

Flood zones are areas mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for use in the National Flood Insurance Program.Flood hazard means base flood elevation, design flood elevation, flood hazard area or flood zone.Base flood elevation (BFE) means the elevation of a flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, which is commonly referred to as the “100-year flood” or the “one-percent-annual chance flood.”.Know your zone and follow evacuation orders. Evacuation zone maps are based on ground elevation and the area’s vulnerability to storm surge. These maps are used for hurricane preparedness and planning.Įvacuation may be necessary due to the risk of storm surge from tropical storms or hurricanes. Storm surge maps display where flooding will occur when an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm is pushed toward the shore by strong winds. NOTE: Federal requirements for flood insurance are only based on the FEMA FIRM, not the Pinellas County flood maps.įind out what the flood hazard and required development standards are BEFORE you develop your plans. As with the high-risk flood zones on FEMA FIRM maps, these floodplain areas are also considered high-risk areas and are subject to specific development regulations. The FIRM is used to determine building and flood insurance requirements.Ĭounty floodplain maps, developed from detailed watershed and coastal studies, also show areas that have a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. High-risk areas have a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. You should check them all to understand what your flood risk is.įEMA flood zone maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show areas of high and moderate to low flood risk. A home may be located in a non-evacuation zone, yet be located in a high-risk flood zone because of a nearby stream or pond. Flood zones can be low, moderate or high risk.įlood zones, evacuation zones and storm surge are different. They measure different conditions that may not occur at the same time, are determined by different methods and have different purposes. Everyone in Pinellas County is in a flood zone.

If FEMA grants the map amendment or revision request, the property owner may no longer be required to pay flood insurance.Anywhere it rains, it can flood. This is a formal determination by FEMA of a property's location and/or elevation relative to the Special Flood Hazard Area. If you think the flood map boundaries are incorrect, you can apply for a Letter of Map Change. Base flood elevations derived from detailed analyses are shown at selected intervals within these zones These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. Zone VE - coastal areas with a 1% or greater chance of flooding and an additional hazard associated with storm waves.No base flood elevations are shown within these zones. Zone V - coastal areas with a 1% or greater chance of flooding and an additional hazard associated with storm waves.Zone AE - 100-year floodplain, the base floodplain where base flood elevations are provided.Because detailed analyses are not performed for such areas, no base flood elevations are shown. Zone A - 100-year floodplain, areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage.High Risk Areas (Special Flood Hazard Area) Includes areas of moderate flood hazard, such as base floodplains and shallow flooding areas, and minimal flood hazard, which may still have ponding and local drainage problems. Zone X - Floodplain area with a 0.2% (or 1 in 500 chance) or less annual chance of flooding.To view the effective flood zone for a property or area, visit Hillsborough County’s Effective Flood Zone Viewer. Talk to your insurance provider about your policy and consider if you need additional coverage. Most homeowners insurances do not cover flood damage. Evacuation zones are based on hurricane storm surge zones determined by the National Hurricane Center using ground elevation and the area's vulnerability to storm surge from a hurricane.įlood maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, 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.

During a storm, you need to know your Evacuation Zoneįlood zones are areas mapped by FEMA for use in the National Flood Insurance Program.
