How to Know If You Live in a Flood Zone

Why you can trust SafeWise
products considered
250+
research hours in 25+ in-home tests
10k+
years of combined experience
176+
homes and people protected
10M+

For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. Learn how we test and review.

Bell
Extreme weather resources

When extreme weather is in full swing, we want everyone to stay safe. Here are some resources if you or a loved one are impacted by storms.

Check the FEMA flood map

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has a tool that makes it easy to see if your address is in a flood zone. The Flood Map Service Center shows information like flood zones, floodways, and your home's risk level.

There's also topographical and infrastructural information about features like levees, coastal barriers, and the base flood line. At first, the map may not make much sense, but it's easier to read than it seems.

Make your home safer with one easy step.
From wild weather to fire hazards, our newsletter provides tips for protecting everything (and everyone) you love. Sign up now!

By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

FEMA flood map screenshot

Screenshot of FEMA map, 06/04/2024.

How to use the FEMA flood map

The map shows overlays of specific floodplains and the risk around your property. You might see labels such as, "Area of Minimal Flood Hazard," or "0.2 PCT Annual Chance of Flood Hazard."

Fortunately, you don't have to figure out what that means on your own. FEMA provides a glossary to help you decode some of the more confusing terms. 

Checklist
Update dates

When you examine the flood map, some of the labels may seem dated. These dates just refer to when the map was officially adopted by your area. You can toggle these dates on and off or check out the Dynamic Map to see updated versions.

Understanding flood zones

Flood zones are most often used by insurers to determine risk, rates, and terms for flood insurance. These zones are graded by risk and proximity to the coast or bodies of water. 

Within each flood zone category is a second letter providing more information to insurers about the location and surrounding geography. 

Here's a quick rundown of what the most common flood zones mean for you and your house.

  • Zone A: Structures in five types of Zone A areas are non-coastal areas with a high risk of flooding. It's also the most common type of flood zone. The type of Zone A that applies to your home will impact your flood insurance premium.
  • Zone B & X: Homes and businesses in this flood zone have a moderate risk of flooding. They may be near levees or other mitigation structures to minimize damage. 
  • Zones C & X: Structures in these zones have a minimal flood risk but with flood insurance still recommended.
  • Zone D: This zone indicates a possible risk of flooding, but the hazard level is undetermined.
  • Zone V & VE: This is a coastal flood hazard area with high risk for floods in coastal areas. In many cases, flood insurance is mandatory for residents of these areas. 
FEMA flood map example

Keep track of changes

With new construction and changes in topography, floodplains and flood zone designations can change over time. Make a plan to check for changes in your property's flood zone designation every five years or so.

Keeping an eye on your flood zone designation not only makes you better prepared for a possible flood, but it also ensures that you always have the right type and amount of flood insurance.

Light Bulb
Expert tip

Remembering to do something every five years isn't easy. If you think you'll have a hard time remembering, try to tie it to your milestone birthdays—whenever you reach an age that ends in a five or a zero, it's time to visit FEMA again to check your home's flood zone status.

How to prevent your home from flooding

Prevent floods with sensors
Resideo Wi-Fi leak detector

Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

There are several ways to prevent your home from flooding. One of them is using a flood sensor, devices that notify you of water leaks.

These sensors detect leaks from appliances like your water heater and washing machine, and can also alert you to weather-related leaks in the basement.

You can also look into home security systems that provide flood protection. This way you're sure to get an alert if any unwanted water shows up in your home.


Affordable DIY home security
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe home security
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Monitoring starts at$17.99/mo
pro No contracts
pro DIY installation
pro Good for renters

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Light Bulb
Security systems protect against floods

Security systems like SimpliSafe have water sensor add-ons to catch a leak or flooding before it gets worse.

To learn more, read our FAQ on How do security systems protect against fire and floods?


We’ve also found the best sump pumps if you’ve got to get water out of your home before things get out of hand.

Look into flood insurance

If you live in a flood zone, the next thing to do is find out if you have flood insurance. While floods are much more common fires, most homeowners policies don't cover flood damage.2

Flood insurance policies are available through private carriers, but you can also opt for government-sponsored coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Light Bulb
Pay less

Flood insurance costs between $200 and $800 a year, but the NFIP has ways that you can lower that cost by better protecting your home against flooding. Visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more about the NFIP and how you can pay less for flood insurance.

FAQ

No, they're not. Federal laws don't require sellers or agents to disclose any previous flooding on a property when it's up for sale.

It's up to you as a buyer to find out the property's history—but keep in mind that even if you don't, your mortgage company will, and a flood zone designation could impact your ability to get financing.

You don't want any surprises when it's time to get a mortgage for your new home, so do the research before you make an offer.

Maybe—it depends on its flood zone designation. Properties in flood zones with a higher risk factor usually require flood insurance for a mortgage.

Your house is your collateral for your home loan, and if it’s destroyed in a flood, your mortgage company stands to take a financial hit, so flood insurance is pretty important to lenders.

Floods are a rare occurrence, even for areas with high risk, like waterfront properties and coastal areas. A one percent chance of flooding means that your area is expected to get a devastating flood once every 100 years.

While that may not seem like a huge risk, it’s pretty high, considering the fact that an entire geographical area could be wiped out. A one percent risk should be taken seriously, especially since you don’t know where you are in that 100-year cycle.

Possibly, but having flood insurance on the property can help, because that way, potential buyers will know their options for insuring the home. You can also take proactive steps to protect your home against floods, like elevating it or taking other measures to make your home more flood-resistant.

Read FEMA’s Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings that Cannot Be Elevated to learn more about how you can better protect your home.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

  1. FEMA, "Flood Zones," July 2020. Accessed June 1, 2022.
  2. FEMA, “FEMA Flood Map Service Center.” Accessed June 1, 2022.
  3. FEMA, "What are Flood Zones and Maps?"

Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Kasey Tross
Written by
Kasey is a trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and a freelance writer with expertise in emergency preparedness and security. As the mother of four kids, including two teens, Kasey knows the safety concerns parents face as they raise tech-savvy kids in a connected world, and she loves to research the latest security options for her own family and for SafeWise readers.

Recent Articles

woman adjusting thermostat in bright home
The Best Home Security Systems and Alarm Companies of 2024
After thousands of hours of tests and research, we picked Vivint and SimpliSafe as the...
""
The Best Home Security Systems in Canada 2025
Learn about 2025's best home security systems for Canada with research from SafeWise experts. From...
Neighbourhood homes in the United Kingdom
The Best Home Alarm Systems in the UK in 2024
After testing 25+ of the best home alarm systems in the UK and evaluating over...
small yellow single family home
Abode vs Ring: Which security system is better?
Abode reigns over Ring in this DIY system face-off, but it’s not a clean sweep....