What are Flood Zones and Maps?
Everyone lives in an area with some flood risk — it’s just a question of whether you live in a high-risk, low-risk or moderate-risk flood area.
Flood maps show a community’s flood risk. Flood zones are indicated in a community’s flood map. Do you know your flood zone and risk? Use the information below to learn about flood zones.
High Risk Coastal
Zones V and VE are high-risk coastal areas with an additional hazard from storm waves. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. In communities that participate in the NFIP, flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages.
Undetermined Risk
Zone D includes areas with possible flood hazards, but because no flood hazard analysis has been conducted to determine probability, the flood risk in these areas is undetermined. Insurance rates are based on the uncertainty of the flood risk. Flood insurance is recommended.
Moderate Risk
B & X Zones represent areas with a moderate risk of flooding. These areas may have reduced their risk with mitigation efforts such as levees, or experience shallow flooding, with water usually less than 1 foot deep or covering less than 1 square mile. Flood insurance is recommended.
Low Risk
Zones C & X are at a lower risk of flooding, though not entirely without risk. Flood insurance is recommended.
High Risk
Zones A, AE, AH, AO, AR and A99 are high-risk flood areas, due to proximity to a pond, stream, river or protective barrier under construction. In communities that participate in the NFIP, flood insurance is mandatory if mortgages are federally backed.
What is Zone A?
Zone A: Areas where there is a high risk of flooding. In communities participating in the NFIP, homeowners and businesses with federally backed mortgages must purchase flood insurance.
What is Zone V?
Zones V and VE are high risk coastal areas with an additional hazard from storm waves. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. In communities that participate in the NFIP, flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages.
What is Zone D?
Zone D: Areas where flood risk has not been determined and no flood hazard analysis has been conducted. Flood insurance rates are therefore proportionate to the uncertainty of the flood risk.
What is Zone B & X?
Zone B & X: Area of moderate flood hazard, usually between the limits of 100‐year and 500‐year floods. B Zones are also used to designate base floodplains of lesser hazards, such as areas protected by levees from 100‐year floods, or shallow flooding areas with average depths of less than 1 foot or drainage areas less than 1 square mile.
What is Zone C & X?
Zone C & X: Area of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) as above the 500‐year flood level. Zone C may have ponding and local drainage problems that don’t warrant a detailed study or designation as base floodplain. Zone X is the area determined to be outside the 500‐year flood limit and is protected by a levee from 100‐year floods.
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A flood zone is a defined geographic area with a specific flood hazard risk. It represents the probability and impact of flooding on that area and is used to determine insurance requirements and costs. Flood zones are shown collectively on a flood map.
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Defining a flood zone involves estimating the probability and potential impact of flooding in that area. To do this, several factors are considered—flood frequency, distance to a water source, multiple flood types (e.g., river overflow, storm surge, coastal erosion, heavy rainfall, etc.) and property characteristics such as elevation and the cost to rebuild. The higher the flood risk in your area, the more likely flooding and damage will occur, and the higher your overall risk.
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There are five flood zones: low risk, moderate risk, high risk, coastal high risk, and undetermined risk. On a flood map, they are labeled as the following:
- Low Risk: B & X
- Moderate Risk: C & X
- High Risk: A
- Coastal High Risk: V, VE
- Undetermined Risk: D
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Yes. Every zone carries a flood risk; it’s just a matter of how big the risk is. Since your flood zone affects your individual flood risk and your insurance rates, check annually for updates.
1 in 3 flood insurance claims come from low- and moderate-risk zones. And “undetermined risk” doesn’t mean “no risk.” It means analysis has not yet been completed. Therefore, though not mandatory by law, insurance is strongly recommended for these zones, for a quick and subsidized recovery and to qualify for future risk claims.
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Applicants may request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) using this online LOMC application.
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High-risk flood areas, A or V on FEMA flood maps, face the highest risk of flooding. If you own a property in a high-risk zone and have a federally backed mortgage, you are required to purchase flood insurance as a condition of that loan. If you don’t have a federally backed mortgage, getting flood insurance is still strongly recommended, due to the high risk.
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When your community’s flood map is updated to reflect potential risks where you live, requirements for flood insurance coverage and the cost of your policy may change. Find out if your community's flood risk has changed.
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Since 1 of every 3 claims comes from low-moderate risk zones, flood insurance is strongly recommended for your property. Your risk is reduced, but not removed. Contact your insurer to obtain a premium quote based on current risk.
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If your zone has changed from low-moderate risk to high risk, you may be required to have flood insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage. If you are not required to have flood insurance, you should still get it to protect yourself from increased risk.
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If your area's flood zone is going to change to a higher risk classification, you should purchase or renew your policy now. When the new zone classification takes effect, your policy premiums cannot usually increase more than 18% per year, until the premium reaches the full risk rate. If you wait and purchase insurance after the rate change takes effect, your premium will be at the full risk rate for the higher-risk zone.
If your zone changes to a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the NFIP offers a Newly Mapped discount for buildings located in an SFHA following a flood map update. You may be eligible for this discount if you purchase or renew a flood insurance policy within the first 12 months after the update. The rate will then increase by no more than 18% per year, until it reaches the full risk rate.
There are other ways to save money, including taking steps to reduce your property’s flood risk.
Mitigation efforts, such as elevating a building on piles or installing proper flood openings in a crawlspace, will help to reduce flood damage and, potentially, the cost of flood insurance.
To keep your lower rates, remember to renew your policy annually and stay protected.
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If you are buying a home and moving to a higher-risk zone, you may be able to assume the prior owner's current NFIP policy. The policy may be pre-paid through its current policy term. In addition, if the policy rate is not at the full risk rate, the current policy rate cannot usually increase more than 18% a year, until it reaches the full risk rate. If you instead purchase a new policy, your premium would begin at the full risk rate, less any eligible discounts.
You might also want to consider flood mitigation efforts, such as elevating building systems like heating/air conditioning or installing proper flood openings in a crawlspace.
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To see if you are eligible for cost savings across all levels of flood insurance, contact your local insurance agent.
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Information on building requirements in high-risk flood zones, such as foundation openings, floodproofing and breakaway walls, can be found in the NFIP technical bulletin, updated annually. You should also talk to your Floodplain Manager as local regulations may be more stringent.