Global Flood Database Scripts & Data

This repository includes code and supporting data for the Global Flood Database. This include descriptions of the data and code, and how they relate to Tellman et al, Satellite observations indicate increasing proportion of population exposed to floods

The Global Flood Database contains maps of the extent and temporal distribution of 913 flood events occurring between 2000-2018. For more information, see the associated journal article. Flood events were collected from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory and used to collect MODIS imagery. The selected 913 events are those that were successfully mapped (passed quality control as having significant inundation beyond permanent water) using 12,719 scenes from Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors. Each pixel was classified as water or non-water at 250-meter resolution during the full date range of each flood event and subsequent data products were generated including maximum flood extent ("flooded" band) and the duration of inundation in days ("duration" band). Water and non-water classifications during a flood event include permanent water (here resampling the 30-meter JRC Global Surface Water dataset representing permanent water to 250-meter resolution), which can be masked out to isolate flood water using the "jrc_perm_water" band. Extra data quality bands were added representing cloud conditions during the flood event (e.g., "clear_views" representing the number of clear days the flood was observed between its start and end dates and "clear_perc" representing the percentage of clear day observation of the total event duration in days). Each image in the ImageCollection represents the map of an individual flood. The collection can be filtered by date, country, or Dartmouth Flood Observatory original ID.

The Flood Map for Planning Service includes several layers of information. This includes the Flood Zones data which shows the extent of land at present day risk of flooding from rivers and the sea, ignoring the benefits of defences, for the following scenarios:

• Flood Zone 1 – Land having a less than 0.1% (1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding. • Flood Zone 2 – Land having between 0.1% - 1% (1 in 100 to 1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding from rivers or between 0.1% - 0.5% (1 in 200 to 1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding from the sea, and accepted recorded flood outlines . • Flood Zone 3 – Areas shown to be at a 1% (1 in 100) or greater annual probability of flooding from rivers or 0.5% (1 in 200) or greater annual probability of flooding from the sea.

Flood Zone 1 is not shown in this dataset, but covers all areas not contained within Flood Zones 2 and 3. Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) use the Flood Zones to determine if they must consult the Environment Agency on planning applications. They are also used to determine if development is incompatible and whether development is subject to the exception test. The Flood Zones are one of several flood risk datasets used to determine the need for planning applications to be supported by a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and subject to the sequential test.

The Flood Zones are a composite dataset including national and local modelled data, and information from past floods.

The Flood Zones are designed to only give an indication of flood risk to an area of land and are not suitable for showing whether an individual property is at risk of flooding. This is because we cannot know all the details about each property.

Users of these datasets should always check they are suitable for the intended use

The Historic Flood Map is a GIS layer showing the maximum extent of individual Recorded Flood Outlines from river, the sea and groundwater springs that meet a set criteria. It shows areas of land that have previously been subject to flooding in England. This excludes flooding from surface water, except in areas where it is impossible to determine whether the source is fluvial or surface water but the dominant source is fluvial.

The majority of records began in 1946 when predecessor bodies to the Environment Agency started collecting detailed information about flooding incidents, although we hold limited details about flooding incidents prior to this date.

If an area is not covered by the Historic Flood Map it does not mean that the area has never flooded, only that we do not currently have records of flooding in this area that meet the criteria for inclusion. It is also possible that the pattern of flooding in this area has changed and that this area would now flood or not flood under different circumstances. Outlines that don’t meet this criteria are stored in the Recorded Flood Outlines dataset.

The Historic Flood Map takes into account the presence of defences, structures, and other infrastructure where they existed at the time of flooding. It will include flood extents that may have been affected by overtopping, breaches or blockages.

Flooding is shown to the land and does not necessarily indicate that properties were flooded internally.

This hosted feature layer has been published in RI State Plane Feet NAD 83.Statewide flood hazard areas compiled from county-based Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) databases for Rhode Island. The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database depicts flood risk information and supporting data used to develop the risk data. The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. TheDFIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and in this case redistributed by the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) at the request of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.This dataset provides the user with information on the flood risk hazard zones throughout the state of Rhode Island. Note: the above summary is a slightly modified version adapted from source metadata records provided by FEMA. To provide the user with information on the statewide flood risk based on information provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the DFIRM databases created specifically for the five counties of Rhode Island (Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington). This dataset provides information on the likelihood that a flood may occur at a given location in the state. The files and information used to create this dataset were originally provided to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) by FEMA.This information was in the form of DFIRM databases for each of the five RI counties. This information was then redistributed by RIGIS at the request of RIEMA. The information provided by this data is only a subset of the information available in the original DFIRM databases located on the RIGIS website. For a specific county's complete DFIRM database, please visit the RIGIS website and download the appropriate DFIRM database. This metadata record is specific to this dataset and only contains information relevant to this dataset as provided by FEMA the original DFIRM metadata records. These can be found and referenced in the /DOCUMENT folder that is downloaded as part of a DFIRM package for a specific Rhode Island county. Another valuable source of documentation is FEMA's "Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners". It is currently available online at https://www.fema.gov/guidelines-and-standards-flood-risk-analysis-and-mapping. The Guide offers a tremendous amount of information regarding how DFIRM data are created, and detailed information about the individual files that constitute a DFIRM database.

The National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) data incorporates all Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map(DFIRM) databases published by FEMA, and any Letters Of Map Revision (LOMRs) that have been issued against those databases since their publication date. The DFIRM Database is the digital, geospatial version of the flood hazard information shown on the published paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRMs). The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. The NFHL data are derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The specifications for the horizontal control of DFIRM data are consistent with those required for mapping at a scale of 1:12,000. The NFHL data contain layers in the Standard DFIRM datasets except for S_Label_Pt and S_Label_Ld. The NFHL is available as State or US Territory data sets. Each State or Territory data set consists of all DFIRMs and corresponding LOMRs available on the publication date of the data set.

This collection is for datasets of flood depths, flood extents, high water marks, streamflow, damages recorded, aerial oblique photos, and related subjects. This includes both forecast and observed data. These were primarily obtained from national agencies such as NOAA (weather related), USGS (surface water related), FEMA (surface water and damage related), and Civil Air Patrol (aerial photos).

Note on November 2023 updates: due to numerous updates among the resources linked below, this collection has been updated to point to the most recent resources.

Early event detection and response can significantly reduce the societal impact of floods. Currently, early warning systems rely on gauges, radar data, models and informal local sources. However, the scope and reliability of these systems are limited. Recently, the use of social media for detecting disasters has shown promising results, especially for earthquakes. Here, we present a new database for detecting floods in real-time on a global scale using Twitter. The method was developed using 88 million tweets, from which we derived over 10.000 flood events (i.e., flooding occurring in a country or first order administrative subdivision) across 176 countries in 11 languages in just over four years. Using strict parameters, validation shows that approximately 90% of the events were correctly detected. In countries where the first official language is included, our algorithm detected 63% of events in NatCatSERVICE disaster database at admin 1 level. Moreover, a large number of flood events not included in NatCatSERVICE are detected. All results are publicly available on www.globalfloodmonitor.org.

Riverine flood hazard: The GAR 15 global flood hazard assessment uses a probabilistic approach for modelling riverine flood major river basins around the globe. The main steps in this methodology consists of: Compiling a global database of stream-flow data, merging different sources gathering more than 8000 stations over the globe. Calculating river discharge quantiles at various river sections. In another word calculating the range of possible discharges from very low to the maximum possible at series of locations along the river. The time span in the global stream-flow dataset is long enough to allow extreme value analysis. Where time series of flow discharges were too short or incomplete, they were improved with proxy data from stations located in the same “homogeneous region.” Homogeneous regions were calculated taking into account information such as climatic zones, hydrological characteristics of the catchments, and statistical parameters of the streamflow data. The calculated discharge quantiles were introduced to river sections, whose geometries were derived from topographic data (SRTM), and used with a simplified approach (based on Manning’s equation) to model water levels downstream. This procedure allowed for the determination of the reference Flood hazard maps for different return periods (6 are shown in the global study: T= 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 years). The hazard maps are developed at 1kmx1km resolution. Such maps have been validated against satellite flood footprints from different sources (DFO archive, UNOSAT flood portal) and well performed especially for the big events For smaller events (lower return periods), the GAR Flood hazard maps tend to overestimate with respect to similar maps produced locally (hazard maps where available for some countries and were used as benchmark). The main issue being that, due to the resolution, the GAR flood maps do not take into account flood defences that are normally present to preserve the value exposed to floods. This can influence strongly the results of the risk calculations and especially of the economic parameters. In order to tackle this problem some post processing of the maps has been performed, based on the assumption that flood defences tend to be higher where the exposed value is high and then suddenly drop as this value reduces. The flood hazard assessment was conducted by CIMA Foundation and UNEP-GRID. The flood maps with associated probability of occurrence, is then used by CIMNE as input to the computation of the flood risk for GAR15 as Average Annual Loss values in each country. Hazard maps for six main return periods are developed and available, and probable maximum loss calculations are underway which will be available within few months of GAR15 launch. For GAR15, the risk was calculated with the CAPRA-GIS platform which is risk modelling tool of the CAPRA suite (www.ecapra.org). More information about the flood hazard assessment can be found in the background paper (CIMA Foundation, 2015).

Flood risk areas display the extent of known historical flood events as well as areas that have a probability of flooding as determined from historical records. The polygon data includes the description of the flood event, the typical causes of the flood and any associated place name keys. The line data indicates the limits of the flood risk mapping information and the 2008 and 2018 flood data. Flood extents for the 2008 and 2018 Lower Saint John River floods are included.

This dataset is an inventory of globally occurred Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Our database encompasses data from 769 different sources including satellite and aerial images, reports from local authorities, scientific publications, news outlets, workshop proceedings, social media posts, and unpublished work.

Files:
glofdatabase_V3.ods: Database spreadsheet (OpenOffice file) containing all reported GLOFs.
Parameter_Readme.ods: Readme file describing all database parameters (i.e. columns in glofdatabase_V3.ods) and their units.

Our database is an ongoing project and we offer a web-based, interactive map that grants access to the most recent state of the database (http://glofs.geoecology.uni-potsdam.de). Users can also download all previous versions of the database from this interface.

Risk of Flooding from Surface Water (RoFSW) map is an assessment of where surface water flooding may occur when rainwater does not drain away through the normal drainage systems or soak into the ground, but lies on or flows over the ground instead. It is produced using national scale modelling and enhanced with compatible, locally produced modelling from lead local flood authorities (LLFAs). The RoFSW datasets include information about flooding extents, depths, speed and hazards.

This dataset shows information about flooding extents and depths. The depth of water during a flood is an important factor in how dangerous a flood might be.

RoFSW is a probabilistic product, meaning that it shows the overall risk, rather than the risk associated with a specific event or scenario. In externally published versions of this dataset, risk is displayed as one of three likelihood bandings:

High - greater than or equal to 3.3% (1 in 30) chance in any given year; Medium - less than 3.3% (1 in 30) but greater than or equal to 1% (1 in 100) chance in any given year; Low - less than 1% (1 in 100) but greater than or equal to 0.1% (1 in 1000) chance in any given year.

This dataset shows the likelihood of a flood occurring with water at a given depth (or higher). There are separate layers with thresholds for depths of 0m (i.e. flooding extent), 0.2m, 0.3m, 0.6m, 0.9m, and 1.2m.

NB. This is a complex dataset, with preview available only on certain zoom levels. The Web Mapping service has been set to 1:50 000 in the

FEMA provides access to the National Flood Hazards Layer (NFHL) through web mapping services. The maps depict effective flood hazard information and supporting data. The primary flood hazard classification is indicated in the Flood Hazard Zones layer.The NFHL layers include:Flood hazard zones and labelsRiver Miles MarkersCross-sections and coastal transects and their labelsLetter of Map Revision (LOMR) boundaries and case numbersFlood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) boundaries, labels and effective datesCoastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) and Otherwise Protected Area (OPA) unitsCommunity boundaries and namesLeveesHydraulic and flood control structuresProfile and coastal transect baselinesLimit of Moderate Wave Action(LiMWA)Not all effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) have GIS data available. To view a list of available county and single-jurisdiction flood study data in GIS format and check the status of the NFHL GIS services, please visit the NFHL Status Page.Preliminary & Pending National Flood Hazard LayersThe Preliminary and Pending NFHL dataset represents the current pre-effective flood data for the country. These layers are updated as new preliminary and pending data becomes available, and data is removed from these layers as it becomes effective.For more information, please visit FEMA's website.To download map panels or GIS Data, go to: NFHL on FEMA GeoPlatform.Preliminary & Pending DataPreliminary data are for review and guidance purposes only. By viewing preliminary data and maps, the user acknowledges that the information provided is preliminary and subject to change. Preliminary data are not final and are presented in this national layer as the best information available at this time. Additionally, preliminary data cannot be used to rate flood insurance policies or enforce the Federal mandatory purchase requirement. FEMA will remove preliminary data once pending data are available.Pending data are for early awareness of upcoming changes to regulatory flood map information. Until the data becomes effective, when it will appear in FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), the data should not be used to rate flood insurance policies or enforce the Federal mandatory purchase requirement. FEMA will remove pending data once effective data are available.To better understand Preliminary data please see the View Your Community's Preliminary Flood Hazard Data webpage.FEMA GeoPlatformFEMA's GIS flood map services are available through FEMAs GeoPlatform, an ArcGIS Online portal containing a variety of FEMA-related data.To view the NFHL on the FEMA GeoPlatform go to NFHL on FEMA GeoPlatform.To view the Preliminary and Pending national layers on the FEMA Geoplatform go to FEMA's Preliminary & Pending National Flood Hazard Layer.Technical InformationFlood hazard and supporting data are developed using specifications for horizontal control consistent with 1:12,000–scale mapping. If you plan to display maps from the NFHL with other map data for official purposes, ensure that the other information meets FEMA’s standards for map accuracy.The minimum horizontal positional accuracy for base map hydrographic and transportation features used with the NFHL is the NSSDA radial accuracy of 38 feet. United States Geological Survey (USGS) imagery and map services that meet this standard can be found by visiting the Knowledge Sharing Site (KSS) for Base Map Standards (420). Other base map standards can be found at https://riskmapportal.msc.fema.gov/kss/MapChanges/default.aspx. You will need a username and password to access this information.The NFHL data are from FEMA’s FIRM databases. New data are added continually. The NFHL also contains map changes to FIRM data made by LOMRs.The NFHL is stored in North American Datum of 1983, Geodetic Reference System 80 coordinate system, though many of the NFHL GIS web services support the Web Mercator Sphere projection commonly used in web mapping applications.Organization & DisplayThe NFHL is organized into many data layers. The layers display information at map scales appropriate for the data. A layer indicating the availability of NFHL data is displayed at map scales smaller than 1:250,000, regional overviews at map scales between 1:250,000 and 1:50,000, and detailed flood hazard maps at map scales of 1:50,000 and larger. The "Scalehint" item in the Capabilities file for the Web Map Service encodes the scale range for a layer.In addition, there are non-NFHL datasets provided in the GIS web services, such as information about the availability of flood data and maps, the national map panel scheme, and point locations for LOMA and LOMR-Fs. The LOMA are positioned less accurately than are the NFHL data.Layers in the public NFHL GIS services:Use the numbers shown below when referencing layers by number.0. NFHL Availability1. LOMRs2. LOMAs3. FIRM Panels4. Base Index5. PLSS6. Toplogical Low Confidence Areas7. River Mile Markers8. Datum Conversion Points9. Coastal Gages10. Gages11. Nodes12. High Water Marks13. Station Start Points14. Cross-Sections15. Coastal Transects16. Base Flood Elevations17. Profile Baselines18. Transect Baselines19. Limit of Moderate Wave Action20. Water Lines21. Coastal Barrier Resources System Area22. Political Jurisdictions23. Levees24. General Structures25. Primary Frontal Dunes26. Hydrologic Reaches27. Flood Hazard Boundaries28. Flood Hazard Zones29. Submittal Information30. Alluvial Fans31. Subbasins32. Water Areas

From the Flood Risk Non-Regulatory Database that went into effect June 5, 2020. For more information, visit FEMA.gov Flood Maps.Flood Hazard Zones: The FIRM is the basis for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance activities for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance applications include enforcement of the mandatory purchase requirement of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which "... requires the purchase of flood insurance by property owners who are being assisted by Federal programs or by Federally supervised, regulated or insured agencies or institutions in the acquisition or improvement of land facilities located or to be located in identified areas having special flood hazards," Section 2 (b) (4) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. In addition to the identification of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the risk zones shown on the FIRMs are the basis for the establishment of premium rates for flood coverage offered through the NFIP. The DFIRM Database presents the flood risk information depicted on the FIRM in a digital format suitable for use in electronic mapping applications. The DFIRM database is a subset of the Digital FIS database that serves to archive the information collected during the FIS.The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database depicts flood risk information and supporting data used to develop the risk data. The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. The DFIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file is georeferenced to earth's surface using the UTM projection and coordinate system. The specifications for the horizontal control of DFIRM data files are consistent with those required for mapping at a scale of 1:12,000.Flood Hazard Boundary Line: Boundary line dividing Special Flood Hazard Area Zones and boundary dividing Special Flood Hazard Areas of different Base Flood Elevations, flood Depths or flood velocities.Flood Hazard BFE: Location and attributes for base flood elevations lines shown on DFIRM. This line layer was converted to a polygon by COM GIS department.Flood Hazard Cross Section: Location and attributes for cross-section lines in the area covered by the DFIRM.Flood Hazard Map Index: Location and attributes for DFIRM hardcopy map panels.Use limitationsThe hardcopy FIRM and DFIRM and the accompanying FISs are the official designation of SFHAs and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) for the NFIP. For the purposes of the NFIP, changes to the flood risk information published by FEMA may only be performed by FEMA and through the mechanisms established in the NFIP regulations (44 CFR Parts 59-78). These digital data are produced in conjunction with the hardcopy FIRMs and generally match the hardcopy map exactly. However the hardcopy flood maps and flood profiles are the authoritative documents for the NFIP. Acknowledgement of FEMA would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

Recorded Flood Outlines is a GIS layer which shows all our records of historic flooding from rivers, the sea, groundwater and surface water. Each individual Recorded Flood Outline contains a consistent list of information about the recorded flood.

Records began in 1946 when predecessor bodies to the Environment Agency started collecting detailed information about flooding incidents, although we may hold limited details about flooding incidents prior to this date.

The absence of coverage by Recorded Flood Outlines for an area does not mean that the area has never flooded, only that we do not currently have records of flooding in this area.

It is also possible that the pattern of flooding in this area has changed and that this area would now flood or not flood under different circumstances.

The Recorded Flood Outlines take into account the presence of defences, structures, and other infrastructure where they existed at the time of flooding. It includes flood extents that may have been affected by overtopping, breaches or blockages.

Any flood extents shown do not necessarily indicate that properties were flooded internally.

A companion dataset Historic Flood Map contains a subset of these Recorded Flood Outlines which satisfy a certain criteria.

The Global Flood Hazard Frequency and Distribution is a 2.5 minute grid derived from a global listing of extreme flood events between 1985 and 2003 (poor or missing data in the early/mid 1990s) compiled by Dartmouth Flood Observatory and georeferenced to the nearest degree. The resultant flood frequency grid was then classified into 10 classes of approximately equal number of grid cells. The greater the grid cell value in the final data set, the higher the relative frequency of flood occurrence. This data set is the result of collaboration among the Columbia University Center for Hazards and Risk Research (CHRR) and Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).

PLEASE NOTE: This dataset has been retired. It has been superseded by https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/04532375-a198-476e-985e-0579a0a11b47. Links to this data will be removed after April 2025. We encourage users to download this Flood Zones dataset if you would like to retain a comparison ability beyond this date.

The Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This dataset covers Flood Zone 3. It is our best estimate of the areas of land at risk of flooding, when the presence of flood defences are ignored and covers land with a 1 in 100 (1%) or greater chance of flooding each year from Rivers; or with a 1 in 200 (0.5%) or greater chance of flooding each year from the Sea.

This dataset is designed to support flood risk assessments in line with Planning Practice Guidance; and raise awareness of the likelihood of flooding to encourage people living and working in areas prone to flooding to find out more and take appropriate action.

The information provided is largely based on modelled data and is therefore indicative rather than specific.

Locations may also be at risk from other sources of flooding, such as high groundwater levels, overland run off from heavy rain, or failure of infrastructure such as sewers and storm drains.

The information indicates the flood risk to areas of land and is not sufficiently detailed to show whether an individual property is at risk of flooding, therefore properties may not always face the same chance of flooding as the areas that surround them. This is because we do not hold details about properties and their floor levels.

Information on flood depth, speed or volume of flow is not included.

This is Approval for Access product AfA305 Real-time Flood Data River Flow via our API.

This dataset covers monitoring data that is only updated on our systems during a routine daily update cycle, some sites will update more frequently as we update the field technology used over the next few years till 2025. During times of flooding, or other water level related incidents our update frequency can be increased if the technology at site allows.

Readings are transferred via telemetry to internal and external systems in or close to real-time. This data is transferred to other systems, including the API.

Data for some sites in Wales are included in the Open Data feed, but is owned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). NRW also class the data as Open Data, and you may use it under the same terms as the England data (the standard Open Government Licence, available on The National Archives website).

This data is retrieved automatically and is unvalidated. Estimates of flow (typically how many cubic metres per second). Information is available for river gauging stations throughout England. Technical information used for flow calculation at flow gauging stations is also provided. For example, crest tappings at a weir.

description: The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database depicts flood risk information and supporting data used to develop the risk data. The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual- chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. The DFIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file is georeferenced to earth's surface using the UTM projection (Zone 15) and coordinate system.; abstract: The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database depicts flood risk information and supporting data used to develop the risk data. The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual- chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. The DFIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file is georeferenced to earth's surface using the UTM projection (Zone 15) and coordinate system.

PLEASE NOTE: This dataset has been retired. It has been superseded by https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/04532375-a198-476e-985e-0579a0a11b47. Links to this data will be removed after April 2025. We encourage users to download this Flood Zones dataset if you would like to retain a comparison ability beyond this date.

The Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This dataset covers Flood Zone 2 and should not be used without Flood Zone 3. It is our best estimate of the areas of land at risk of flooding, when the presence of flood defences are ignored and covers land between Zone 3 and the extent of the flooding from rivers or the sea with a 1 in 1000 (0.1%) chance of flooding each year. This dataset also includes those areas defined in Flood Zone 3.

This dataset is designed to support flood risk assessments in line with Planning Practice Guidance ; and raise awareness of the likelihood of flooding to encourage people living and working in areas prone to flooding to find out more and take appropriate action.

The information provided is largely based on modelled data and is therefore indicative rather than specific. Locations may also be at risk from other sources of flooding, such as high groundwater levels, overland run off from heavy rain, or failure of infrastructure such as sewers and storm drains.

The information indicates the flood risk to areas of land and is not sufficiently detailed to show whether an individual property is at risk of flooding, therefore properties may not always face the same chance of flooding as the areas that surround them. This is because we do not hold details about properties and their floor levels. Information on flood depth, speed or volume of flow is not included.