Flood Insurance Rate Maps show flood risks in certain areas in the US and are used by individuals, insurance companies, local officials, and lending institutions to determine risks associated with developed properties. There are two types of maps, and they are continuously updated by FEMA. The maps are available for free on the FEMA website and are used to determine a property’s risk of flooding.
A flood insurance rate map is a chart issued by the government in the United States, created under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that seeks to show flood risks in certain areas. The maps are designed around a 100-year flood event, which means that there is a probability that a flood of a certain level, as shown on the map, will occur once every 100 years. The Flood Insurance Rate Map is used by individuals, insurance companies, local officials, and lending institutions to determine what risks are associated with certain developed properties.
There are two basic layouts for flood insurance rate maps. The first is called a flat flood map, which is produced on a page measuring 11 inches (approximately 28 centimeters) by 17 inches (43.18 cm). The other type of flood insurance rate map is called a z-fold map, which is a larger map that folds much like a traditional road map. Each map includes an index and a legend that help to read the map.
In some cases, the flood insurance rate map for a community may be somewhat out of date. Some flood prone areas may become more or less prone to flooding as situations change. A levy may be built, or the course of a river may change, leading to a different situation. Therefore, FEMA is in a near-continuous process of updating flood insurance rate maps, with priority given to the most flood-prone areas in the United States.
For most areas, a flood insurance rate map covers a specific region, such as a county or city. For cities within a county, there is often a separate map product. In more recent rate map products, FEMA has produced maps that include information for all geographic areas covered by the map. This makes it more convenient for those who are looking for information quickly. The maps are available on the FEMA website free of charge or those interested can also request hard copies.
The primary use of a flood insurance rate map is to determine a job site’s risk of flooding. A prospective property buyer can look at the map to determine if a property is in a desirable location. Insurers may charge higher rates for areas that are potentially at risk of more severe or frequent flooding. Local emergency management officials can use the maps to plan where emergency services are most likely to be needed and to help plan evacuations when emergency situations arise.
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