When a flood strikes your community, it's everyone's problem. Damage to private and public property can be swift and severe. It can take months to rebuild and millions of dollars to recover losses.
Working together, we can help prevent financial loss and protect your physical property.
About Community Participation
How is a community defined? What are the benefits of community participation in the NFIP?
Floodplain Management Activities
Find out how FEMA's Mitigation Division works with communities to minimize the risk of flood damage.
CRS Ratings and You
What is the Community Rating System, and how can your community participate?
Map Modernization
Learn all about this exciting new Federal initiative to upgrade flood maps across the U.S., maybe even in your community in the very near future.
What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and how do I use it?
A FIRM is a map created by the NFIP for floodplain management and insurance purposes. Digital versions of these maps are called DFIRMs.
A FIRM will generally show a community's base flood elevations, flood zones, and floodplain boundaries. As a property owner/renter, you can use this map to get a reliable indication of what flood zone you're in. However, FIRMs are not the final determinant. Maps are constantly being updated due to changes in geography, construction and mitigation activities, and meteorological events.
For a truly accurate determination, contact your insurance agent or company or your community floodplain manager.
