Flood maps are a useful tool for assessing a property’s flood risk
Flood maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS), provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are a useful tool for assessing a property’s flood risk, and also are a factor in flood insurance and building requirements. Most homeowner insurances do not cover flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider about your policy and consider if you need additional coverage.
To view the FEMA effective flood zone for a property or area, visit Hillsborough County’s FEMA Effective Flood Zone Viewer.
FEMA flood zone definitions
- High-risk areas are defined as having a 1% chance of being flooded in any given year, which is also referred to as the 100-year flood or base flood. High-risk areas, referred to as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) are shown on the map as zones labeled with the letters A or V. By law, all homes in high-risk zones carrying a federally backed mortgage must be covered by flood insurance.
- Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood.
- Minimal flood hazard areas, which are the areas outside the SFHA and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone X (unshaded).
If you believe your property was incorrectly identified as within the SFHA by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you may submit an application to FEMA for a formal determination of the property's location and/or elevation relative to the SFHA. This is called a Letter of Map Change (LOMC) request.
For more information on the County’s flood maps, call Public Works at (813) 635-5400 or email floodplainadmin@hcfl.gov.