A more accurate understanding of Hillsborough County’s flood risk
Changes became effective on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Hillsborough County has been part of a multi-year process led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update coastal flood maps across the U.S.
On October 7, 2021, changes to the Hillsborough County coastal flood maps, based on FEMA's multi-year assessment, took effect. These updated flood maps (known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps) replaced maps based on obsolete data and technology more than 30 years old as the 2008 countywide flood map update did not include an updated analysis of the coastal flood risk and did not reflect new development or changes in shoreline.
Through the entire mapping process, Hillsborough County has held public meetings, presented stakeholder workshops, mailed out notices, held a 90-day public comment period, and provided updates through the media and social media.
Updated coastal flood maps mean a more accurate understanding of Hillsborough County’s flood risk, which will:
- Provide property owners in coastal areas of Hillsborough County with up-to-date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about their risk of storm surge-driven coastal flooding.
- Help residents and business owners make more informed decisions about protecting their property and financial stability.
- Allow community planners, local officials, engineers, builders, and others to make important determinations about where and how new structures and developments should be built.
To view the effective flood zone for a property or area, visit Hillsborough County’s Flood Zone Comparison Viewer.
While all residents and business owners are encouraged to purchase flood insurance, property owners who have a federally-backed mortgage and are currently in a high-risk flood zone (flood zones beginning with “A” or “V”) are required to have flood insurance by their lender. Also note, that as of October 1, 2021, FEMA has changed its rating methodology for flood insurance. This new methodology is called Risk Rating 2.0. To best learn how this new rating program may affect you, please contact your insurance agent or visit FloodSmart.gov. You may also wish to ask them about private flood insurance alternatives.
Additional resources
- Find My Flood Zone
- Flood Information
- Community Rating System
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Find My Flood Zone
Contacts
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County property owners: call (813) 635-5400
- City of Tampa (813) 274-3100