Longboat Key, FL

Like many Florida communities, Longboat Key experiences numerous damaging weather events. The island sits just two to five feet above sea level, making it particularly vulnerable to storm surge and flooding from high tides and afternoon storms.

In 2024, Longboat Key was struck by two major hurricanes just 13 days apart, Hurricane Helene (Category 4) and Hurricane Milton (Category 3), causing widespread damage. Leading the response from damage assessments, to reporting, to providing substantial damage estimates to property owners was Longboat Key’s Building Official, Patti Fige.

Patti, alongside Planning and Zoning Board Director, Allen Parsons, and a dedicated team of Inspectors, Michele Williamson and Doug Chapman, Planner, Tate Taylor, and Code Enforcement Officer, David Woods, conducted FEMA Windshield Assessments immediately after each storm.

Patti and Allen coordinated closely with Fire Chief and Emergency Manager, Paul Dezzi to proactively secure field auditors from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and volunteer engineers through the Building Officials Association of Florida’s State Mutual Aide Coordinator, Kathy Croteau, to help perform detailed damage assessments. The team worked intensively to evaluate all affected structures.

As the effort progressed, Patti requested additional staff, including permit technicians and licensed inspectors. Notably, Neal Mazzei, Plans Examiner and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) volunteered to lead the crucial Substantial Damage Estimate (SDE) phase. During this time, the Town of Longboat Key adopted Forerunner which became an instrumental resource, at this stage, by streamlining data collection, automating damage estimate letters, and enabling timely communication with property owners. Patti’s decision to adopt Forerunner was critical to the project’s efficiency and success.

With support from team members like Sierra Legendre, Joe and Misty Saltalamacchia, and Kimberly Callanan, and consistent technical assistance from Forerunner, the department overcame significant logistical challenges. Patti’s leadership ensured that Longboat Key met FEMA requirements with speed, precision, and professionalism.

Streamlining Disaster Recovery with Forerunner’s SDE Workflow

“The sheer volume of (SDEs) was a daunting task to manage with such a small inspection staff,” Neal Mazzei recalls. To address the challenge, Patti coordinated mutual aid from the Florida Division of Emergency Management vendor workforce, who she spoke with daily.

Despite the team's efforts, the volume of work demanded better digital tools. “We completed over 3,000 initial SDE inspections using antiquated software that produced a 40% damage range,” Neal explains. “That’s when I discovered how accurate Forerunner’s SDE tool is – it provides estimates accurate to the hundredth of a percent. I immediately pushed for the Town of Longboat Key to get Forerunner’s SDE workflows up and running so we could deliver the SDE letters homeowners needed for their ICC insurance claims.”

Even without a signed contract in place, Forerunner stepped in to support Longboat Key during this critical period. “The Forerunner team should be commended and recognized as a true private company with a mission to assist any jurisdiction with inspections, review, and expedited permitting,” Neal said. “Their willingness to help, without a formal agreement, is unheard of. The Town of Longboat Key is very thankful for Forerunner’s team-oriented approach.”

Inspections on-the-go with the Forerunner Mobile App

From the very first SDE inspection, Longboat Key used Forerunner both in the office and in the field. The team adopted the Forerunner mobile app to accelerate inspections. “The app made each SDE inspector far more efficient than other tools Manatee and Sarasota Counties have used for years,” Neal noted. “Forerunner’s SDE tool is light years faster, increasing inspector productivity and improving cost-effectiveness.”

While in the field, the SDE team, led by Neal, benefited from the Forerunner app’s ability to layer maps, such as flood zones and tax parcels, when reviewing surveys and permit applications. “This is a game changer,” Neal said. “It speeds up a jurisdiction’s ability to generate accurate SDE Inspection Reports during any disaster.”

To further streamline recovery, the town's Building Department, led by Patti Fige, established a satellite Storm Damage Permitting Office, where residents could obtain emergency repair permits for substantial damage repairs, demolition, reconstruction, or elevation. The office’s Permit Intake Coordinator used Forerunner to review maps, property records, inspection reports, and SDE letters in real-time.

Improving Processes for the Future

In addition to fieldwork, Patti and Neal worked together to have standardized letters for SDE, Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), and Repetitive Loss (RL) designations – essential for residents seeking insurance funding to demolish, elevate, or relocate homes. Forerunner’s AI-powered Letter Generation feature helped the team move quickly and communicate consistently. With just a few clicks, the SDE team could auto-generate letters using real-time property and workflow data. Each letter was time-stamped, tracked, and easily searchable. The team continue to use AI-powered letter generation to streamline correspondence with residents.

Enhancing Communication with the Public Website

To further improve disaster preparedness and communication, Longboat Key also launched a Forerunner-powered public website. This platform allows residents to access their property’s flood risk information independently. “The goal was to eliminate 50–75% of the flood zone-related calls we receive daily,” Neal and Patti said. “Now, when residents contact us, they’re more informed and ask specific questions about construction or elevation requirements for their homes.”

The benefits extend beyond disaster scenarios. “Our residents love the website, and being able to search for and print Elevation Certificates is just one example of the positive feedback we’ve received,” shared Patti and Neal.

Looking Ahead

After the 2024 hurricane season, Longboat Key concluded that homes and structures built over the past 30 years, after the introduction of the Flood Insurance Rate Map, withstood the storms with little to no damage. Building on this insight, Longboat Key introduced two ordinances allowing property owners to voluntarily elevate structures by two or four feet above the Florida Building Code minimum, without affecting zoning height limits. The town also raised the required seawall height from 4.5 to 6.0 feet (NAVD 88).

Longboat Key plans to implement additional protective measures in 2026, including revisions to the Floodplain Ordinance with new Higher Regulatory Standards. These proposed changes may include a mandatory five-foot Freeboard and a local Technical Amendment to the Florida Building Code, which would increase the island’s minimum wind design criteria from 160 to potentially 180 mph. The town is also considering designating the entire island as a Coastal A Zone with Wind Exposure Category D, requiring all new construction to meet V Zone standards as other possible changes.

Through community cooperation, technology adoption, and forward-thinking policies, Longboat Key is building a powerful model for coastal resilience. The town’s commitment to preparation and innovation helps the community face the future, #LBKStrong.