WASHINGTON — FEMA is accelerating its program to update the nation's flood maps — which are used to determine flood insurance requirements, building code standards, and land use decisions — to better reflect current flood risk from climate change, changing development patterns, and improved hydrological modeling.
The current national flood maps are based on data that is, in many cases, decades old and does not reflect the changes in flood risk that have occurred due to climate change, upstream development, and changes in land use. FEMA estimates that approximately 40 percent of the nation's flood maps are more than 10 years old and are in need of update.
The updated flood maps will incorporate climate change projections, including projected increases in rainfall intensity and sea level rise, that are not reflected in current maps. The result will be that some properties that are currently outside the Special Flood Hazard Area will be mapped into the flood zone, triggering flood insurance requirements for properties with federally backed mortgages.
Property owners whose properties are newly mapped into the flood zone will be required to purchase flood insurance if they have a federally backed mortgage. FEMA offers a preferred risk policy for properties that are newly mapped into the flood zone, which provides coverage at a lower premium than the standard NFIP rate.
For restoration contractors, the updated flood maps will affect the risk profile of the properties they serve. Contractors who understand the flood mapping process and can help property owners understand their flood risk and insurance options will be better positioned to serve their clients' needs.
