October — brought catastrophic surge across the island, with many homes declared substantially damaged. The island is largely in FEMA VE (Coastal High Hazard) and AE flood zones, with BFE typically ranging 11–15 ft NAVD88. Most island homes need to be elevated 6–10 ft above current grade. We handle access logistics across Manatee Avenue and the three municipalities' permitting offices, and engineer for the saltwater soil profiles and breaking-wave forces specific to VE zone design.
Anna Maria Island runs seven miles along the Manatee County coast and comprises three separate municipalities — Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach — most of it within FEMA VE (Coastal High Hazard) and AE flood zones. The 2024 season was brutal here: Helene in September and Milton in October brought catastrophic surge that left many island homes declared substantially damaged. With Base Flood Elevations across the island generally in the 11–15 ft range, a large share of homes need six to ten feet of structural elevation to meet current code.
Working on Anna Maria Island means engineering for VE-zone breaking-wave forces and the saltwater soil profiles typical of a barrier island, while also managing access across the Manatee Avenue bridge and the permitting offices of all three municipalities. We design each lift to the property's exact BFE, build the new foundation to withstand coastal high-hazard conditions, and coordinate the differing requirements of Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach so a project doesn't stall at a jurisdictional boundary.
Anna Maria Island sustained heavy surge from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in 2024. Many properties in Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach were declared substantially damaged. The island is in Manatee County's high-risk VE/AE flood zones across nearly its entire 7-mile length.
Anna Maria Island BFE (Base Flood Elevation) ranges from roughly 11 to 15 feet NAVD88 depending on lot location, with VE zones requiring additional freeboard and structural design for breaking-wave forces. Most island homes need to be elevated 6–10 feet above current grade. We engineer to the exact BFE for your lot.
Slightly. Bridge access from Manatee Avenue, narrower lot conditions, and saltwater soil profiles add logistical considerations. Our team has elevated homes on all three Anna Maria Island municipalities — Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach — and we factor island logistics into every estimate.
Yes. Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach each run their own permitting, and a project follows the rules of whichever one governs the parcel. We manage that coordination — along with Manatee County floodplain review and the Elevation Certificate — so a jurisdictional boundary never stalls the work.
For island homes declared substantially damaged after Helene and Milton, the Increased Cost of Compliance provision in an NFIP policy typically contributes up to $30,000 toward elevation. We help document the determination and fold the ICC claim into the rebuild plan.
Our team will assess your property, explain your elevation options, and provide a detailed quote — at no cost to you. We accept only 3 projects per month to ensure white-glove service.