What is the difference between flood zone A and AE?
If you are working with your client to understand their property’s flood risk, you may feel like you’ve been served a big bowl of alphabet soup. There are letters galore to describe the different flood zones. In order to determine which zone applies to your client’s home, you can enter their address and view their flood insurance rate map – also known as a FIRM – through the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. But if you’ve misplaced your secret decoder ring to decipher their flood zone designation, read on.
How are flood zones determined?
There’s a lot that goes into determining whether an area is likely to flood. One such input is a hydraulic analysis. Engineers will run tests to determine how water will runoff a piece of land, and how quickly a nearby river or stream will carry that water away. Combine the results of that study with other information including historical flood records, weather patterns, local preventative measures such as dams and levees, and you can begin to estimate how likely an area is to flood.
What is a 100-year-flood?
You’ll see this phrase used when describing flood zones, and it can be a bit confusing. The idea is that in any given year there is a 1% chance of flood waters reaching a specific level, known as the base flood elevation, or BFE. Another way to look at it is that flood waters are likely to rise to a certain elevation once every 100 years. That can be misleading, because you could have two 100-year-floods in back-to-back years. Remember that these are probabilities, not certainties. FEMA refines its estimates and flood zone designations periodically when new data becomes available, meaning that your client’s flood zone may change over time.
Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs)
Here’s a quick rundown of the different types of flood zones you’ll find on a FIRM. Get ready to use some of the terminology described above.
High Risk Zones
These areas have a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Flood insurance is mandatory in these zones.
- Zone A: Approximate methods have determined this to be a high-risk zone, but no detailed analysis has determined the BFE or flood depth.
- Zone AE: Detailed studies have been performed to determine BFEs. This designation replaced the previously numbered Zones A1 – A30.
- Zone AH: In the event of a flood, ponding is estimated to occur with a water depth between 1-3 feet.
- Zone AO: Typically designated near rivers or where there is sloping terrain, flood water here is estimated to flow in a broad sheet at higher velocity, with a depth of between 1-3 feet.
- Zone AR: An area where a dam or levee provided flood protection but is currently under restoration.
- Zone A99: An area where a flood protection system, like a dam or levee, is significantly close to completion.
High Risk Coastal Zones
These areas also have a 1% chance of flooding and a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage, and there is the additional risk of storm waves. Flood insurance is mandatory.
- Zone V: Like Zone A above, approximate methods were used to determine the flood risk, but no detailed study to determine a BFE
- Zone VE: Analyses have determined a BFE. This designation replaced the previously numbered Zones V1 – V30.
Does your client need flood insurance in Moderate- to Low-risk Zones?
Zone B (or Shaded Zone X) is an area at moderate risk of flood, and Zone C (or Unshaded Zone X) is an area with minimal flood risk. Flood insurance is not required in these areas, but you may want to talk to your client about optional coverage. According to FEMA, 30% of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk flood zones.
Selling Flood Insurance Outside High-Risk Flood Zones
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to sell flood insurance even in areas with moderate or low risk. If you find it challenging to sell non-mandatory flood insurance, Aon Edge has put together an eBook with a variety of resources and strategies to help you make the case to your clients. Take a read and reach out to one of our sales reps with questions. We’ve helped other agents down this road and can help open up your business to a broader array of clients.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized advice. The article is not a replacement for any NFIP publications. All descriptions, summaries or highlights of coverage are for general informational purposes only and do not amend, alter or modify the actual terms or conditions of any insurance policy. Coverage is governed only by the terms and conditions of the relevant policy.
FAQs
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.
How many different flood zone groups exist? ›
How many flood zone types are there? There are five flood zones: low risk, moderate risk, high risk, coastal high risk, and undetermined risk. On a flood map, they are labeled as the following: Low Risk: B & X.
What is the difference between Zone A and Zone AE? ›
ZONE A Area inundated by the Base Flood with no Base Flood Elevations determined. ZONE AE Area inundated by the Base Flood with Base Flood Elevations determined.
What are the flood zones in Florida? ›
Flood Zone Definitions
| Zone | Description |
|---|
| V | 100-year floodplain with wave action, no BFEs determined. |
| VE | 100-year floodplain with wave action, with BFEs determined. |
| A | 100-year floodplain, no BFEs determined. |
| AE and A1-30 | 100-year floodplain, with BFEs determined. |
9 more rowsFlood Zone A is a special flood hazard area designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Zone A areas have a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. This flood is also called the 100-year flood.
What does AE mean in a flood zone? ›
AE flood zones are areas that present a 1% annual chance of flooding and a 26% chance over the life of a 30-year mortgage, according to FEMA. These regions are clearly defined in Flood Insurance Rate Maps and are paired with detailed information about base flood elevations.
What are the three common types of flooding explained? ›
There are three common flood types: fluvial floods, also known as river floods; pluvial or flash floods; and coastal floods, which are often called storm surge. Each type of flood occurs and is forecast in different ways.
What are the list of flood prone areas? ›
The regions of India that are flood prone are Deccan and Central India, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Northwest. There are many factors that affect the regions of flood such as heavy rainfall, landslides, and lack of improper drainage.
What are the categories of flood control? ›
- 4.1 Dams.
- 4.2 Diversion canals.
- 4.3 Floodplains and groundwater replenishment.
- 4.4 River defenses.
- 4.5 Coastal defenses.
- 4.6 Flood barrier. 4.6.1 Self-closing flood barrier.
- 4.7 Temporary perimeter barriers.
Due to the flood zone being a high-risk area, properties that are mapped into flood zone AE are generally required to carry flood insurance. This means that if your home or commercial building is sitting on flood zone AE, your mortgage will require you to get flood coverage for the property against flood damage.
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the water surface elevation of the base flood rounded to the nearest whole foot (consult FIS profiles and tables for more accurate elevations). Zone AE is the 1% annual chance (100-year) floodplain with BFEs (formerly Zones A1- A30).
What is a regulatory floodway? ›
Regulatory floodway - A floodplain area that is reserved in an open manner by federal, state or local requirements i.e., unconfined or unobstructed either horizontally or vertically, to provide for the discharge of the base flood so that the cumulative increase in water surface elevation is no more than a designated ...
How do I find out if a property is in a flood zone in Florida? ›
You can get your overall flood risk at www.floodsmart.gov and enter your address. Your official FEMA flood zone map can be found online at FEMA's Map Service Center, or through your property appraiser's office.
Which areas in Florida are at the greatest risk of flooding? ›
According to the study, Volusia County is the most flood-prone county in Florida, ranking in seventh place overall. During Hurricane Ian in 2022, more than 1,000 New Smyrna Beach residents reported some level of property damage from flooding, and flooding is a regular problem in some St. Johns River communities.
What is a yellow flood zone in Florida? ›
Yellow Zones: These are areas of undetermined flood risk. If you're considering to purchase a property in a yellow zone, we recommend researching the flood history of that zone.
What is defined as a special flood hazard area? ›
Special Flood Hazard Areas represent the area subject to inundation by 1-percent-annual chance flood. Structures located within the SFHA have a 26-percent chance of flooding during the life of a standard 30-year mortgage.
What is a special flood hazard area in Quizlet? ›
-Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is defined by FEMA as the land covered by the floodwaters of the base flood. Special flood hazard areas represent the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year.
What is a location having special flood, mudflow, or erosion problems? ›
Final answer: A location with special flood, mudflow, or erosion problems is often associated with areas with steep slopes and weak or fractured materials, leading to landslides. These areas can experience debris flows or mud flows, which can cause flooding and block rivers.
What are the hazards of flooding? ›
Standing flood waters can also spread infectious diseases, contain chemical hazards, and cause injuries. Each year, flooding causes more deaths than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. The most common flood deaths occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood waters.
