What’s a flood zone?

A flood zone is a geographic area that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determines has a higher risk of flooding than average. Depending on the location of your home or property, you may find yourself in a different flood zone than another resident. That’s why FEMA releases Flood Zone Maps—to help residents have the most accurate and up-to-date information.

What is a flood zone map?

FEMA puts out a flood zone map to reflect current flood risks in Miami Dade County. These maps are also referred to as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS). 

They reflect flood hazards throughout the county and are used when determining flood insurance policy rates. That way, property owners and residents can determine their potential flood risk depending on where they’re at.

To produce these maps, FEMA conducts a Flood Insurance Survey. They gather information on waterways and canals, storm tides, rainfall and other atmospheric conditions. This process is periodically updated to reflect changes and keep people informed. 

For information on Preliminary Flood Zones, you can check out Miami Dade County’s interactive web tool here. 

How to know your zones

Flooding isn’t the same in every neighborhood. Different Miami areas are under different Flood Zones, which are part of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). These help illustrate flood hazards throughout Miami Dade county as well as flood insurance policy rates. 

Zone AE (Moderate to High Flooding Risk)

This category corresponds to areas with flood depths greater than three feet. Residents living in Zone AE are required to purchase flood insurance as a result. 

Zone AH (Moderate to High Flooding Risk)

These are areas with a 1% chance of shallow flood with an average depth of ranging one to three feet. 

Zone AO (Sheet Flow)

This category refers to areas with a 1% or greater chance of shallow flooding with an average depth of ranging one to three feet, especially on sloping land. 

Zone VE (High Flooding Risk)

This is the Flood Zone that corresponds to coastal areas that will have additional hazards associated with storm waves.

Zone D

Areas with possible but undetermined flood hazards. In other words, no flood analysis has been done for these areas. As a result insurance rates are commensurate with the uncertainty of the flood risk.

Zone X

This is a flood insurance designation that refers to areas that are outside the flood plain or those with average flood depths of less than one foot.

Debowsky Design Group

Flooding is often a reality for Miami residents and can affect your property in many different ways. It can affect how you build or renovate a part of your property or even a new one. If you’re looking to begin work on a property, you should team up with experts who know how to navigate the waters (so to speak) to ensure high quality. At Debowsky Design Group, our team of experts is ready to help make your next project perfect.

Call us today.