Pinellas County Property Appraiser Pam Dubov will host a meeting Wednesday to inform homeowners about pending flood insurance changes.

According to Dubov, Pinellas County has more homes affected by flood insurances changes than any other county in the entire U.S. 

She said she wants to arm residents with as much information as possible about the changes while also working to keep insurance rates from quadrupling in some cases.

About 25,000 homes in Pinellas County that are not along beachfront property could still be affected by flood insurance hikes. Dubov says those are the residents that need to be aware of what's happening.

The key problem is the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, a 2012 law that is phasing out subsidized rates for older properties in flood zones, which would impact thousands of homes - including in St. Petersburg. The act ends Oct. 1.

"Well, specifically what I'm going to be talking about is how we are going to attempt in the Property Appraisers Office to measure the effects on the real estate market of these very significant changes in flood rates," Dubov said. "Other people on the panel will be talking about what the rules are, who is affected in what way depending on how old their home is, and whether they're in a high risk zone."

Dubov suggested the first thing homeowners should do is get a certificate of elevation of their home. A surveyor or an engineer can issue the certificate and that can cost anywhere from $100 to $500.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Digitorium at St. Petersburg College's Seminole campus.

Bill Foster talks insurance in Tallahassee

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster made a rare appearance in Tallahassee Tuesday to talk to legislators about the potential impact of flood insurance rate changes.

Foster was invited to Tallahassee by Gov. Rick Scott to talk with members of his Cabinet about flood insurance reform.

Local and state leaders are pushing federal lawmakers to delay the end of the reform act.

"They must hit pause, that's the first thing," Foster said. "It's got to be the full weight of the state of Florida to do that to make sure 29 members of Congress are educated to the devastating impacts of bigger waters."

There is legislation in front of the House and Senate in Washington designed to delay the reform.

Congress is expected to talk about it and make some decisions before the rates take effect Oct. 1.