Know Your Flood Hazard

What is a flood zone?

Flood zones are geographic areas that FEMA has defined according to varying levels of flood risk. These zones are depicted on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map. Each zone reflects the severity or type of flooding in the area. Knowing your flood risk is the first step in protecting yourself and your property from potential flood damage.

The City of Edgewater has several types of flood zones throughout the city limits. Find out the flood zone for your property by searching on our city map, using FEMA's map service center, or by contacting the Building Department at the number listed under the contact information.

FEMA FIRMette's

What is a FIRMette?

A FIRMette is a full-scale section of a FIRM that you create yourself, and that is formatted to fit on standard printer paper sizes. Full FIRM panels are quite large (36" x 25.875"), so most users will prefer to create and print out a smaller selected portion. After finding your specific area of interest on the FIRM, such as your house or development, you can create a FIRMette of the area.

To learn how to make a FIRMette, view the how to find your flood map and make a FIRMette tutorial. When you're done it should look like this:

Various flood hazards found throughout Edgewater:

Localized flooding - Can happen in or outside of special flood hazard areas.  Localized flooding poses most of the same problems caused by larger floods but typically has a smaller impact because it affects smaller areas and fewer people. Some factors that may influence localized flooding are low-lying areas, severe amounts of rainfall over a short period of type, poor drainage and/or drain blockage of retention/detention areas.

River flooding - Occurs when river levels rise and overflow their banks or the edges of their main channel and inundate areas that are normally dry. River flooding can be caused by heavy rainfall, high tide, hurricanes/tropical storms, or a combination of each. Areas of land along the Indian River Lagoon will be more susceptible to this type of flood hazard and should take more precaution in these types of events.

Storm surge & coastal inundation from tropical and non-tropical systems - When people think of tropical storms and hurricanes they typically think of strong winds, yet the highest percentage of all tropical cyclone deaths are due to flooding. Coastal flooding generally occurs with a land-falling or near-land system such as a Tropical Storm or Hurricane. Storm surge and large waves produced by hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. The destructive power of storm surge and large battering waves can result in loss of life; destruction of buildings; erosion of beaches and dunes; and damage to roads and bridges along the coast. Storm surges undermine building foundations by constant agitation of the water piled high by the tropical cyclone. The end result can be a complete demolition of homes and businesses.

Various flood zones found throughout Edgewater:

ZONE                     DESCRIPTION

Moderate to low risk areas

In communities that participate in the NFIP, flood insurance is available to all property owners and renters:

X (shaded)          Area of moderate flood hazard, usually the area between the limits of the 100‐ year and 500‐year floods.

X (unshaded)     Area of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on FIRMs as above the 500‐year flood level. Zone X is the area determined to be outside the 500‐year flood and protected by levee from 100‐ year flood.

High risk areas

In communities that participate in the NFIP, mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply to all of these zones:

ZONE                     DESCRIPTION

A                             Areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. Because detailed analyses are not performed for such areas; no depths or base flood elevations are shown within these zones.

AE                           The base floodplain where base flood elevations are provided. AE Zones are now used on new format FIRMs instead of A1‐A30 Zones.

A1‐30                    These are known as numbered A Zones (e.g., A7 or A14). This is the base floodplain where the FIRM shows a BFE (old format).

V                             Coastal areas with a 1% or greater chance of flooding and an additional hazard associated with storm waves. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. No base flood elevations are shown within these zones.

VE, V1 ‐ 30           Coastal areas with a 1% or greater chance of flooding and an additional hazard associated with storm waves. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. Base flood elevations derived from detailed analyses are shown at selected intervals within these zones