To shore up this shortcoming, the flood risk tool also features data from Flood Factor, created by the nonprofit First Street Foundation. So while FEMA data is used to determine insurance risk and building code requirements‚ they do not necessarily calculate the likelihood that a property might flood in the future. While FEMA flood maps are a trusted government resource on flooding, one downside is that many of their maps are decades old-meaning you may not be getting the most current snapshot of a home’s flood risk.

Beyond FEMA flood maps: Other flood risk tools to check These areas are outside the SFHA zones and are at higher elevations. The areas with the lowest chance of flooding are labeled with a C or X. Moderate flood zones are labeled with a B or X, and reflect a 0.2 % annual chance of a flood (also considered a 500-year flood). According to FEMA, SFHAs have a 1% annual chance of flooding, “also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood.” High-risk zones are known as a Special Flood Hazard Area. A sample flood zone map from FEMA.įEMA has a little over a dozen flood zone classifications based on the estimated frequency of storms that could cause flooding in an area. The flood risk tool connects you directly to the Federal Emergency Management Agency site, where you can enter a property’s address and view a map showing flood zones in the area. The flood zone mapping tool helps homebuyers assess a property’s flood risk. One good starting point is the flood risk tool, a one-stop portal highlighting two distinct flood risk ratings for a property. There are a few ways to determine a home’s flood hazard status. How to find out if a home is in a flood zone So how can you find out if your home is in a flood zone-and if it is, what protections can you put in place? Whether you own a home or are looking to buy, here’s how to figure that out. According to Popular Science, “Nearly 15 million American properties are at substantial risk of flooding in the next 30 years, and more than three million are almost certain to be underwater at some point in that time.” And due to climate change, flooding may also become more common.

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