| Do you know if your land is in a flood zone? If | | | | found the area of the map that is of interest to |
| not, you should. Even if your land does not flood | | | | you, you can purchase a copy, or print it for free |
| yearly (or even every decade), you may need | | | | on your own printer. |
| flood insurance to protect you from a flood that | | | | On this map, youll see the various flood zones, |
| is destined to happen at some point in the future. | | | | from areas likely to flood annually to those that |
| Most homeowners insurance policies do not | | | | may flood every century or even less frequently. |
| automatically cover a flood, even if your property | | | | Some areas that you may not think of as being |
| is in a flood zone. | | | | in a flood zone are actually located in a flood zone. |
| Knowing whether or not your home is in a flood | | | | Floodplains are described by the expected |
| zone is important whether you are a property | | | | frequency of flooding. For example, an annual |
| owner, homeowner, or tenant. Youll need to | | | | floodplain is expected to flood once each year, |
| know this information if you wish to determine | | | | while a 100-year floodplain is expected to flood |
| the cost or apply for flood insurance. Its also | | | | about once every 100 years. Anywhere it rains, |
| important to know about the dangers of flooding | | | | flooding is possible, even if you've never heard of |
| so that youre not caught unprepared. Flood zones | | | | floods in the area. In fact, according to the |
| also have implications for public utilities, real estate | | | | National Flood Insurance Program, nearly a quarter |
| development, and other actions on the land. | | | | of flood insurance claims come from areas with |
| To find out if land is in a flood zone, youll need to | | | | low to moderate flood risk. The flood risk shown |
| look at a flood map. This map, which covers all | | | | on a FEMA flood map is based on history, rainfall, |
| areas of the United States, is produced by the | | | | riverflow, topography, and other data, and is |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency, or | | | | re-evaluated every few years based on new |
| FEMA, and is updated every few years. FEMA | | | | data. |
| flood maps are available for free viewing on the | | | | The lower the degree of risk, the lower the flood |
| internet. The process for determining whether | | | | insurance premium you'll have to pay. Flood |
| your land lies in a flood zone is very easy. Simply | | | | insurance providers use the Flood Insurance Rate |
| find your property on the FEMA flood zone map. | | | | Map (FIRM) for insurance evaluations. This map |
| To find a particular property on the flood map, | | | | shows your community's base flood elevation, |
| you'll need a little information about where the | | | | flood zones, and the boundaries of the floodplain, |
| property is located. All properties are represented | | | | or area that is most at risk of frequent flooding. |
| in the map, regardless of their flood zone | | | | If your home is located in a flood plain likely to |
| designation. You can use the street address or | | | | flood at least once per century, you are required |
| the state, county, and city to go to that part of | | | | to have flood insurance. This can be a problem if |
| the flood map directly. You can also view the | | | | you have modified your land, for example building |
| entire map of the area, zooming in until you have | | | | up the land under your home so that it no longer |
| located the particular lot in which you're interested. | | | | lies in the floodplain. In order to reduce your flood |
| If you've already viewed the flood map and | | | | insurance requirements, you may need to have a |
| known the Panel ID for the FEMA flood map of | | | | land surveyor survey your land to provide |
| your area, enter that ID number to be taken | | | | elevation certification. |
| directly to that section of the map. Once you've | | | | |