Find Your FEMA Flood Zone

The FEMA Flood Maps are complicated. This map hopes to simplify them.

If the map doesn't geolocate automatically, enter your address below to see the FEMA flood zones around your area.

Once loaded, click on the zones for a more detailed definition and explanation.

100-Year Flood Zone

500-Year Flood Zone

More Information

Flood insurance is federally required for all structures within the 100-year flood zone (Special Flood Hazard Area, SFHA) that carry a federally backed mortage.

The FEMA flood maps are NOT property or structure specific - this causes a lot of confusion. If your lender or insurance company tells you that you are within the SFHA, that is their interpretation of the flood maps. They usually hire a flood determination company to do that for them. This page shows the maps that your lender should have used in their determination.

The only way to receive a structure or property specific determination from FEMA is to apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA).

Specific Flood Zone Definitions

Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)

All zones starting with V or A are within the 100-year flood area. The zones are differentiated by type of flooding or information available.This map shows these zones in red.

  • Zone A - No Base flood elevation determined.
  • Zone AE - Base flood elevation determined.
  • Zone AO - Sheet flow flooding or Alluvial fan flooding, flood depths usually between 1-3 feet.
  • Zone AH - Shallow flooding or ponding.
  • Zone A99 - An area that will be protected from the 100-year flood area via a flood protection system (ex. levee), but that system is under construction.
  • Zone V - Coastal area - takes into consideration wave action. No base flood elevation determined.
  • Zone VE - Coastal area - takes into consideration wave action. Base flood elevation determined.

Zones outside of the SFHA

This map shows these zones in blue.

  • Zone X (shaded) or Zone B - Within the 500-year flood zone. New maps show Zone X(shaded) instead of Zone B.
  • Zone X (unshaded) or Zone C - Outside of the 500-year flood zone. New maps show Zone X(unshaded) instead of Zone C.
More About FEMA Flood Zone Definitions

Useful Links

Common Abbreviations

  • SFHA - Special Flood Hazard Area
  • BFE - Base Flood Elevation
  • FIRM - Flood Insurance Rate Map (FEMA Flood Maps)
  • MSC - Map Service Center
  • NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
  • FIS - Flood Insurance Study
  • LOMA - Letter of Map Amendment
  • LOMR - Letter of Map Revision
  • Map authored by Sebastian Hancock
  • This map uses FEMA's API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.