This dataset displays the locations of flood hazard zones identified by FEMA. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces Flood Insurance Rate maps and identifies Special Flood Hazard Areas as part of the National Flood Insurance Program's floodplain management. Special Flood Hazard Areas have regulations that include the mandatory purchase of flood insurance. This layer is derived from the October 13, 2021 version of the National Flood Hazard Layer feature class S_Fld_Haz_Ar. The data were aggregated into eight classes to produce the Esri Symbology field based on symbology provided by FEMA. All other layer attributes are derived from the National Flood Hazard Layer.The layer was projected to Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere, then the repair geometry geoprocessing tool was run on it. Its resolution was set to 0.0001 meter. To improve performance Flood Zone values "Area Not Included", "Open Water", "D", "NP", and No Data were removed from the layer. Areas with Flood Zone value "X" subtype "Area of Minimal Flood Hazard" were also removed. An imagery layer created from this dataset provides access to the full set of records in the National Flood Hazard Layer.View Dataset on the Gateway

According to FEMA the definition of a flood zone is a "geographic areas that FEMA has defined according to varying levels of flood risk and type of flooding. These zones are depicted on the published Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM)."

North Carolina Effective Flood zones: In 2000, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated North Carolina a Cooperating Technical Partner State, formalizing an agreement between FEMA and the State to modernize flood maps. This partnership resulted in creation of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP). As a CTS, the State assumed primary ownership and responsibility of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for all North Carolina communities as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This project includes conducting flood hazard analyses and producing updated, Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). Floodplain management is a process that aims to achieve reduced losses due to flooding. It takes on many forms, but is realized through a series of federal, state, and local programs and regulations, in concert with industry practice, to identify flood risk, implement methods to protect man-made development from flooding, and protect the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains. FIRMs are the primary tool for state and local governments to mitigate areas of flooding. Individual county databases can be downloaded from https://fris.nc.gov Updated Sep 19th, 2025.

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 State Plane 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.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) creates and provides authoritative data related to flood insurance. Using that data, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has developed a public-facing web viewer for accessing flood zone information in the County of Los Angeles (Flood Zone Determination Website). Flood Zones are represented by letters for special flood hazard areas by FEMA. For example, Zone A areas have a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. This flood is also called the 100-year flood. Property owners with structures in Flood Zone A, which have a federally backed mortgage are required to obtain flood insurance.

Looking for more than just a current flood map? Visit Search All Products to access the FEMA website and obtain a full range of flood risk products for your community.

Purpose:

To provide flood zone information to the public.

Supplemental Information:

Data from Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), where available digitally, can be found on the official FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer. The DFIRM Database is the digital, geospatial version of the flood hazard information shown on the published paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) FEMA Flood Maps can be obtained from the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) The National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) is a digital database that contains flood hazard mapping data from FEMAs National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This map data is derived from Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) databases and Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs). The NFHL is for community officials and members looking to view effective regulatory flood hazard information in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application.

FEMA has additional information on the National Flood Insurance Program and Flood Hazard Mapping.

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.

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.

Understanding the relationship between flood inundation and floodplains is critical for ecosystem and community health and well-being, as well as targeting floodplain and riparian restoration. Many communities in the United States, particularly those in rural areas, lack inundation maps due to the high cost of flood modeling. Only 60% of the conterminous United States has Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) through the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This EnviroAtlas dataset provides an estimate of the 100-year floodplain for the conterminous United States at 30-meter resolution to fill the gaps in the FIRM. The model hit rate for the CONUS was 0.79 compared to the FIRM, indicating that the model captured 79% of the 100-year floodplain identified by FEMA. This product provides complete coverage for the CONUS by identifying floodplains in areas without FIRMs, while also identifying floodplains in tributaries sometimes excluded by FEMA. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each attribute in this dataset can be found in its associated EnviroAtlas Fact Sheet (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas-fact-sheets) or journal article (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.353). This dataset is useful for evaluating the potential value of ecosystem services provided by floodplains. The overall goal of EnviroAtlas is to employ and develop the best available science to map indicators of ecosystem services production, demand, and drivers for the nation. These data are not meant to replace or supplement FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Woznicki, S., J. Baynes, S. Panlasigui, M. Mehaffey, and A. Neale. Development of a spatially complete floodplain map of the conterminous United States using random forest. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 647: 942-953, (2018).

2017 FEMA Flood Zone for Macon-Bibb County. Through FEMA's flood hazard mapping program, Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (MAP), FEMA identifies flood hazards, assesses flood risks and partners with states and communities to provide accurate flood hazard and risk data to guide them to mitigation actions. Flood hazard mapping is an important part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as it is the basis of the NFIP regulations and flood insurance requirements. FEMA maintains and updates data through Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and risk assessments. FIRMs include statistical information such as data for river flow, storm tides, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses and rainfall and topographic surveys. For more information regarding FEMA's flood hazard mapping program visit https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-hazard-mapping.

The FIRM Database is the digital, geospatial version of the flood hazard information (location and attributes for boundaries of flood insurance risk zones) shown on the published paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The FIRM 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 FIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published 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 FEMA.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 FIRM Database presents the flood risk information depicted on the FIRM in a digital format suitable for use in electronic mapping applications. The FIRM Database serves to archive the information collected during the Flood Risk Project.Informing Worcester is the City of Worcester's open data portal where interested parties can obtain public information at no cost.

This dataset contains the scanned, paper flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) developed by FEMA and available from the Mapping Service Center.

FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) depicts the spatial extent of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) and other thematic features related to flood risk assessment. FIRMs also provide a basis for establishing flood insurance coverage premium rates offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These maps were published as paper documents, which have been scanned into image files (TIFF) as part of FEMA's FIRM modernization process. This is one of three scanned maps for the Seaside-Gearhart area - 410030 0001 D, 410032 0001 C, and 410032 0002 C - that were georeferenced for the probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment project.

Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30. Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or 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. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).

The Federal Emergency Managment Agency and the MNDNR produce Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM) for selected counties in the state. These maps are often referred to as FEMA Floodplain maps.

A DFIRM is the offical digital map of a community on which FEMA has delineated the special flood hazard areas, i.e., the floodplain areas where flood insurance is required for loans and where communities will administer floodplain regulations. (Note: Communities may regulate additional flood prone areas that are not on the FIRM).

Here are some of the feature classes included in the MNDNR's publication of the DFIRM Dataset:

FEMA DFIRM Base Flood Elevations
The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) table is required for any digital data where BFE lines will be shown on the corresponding Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Normally, if there are any riverine AE zones, BFE lines are required. The BFE table contains information about the BFEs within a study area. A spatial file with locational information also corresponds with this data table. BFE lines indicate the rounded whole-foot water-surface elevation of the 1-percent-annual-chance flood. The spatial elements representing BFE features are lines extending from Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary to SFHA boundary. The BFE lines will have no visible gaps or overshoots between the SFHA boundary and the end of the BFE line at the publication scale of the DFIRM. However, the ends of the BFE lines are not necessarily snapped precisely to the SFHA boundary. Each BFE is represented by a single line. While BFE lines are depicted as wavy lines on the hardcopy FIRM, they should be primarily straight lines in the spatial data, although they may bend consistent with procedures described in Volume 1 of these Guidelines.

FEMA DFIRM Flood Hazard Zones
FEMA flood hazard delineations are used by FEMA to designate the SFHA and for insurance rating purposes. These data are the flood hazard areas that are or will be depicted on the FIRM.

FEMA DFIRM Panel Scheme Polygons
This layer contains information about the FIRM panel areas. The spatial entities representing FIRM panels are polygons. The polygon for the FIRM panel corresponds to the panel neatlines. As a result, the panels are generally rectangular. In situations where a portion of a panel lies outside of the jurisdiction being mapped, the user must refer to the S_POL_AR table to determine the portion of the panel area where the DFIRM database shows the effective flood hazard data for the mapped jurisdiction.

FEMA DFIRM Cross Sections
FEMA Cross Sections are required for any Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map database where cross sections are shown on the FIRM. Normally any FIRM that has associated flood profiles has cross sections. The corresponding attribute table contains information about cross section lines. A spatial file with locational information also corresponds with this data table. These lines represent the locations of channel surveys performed for input into the hydraulic model used to calculate flood elevations. These locations are also shown on the Flood Profiles in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report and can be used to cross reference the Flood Profiles to the planimetric depiction of the flood hazards. All cross sections for which a spatial location is available should be included in this table. The spatial elements representing cross sections are lines generally extending from outside the floodplain, across the entire floodplain and out the other side. Each cross section should be represented by a single line feature without the hexagons shown on each end on the hardcopy map. The location and shape of the lines should depict as accurately as possible the position of the cross section used. This is a modified Standard DFIRM Database table that includes Standard DFIRM Database items and Enhanced Database items. All items after SOURCE_CIT are Enhanced. The Enhanced DFIRM Database must contain all modeled cross sections, whether they are printed on the FIRM or not.

Extensive information regarding the source data can be found in these two documents:
FEMA DFIRM Doc Appendix L Part A.pdf
FEMA DFIRM Doc Appendix L Part B.pdf

A one-hundred-year flood is a flood event that has a 1% probability of occurring in any given year. The 100-year flood is also referred to as the 1% flood, since its annual exceedance probability is 1%,[1] or as having a return period of 100-years. The 100-year flood is generally expressed as a flowrate. Based on the expected 100-year flood flow rate in a given creek, river or surface water system, the flood water level can be mapped as an area of inundation. The resulting floodplain map is referred to as the 100-year floodplain, which may figure very importantly in building permits, environmental regulations, and flood insurance. Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood.

This dataset contains the scanned, paper flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) developed by FEMA and available from the Mapping Service Center.

This dataset comes from the FEMA S_Fld_Haz_Ar table. The S_Fld_Haz_Ar table contains information about the flood hazards within the flood risk project area. A spatial file with location information also corresponds with this data table. These zones are used by FEMA to designate the SFHA and for insurance rating purposes. These data are the regulatory flood zones designated by FEMA. A spatial file with location information also corresponds with this data table.This information is needed for the following tables in the FIS report: Flooding Sources Included in this FIS report, and Summary of Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses.The spatial elements representing the flood zones are polygons. The entire area of the jurisdiction(s) mapped by the FIRM should have a corresponding flood zone polygon. There is one polygon for each contiguous flood zone designated.FEMA Regulatory Floodway are flood zone polygons marked as a regulatory floodway.FEMA 100 year are flood zone polygons where there is a 1% Annual Chance, also known as the 100 year.FEMA 500 year are flood zone polygons where there is a 0.2% Annual Chance, also known as the 500 year.FEMA minimal flood hazard zone polygons.This map is not intended for insurance rating purposes and is for information only. This map is a representation and approximation of the relative location of geographic information, land marks and physical addresses. The map may not be 100% accurate in locating your address. The floodplains shown on this mapping tool are those delineated on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM or floodplain map) for Montgomery County. This map is not an official FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map. The effective DFIRMs are produced, maintained, and published by FEMA and not by Montgomery County. Official determinations are provided by FEMA.

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.

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 State Plane 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.