What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map? What is the importance of a Special Flood Hazard Area and what are flood zones?

As part of its administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA publishes flood hazard maps, called Flood Insurance Rate Maps, FIRMs.  The purpose of a FIRM is to show areas that are subject to flooding and the risk associated with these flood hazards.

One of the important factors of a FIRM is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which indicates the areas with a 1% or greater chance for flooding in any given year.  These areas are also referred to as a 100-year floodplain.

Another important feature is to show the elevation of the 100-year floodplain.  The floodplain elevation is called the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).  BFEs are shown on FIRMS and in profile view in the Flood Insurance Study.  This information is required for completing an Elevation Certificate, to flood proof a structure, and to determine a flood insurance premium.

There are flood zones throughout the City which are shown on the FIRM.  These zones indicate the type of floodplains within the SFHA.  The flood zones consist of Zone AE for a 100-year floodplain.  Zone X for either a 500-year floodplain or an area outside the 500-year floodplain.  Zone AO for overland sheet flow with depths of one to three feet, and Zone A for “non-studied” floodplains that have not determined a Base Flood Elevation.



Show All Answers

1. What is the Federal Emergency Management Agency?
2. What is a Floodway?
3. What is a floodplain, and what is a flood?
4. What is the National Flood Insurance Program?
5. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map? What is the importance of a Special Flood Hazard Area and what are flood zones?
6. What is the probability of flooding within a 100-year floodplain?
7. Is there really a need for flood insurance?
8. My house is in a Floodplain? What do I need to do?
9. Who has to buy Flood Insurance?
10. What is a Preferred Risk Policy? Can this save property owners money?
11. What is an elevation Certificate?