Flood Zone Lookup

Risk Level Guidance

• High (SFHA zones: A, AE, AH, AO, AR, A99, V, VE): Mandatory flood insurance if federally-backed mortgage. Located in the 100-year floodplain (1% annual chance of flooding). Coastal V/VE zones have additional wave action hazard.
• Moderate (X Shaded, B, D): 500-year floodplain or undetermined. Insurance not required but recommended. Preferred Risk policies are typically cheaper.
• Minimal (X, C): Outside mapped flood areas. Lowest risk. Insurance optional but available.

Key Talking Points

• SFHA = mandatory flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages (FHA, VA, conventional with Fannie/Freddie)
• Zone AE is the most common high-risk zone — it means FEMA has mapped the base flood elevation
• Zone X is the most common minimal-risk zone
• FEMA maps are updated periodically — check the map effective date for currency
• Even minimal-risk zones can flood (25% of flood claims come from low-risk areas)