FEMA Flood Maps

Flooding has long been the nation’s most costly natural disaster. In the face of mounting flood losses and escalating disaster relief costs to the general taxpayers, Congress enacted the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection against losses from flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the NFIP, makes federal flood insurance available to residents in local communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances intended to reduce future flood damage. FEMA also provides certain properties with discounted premiums to encourage community and property owner participation. 

FEMA has recently updated their mapping. The FEMA Flood Map Service Center allows you to look up the flood map for your property. When a new map is issued or an effective map is revised, your mapped flood hazard—as well as building or insurance requirements—may change. An effective map is one that has been through the public review and appeal process and has been adopted as a regulatory Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

For general assistance and inquiries (or for policy-specific issues after speaking with your agent or insurer), contact the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX). The FMIX can answer general questions about mapping and flood insurance. You can also call 1-877-336-2627 (1-877-FEMA-MAP).