FEMA Letter of Map Amendment
Flood Map Research and LOMA Application Service
FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
Floods occur naturally and can happen almost anywhere. They may not even be near a body of water, although river and coastal flooding are two of the most common types. Heavy rains, poor drainage, and even nearby construction projects can put you at risk for flood damage.
The FIRMs are flood maps that show areas of high, moderate, and low flood risk as a series of zones. Each flood zone designation represented by a letter or letters, tells you what the risk is for flooding at your property. High-risk zones are called the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) and begin with the letters “A” or “V.” Moderate- to low-risk zones, which are Non-Special Flood Hazard Areas (NSFHAs), begin with the letters “X”, “B” or “C.”
Flood maps show how likely it is for an area to flood.
Any place with a 1% chance or higher chance of experiencing a flood each year is considered to have a high risk. Those areas have at least a one-in-four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage.
Reviewing your FIRM, you can see the relationship between your property and the areas with the highest risk of flooding.
