Floods are one of the most common and most expensive natural disasters in the United States. Climate change will lead to rising sea levels and extreme weather events, and the number of flood-prone regions within this century is expected to be half. With more homes at risk of flooding, knowing whether your home is in a flood zone is essential to maintaining your home and you are safe for yourself.
Whether you buy a house, rent a house or live in an apartment, floods can occur everywhere. We will explain how to check your home’s flood zones, what different flood zones mean, and what you need to know.
In this article:
Is your home in a flood zone?
One of the quickest ways to check if your home is in a flood zone is to use the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Map Service Center. This tool shows the flood zone, flood, and risk levels for the addresses you search.
If you are in the process of purchasing a home in a flood zone, Redfin’s housing list includes levels of flood factor or flood risk on a scale of 1-10. Seller disclosures may also include the risk of flooding your home. However, only some states require sellers to disclose the flood risk or history of their property. Please check the state’s current disclosure laws. Depending on where your property is, it may be in your hands to investigate flood risk before purchasing.
What do the various flood zones mean?
FEMA’s flood zone classification ranges from low-risk to high-risk areas. Here are some important flood zone definitions to understand:
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA): The highest risk flood zone with over 1% of flooding each year. This brings one in four chances of flooding through a 30-year mortgage. All properties in zones starting with A are SFHA and require flood insurance. Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHAS): The properties of this zone are located in coastal areas, although there is a 1% chance of annual flooding. All zones starting with V are CHHA and require flood insurance. Moderate and minimal risk: Zones B, X, and C are considered low-to-moderate risk flood zones. Flood insurance is not required in these zones, but flooding can still occur. Base Flood Elevation (BFE): Base floods are flood events that can occur 1% of the time each year, and BFE is the elevation that these floods will reach in the area.
Use the table below to find out more about some of the most common flood zones.
ZonedescriptionRequires Flood Insurance AE, A1-A30Zone AE is a new version of what was in Zone A1-A30. These SFHAs have determined BFE. Yes, aoan sfha unique to properties near rivers and streams. Flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet. Yes A99an SFHA will be protected by federal flood control protection systems such as dams and levees upon completion of the project. This zone can experience 1% of flooding each year. Yes Ahan SFHA has a 1% chance of shallow flooding every year. Here you can pool an average of 1-3 feet of water. Specific BFEs are available in a variety of areas. Yes, the Aran SFHA Federal Flood Protection System will be built or restored, which does not have a temporary high risk of flooding. Flood insurance is temporarily required until the system is complete. Yes, the V1-V30Chhas have additional risks due to the waves caused by storms. These areas have BFE and specific building requirements. YESB, or XA Medium Risk Flood Zones may be flooding somewhere in the 100 and 500 year mark. These areas are usually protected by levees or have shallow flood areas. Zone B has been replaced by Shade Zone X from the new Flood Insurance Price Map (Company). NOC, or unshaded XA low risk area with a chance of 0.2% annual flooding. These zones usually have minimal flooding, but there may be ponds and local drainage issues. Unshaded Zone X is located outside the 500-year-old flood area and is believed to be protected from 100-year-old flooding by a levee. Zone C has been replaced by the new company shade zone X. The NoDThis zone is designed to catch all other risk areas not defined in other flood zones. Zone D indicates the potential risk of flooding, but hazard levels are still undecided.
Note: Even if your home is not in a high-risk flood zone, flooding can occur. This is primarily due to the unpredictability of flooding and many factors that can cause it. Thawing snow, burst pipes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, construction issues and more can lead to flooding.
Buying a house in a flood zone
Buying a home in a flood zone has additional risks, but that doesn’t break the complete deal. If you are looking at homes in high-risk flood zones, here are some important things to consider.
Flood Disclosure Requirements
There is no federal law that requires home sellers to disclose information about property flood risk or previous flood damage to future home buyers. Some states require flood information in seller disclosure, but they do due diligence to check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center property.
It affects the value of the home
If the property is in a high-risk area, the value of the home can be adversely affected. This allows you to buy property in these areas at a low price, but you may encounter difficulties when you are ultimately selling your home.
Forced Flood Insurance
High-risk flood zone homes require flood insurance. Typical homeowner insurance does not include flooding. If the house you find is in a flood area, you should consider the additional cost of flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is federally funded and supported by FEMA, but you can also choose your policy from private companies. Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences:
Coverage Factors Flude Flood Insurance Maximum Reconstruction Costs Up to $250,000 to $250,000 or more will be available for more than $500,000
Note: You should consider purchasing flood insurance even if your home is not in a high-risk flood zone. Almost 25% of all flood insurance claims come from properties outside of high-risk areas. Lenders may need flood insurance coverage regardless. Even a floodwater in just an inch of your home can cost thousands of dollars, but insurance can help reduce costs.
You can purchase flood insurance at any time, but coverage will not begin until 30 days after payment. Learn more about FEMA’s updated pricing system, Risk Assessment 2.0.
Selling your home in a flood zone
Selling your home can be stressful if you don’t have the additional concerns of flood zones that affect the process. Here’s what you need to know if the home you’re selling is in the flood zone:
Be prepared for longer sales times: There may be more factors that buyers should consider, so it may take some time to close the sale. Work with real estate agents to help you with competitive prices and sales, and advance longer wait times. Include it in Seller’s disclosure: Even if it is not mandated by the federal government, sellers should not hide facts that could affect the safety and value of the home. This includes information about the flood zone and the history of flooding in your home. Disclosure in advance will help you increase your reliability and help you attract the right buyers. Order a certificate of elevation: The buyer’s lender may need an elevation certificate, a document indicating that the home has been promoted above the local BFE and meets flood safety requirements. By providing that inclusion in your transaction, your home will be more attractive to buyers. Offering to Cover Flood Insurance: You can encourage buyers and remove them from the fence by including a discount or covering your home’s flood insurance or a one- to two-year home warranty.
How to protect your home if it’s in a flood zone
In addition to flood insurance, there are several ways to protect your home from flooding. Many people not only keep your home safer, but also add value and make it a more attractive option for future buyers. Some of the top strategies we use are:
Install a battery-powered sump pump: The sump pump takes in the accumulated water and moves away from the home. Usually, it is installed at the bottom of the house, like a crawl space, with an average installation of around $1,400. Flood sensor integration: Flood sensors alert you to floods as soon as water is sensed where there should be no water, so that you can respond quickly and reduce damage. Improved electrical appliances: Raise electrical appliances at least 1 foot away from the ground. Supports or barriers, such as cement blocks, create temporary solutions. Experience frequent flood risks can make change more permanent. Add barriers and punching bags: Depending on your local building code, permanent barriers can be installed to keep floods away from property. You can also use a punching bag to create temporary barriers. Protect your important documents: Store your important documents in a waterproof container. Make an electronic copy so that additional backups are available. Create an emergency plan: Preparing is essential if an emergency occurs. Keep a wealth of emergency kits and update your evacuation plan. Home inventory lists also make insurance claims easier.
Pro Tip: Michael Stahl, CMO of Servpro, a trusted leader in the restoration industry, advises homeowners on some easy ways to reduce the risk of flood damage.
“Cleaning the ditch, repairing the roof, and draining the rain spouts away from the foundation helps to reduce damage. Proper landscaping helps reduce risk. Tilting the garden from the home, draining the water into the water, preventing water from collecting and causing damage.”
>>Read more: How to protect your home from floods: Follow 9 tips
Flood zone FAQ
What are you in a flood zone?
Flood zones are determined by FEMA, which classifies risks based on historical data, land elevation, and flood control measures. These zones are updated regularly and may be affected by factors such as new land development and climate change.
Can you see the flood zone in Redfin?
When you are looking for a home on redfin.com, the property’s Flood Factor Score will be displayed in the listing information. Risks are assessed on a scale of 1 to 10 and run from minimal to extreme risk. You can find more information about a particular flood zone by looking at the address of FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center properties.
Who is responsible for protecting your home from floods?
Homeowners are ultimately responsible, but local governments may provide safeguards to communities in high-risk zones. Some communities are also participating in the Community Rating System (CRS), an incentive programme for community-wide initiatives to reduce flooding. Registered communities may be eligible for discounted flood insurance.
Do I need flood insurance?
Flood insurance is essential if you live in a high-risk flood area. Most lenders need to show proof of flood insurance before they can get a mortgage in a home in a high-risk flood zone. Even if you are in a medium to low risk area, flooding can occur. And most floods – everything from high surges to excessive rain – is not covered by typical home insurance.
>>Read more: Family Guarantee vs. Family Insurance: Do you need both?
How can I find past insurance claims?
If you are purchasing a home in a flood zone, it is a wise move to look into past flood information insurance claims. Request a copy of our free report showing your claim history for the past 7 years through a comprehensive underwriting exchange (clue).
Is my home zone in impactful mortgages and financing?
If your home is in a higher risk flood zone, lenders often view them as more risky investments. This can lead to stricter loans and insurance requirements, and even make it difficult to secure a loan. Talk to your lender about mortgage requirements in high-risk areas.
