A FIELD ALERT - FEMA Flood Maps

Health & Safety - Mining, Environmental, & Cybersecurity

Flood Risk Mapping is an important part of the National Flood Insurance Program, as it is the basis of the NFIP regulations and flood insurance requirements. FEMA flood zones are flood risk areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Special Flood Hazard Areas - High Risk Special Flood Hazard Areas represent the area subject to inundation by 1% annual chance flood. Structures located within the SFHA have a 26% chance of flooding during the life of a standard 30-year mortgage.

Federal floodplain management regulations and mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply in these zones. Coastal High Hazard Areas - High Risk Coastal High Hazard Areas (CHHA) represent the area subject to inundation by 1% annual chance flood, extending from offshore to the inland limit of a primary front al dune along an open coast and any other area subject to high velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. Structures located within the CHHA have a 26% chance of flooding during the life of a standard 30-year mortgage.

Federal floodplain management regulations and mandatory purchase requirements apply in these zones. Moderate and Minimal Risk Areas Areas of moderate or minimal hazard are studied based upon the principal source of flood in the area. However, buildings in these zones could be flooded by severe, concentrated rainfall coupled with inadequate local drainage systems. Local stormwater drainage systems are not normally considered in a community flood insurance study. The failure of a local drainage system can create areas of high flood risk within these zones.

Flood insurance is available in participating communities, but is not required by regulation in these zones. Nearly 25% of all flood claims filed are for structures located within these zones.

[Here is the flood control data for Fort Bend County (here)]