Floods are both more dangerous and common than you may think.
But how do you know if youre at risk?
A flood map provides important information for current and futurehomeownersalike.
When Insurance Falls Short…
Unfortunately, insurance doesnt covereverything.These resourcescan help you manage those unexpected expenses.
Those close to the coast or rivers pretty much always have a higher chance of experiencing floods.
But youre not free and clear just because you cant see the beach from your house.
So how do you find out if you are in a flood zone in the first place?
Theres anonline flood map systemthat works for the entire United States.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages flood disasters nationwide, owns and operates the system.
The flood map is relatively easy to use throw in in your address and you will get a map.
For this exercise, we picked arandom location in Miami, Florida, to show the flood zone.
If you are in an area with no shading over it and just the satellite background, congratulations!
You are in a flood zone of minimal flood hazard.
The dynamic map option is usually easier to deal with.
Dont worry if it takes a while to load its common on FEMAs website.
These maps are often called FIRMs: Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
The ones you’re free to print out yourself are often called FIRMettes.
Areas near water typically are in this kind of flood hazard zone.
These flood zones will often note the base flood elevation (BFE).
That measurement is the water level in a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring each year.
In our example, the BFE is 8 feet high.
Generally, the orange-shaded areas on a flood map also are a flood hazard.
These areas are still relatively susceptible to floods, but not to the same extent.
Pockets with no color indicate minimal flood hazard.
That does not mean the hazard is zero, however.
You should also pay attention to the date of the provided flood maps.
From the example above, the effective date of the flood map is September 11, 2009.
It has been essentially 15 years since FEMA updated it.
It may not account for changes in flood profiles and hazards of your area of interest.
Im In A Flood Zone, Now What?
According to FEMA, whats next varies from property to property and person to person.
But generally, you will need flood insurance.
You arent required to get flood insurance in these areas, but, naturally, experts recommend it.
Luckily, if youre worried about thecost of flood insurance, we have you covered.
Heard of These Credit Card Debt Tips?
But millions of Americans overlookthese easy tipsthat could help them manage credit card debt even more wisely.
Read moreto boost your credit knowledge and keep your credit score in check.
I Am Not In A Flood Zone, Or Its Undetermined, Now What?
If your property ends up in an undetermined flood zone, you may want to get flood insurance anyway.
The uncertainty of risk influences the rates, according to FEMA.
So if the risk is more uncertain, the higher the price is for flood insurance.
However, people outside high-risk areasfile more than a quarter of flood insurance claims.
This is why FEMA advises you should have flood insurance anyway.
You should discuss with your insurance agent what kind of policy would work best for you and your property.
Can I Do More to Lower My Risk Than Getting Flood Insurance?
Elevating your property is likely the fastest way to reduce your flood risk and insurance costs.
Flood openings also reduce flood risk.
It is required to install them in all new construction and substantial basement renovations in high-risk areas.
Dennis Lynch is a civil engineer and freelance writer with a passion for personal finance.
