Last reviewed: 3 October 2026
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Flood risk, flood zones and flood insurance: what FEMA's FloodSmart says and how to check yours
The short answer: FloodSmart, the National Flood Insurance Program's consumer site, says everyone lives in an area with some flood risk. Flood maps show your community's zone, and your zone and your mortgage can affect whether flood insurance is required.[1] This page reports what FloodSmart says. It does not tell you whether you need a policy.
The short version
- FloodSmart says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.[2]
- Flood maps show a community's flood zone, floodplain boundaries and base flood elevation.[1]
- You are required to have flood insurance if you own a home or business in a Special Flood Hazard Area and have a government-backed mortgage, FloodSmart says.[3]
- It also says some banks require flood insurance even if you do not live in a high-risk area, so ask your mortgage lender about its terms.[3]
What FloodSmart means by a flood
FloodSmart says that "in simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry."[4] It gives the NFIP and FEMA definition as two or more properties or acres of normally dry land partially or completely submerged by water from overflowing inland or tidal waters, unusual and quick surface water runoff, mudflows caused by flooding, or collapse or sinking of land along a lake or other body of water caused by heavy waves or currents.[4]
FloodSmart says that nearly one-third of NFIP flood insurance claims occur outside high flood risk areas.[2]
Flood zones, as FloodSmart describes them
| Zone letters | FloodSmart's description |
|---|---|
| A, AE, AH, AO, AR, A99 | High-risk flood areas, due to proximity to a pond, stream, river or protective barrier under construction.[1] |
| V, VE | High-risk coastal areas with an additional hazard from storm waves.[1] |
| D | Areas with possible flood hazards where no flood hazard analysis has been conducted, so the flood risk is undetermined.[1] |
| B and X (shaded) | Areas of moderate flood hazard, usually between the limits of 100-year and 500-year floods.[1] |
| C and X (unshaded) | Areas of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on Flood Insurance Rate Maps as above the 500-year flood level.[1] |
FloodSmart's page is not consistent about the lower-risk labels. Its zone descriptions call B and X moderate and C and X lower. But a later list on the same page labels them "Low Risk: B & X" and "Moderate Risk: C & X," the other way round.[1] Read the zone definition on the page, not just the label.
FloodSmart says that "undetermined risk" does not mean "no risk." It means analysis has not yet been completed.[1]
What can make flood insurance required
- A government-backed mortgage on a property in a Special Flood Hazard Area. FloodSmart describes this as required in participating communities for high-risk A and V zones.[1]
- A lender's own terms. FloodSmart says some banks require flood insurance even outside high-risk areas.[3]
- Past federal disaster assistance. FloodSmart says that if your property has received federal disaster assistance before, you must have flood insurance to qualify for future disaster assistance, and that this is tied to the property, not the individual owner.[3]
- Homeowners insurance does not satisfy these requirements, according to FloodSmart.[3]
How to check your own address
- Look up your address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which FloodSmart points to for learning whether you live, work or travel in areas at higher risk.[2]
- Or contact your local floodplain administrator.[1]
- Check your community's participation status on FEMA's website (FloodSmart says to scroll to "Find a Community Status Report" and select your state).[3]
- Check annually, because FloodSmart says maps are updated periodically.[1]
FloodSmart says several factors go into a flood zone: flood frequency, distance to a water source, multiple flood types, and property characteristics such as elevation and the cost to rebuild.[1] It also says flood zones and a building's elevation relative to Base Flood Elevation are no longer the only factors used to set flood insurance premiums.[1]
If you think your zone is wrong, FloodSmart says you can request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) through an online application.[1]
What an NFIP policy covers, in one line
FloodSmart says the NFIP offers building coverage, which protects your home's structure and utilities, and contents coverage, which protects personal belongings and appliances.[4]
How to verify this yourself
Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center for your address and the FEMA community status report for your community, both linked from FloodSmart. FloodSmart says to call the NFIP at (877) 336-2627 if you need help finding your insurance agent or carrier.[2]
What this page does not cover
FloodSmart is the National Flood Insurance Program's own consumer site, and it recommends flood insurance. This page reports what it says about zones, maps and requirements. It does not say whether you need a policy, what one costs or how much coverage is enough. We did not read the NFIP policy terms, waiting periods, or private flood insurance guidance. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. For your own case, ask your mortgage lender, your local floodplain administrator or a licensed insurance agent.
Your next step
Look up your address and write down your zone and the date of your community's latest map. Ask your mortgage lender in writing whether it requires flood insurance. Our guide to flood insurance and producer certification explains what to check about who sells a flood policy.
Related checks
Our standard explains how we check an agent's license and disciplinary history. Check an agent reports our findings at category level, as a method and not a verdict. Neither reviews any insurer, plan or product. To confirm the person selling you coverage is licensed, see how to check an agent's license. More plain-language guides are in the agent guides.
When we will update this page
We re-read the sources when they change. If something here is out of date, tell us. Corrections are dated on the page.
References
- [1] FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart), "What is My Flood Zone", read 3 October 2026 — floodsmart.gov/flood-zones-and-maps/what-is-my-flood-zone
- [2] FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart), home page, read 3 October 2026 — floodsmart.gov
- [3] FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart), "Eligibility", read 3 October 2026 — floodsmart.gov/get-insured/eligibility
- [4] FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart), "What is a Flood?", read 3 October 2026 — floodsmart.gov/know-your-risk/what-is-a-flood
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