FAQs - Harris County Flood Education Mapping Tool

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Select one of the following to view Frequently Asked Questions and Answers related to that topic.

• Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map)
• Floodplains and Floodways
• Floodplain Status/Floodplain Determination
• Flood Insurance

For questions pertaining to development and construction of or improvements to a property located in a floodplain, contact your local municipality or the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department’s Permit Office at (713) 956-3000 or www.hcpid.org/permits.

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map)

• What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map and how do I use it?

What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map and how do I use it?
A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) is a map produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and adopted by a city or by a county. It is used to determine flood insurance rates and to assist in floodplain management and the regulation of land development. Its purpose is to identify areas at risk for flooding from a bayou, creek or other waterway overflowing during 1 percent (100-year) and 0.2 percent (500-year) floods, and from coastal flooding related to storm surge from a tropical storm or hurricane.

While a FIRM is a good indicator of flooding risks from a bayou or creek overflowing during certain floods, it does not identify all flooding risks for Harris County, which receives an average of 48 inches (4 feet) of rain each year. A FIRM does not identify risks from street flooding caused by roadside ditches and storm sewers exceeding their capacity or from sheet flow, which is water traveling over land to reach a bayou. Half or more of the flooding that occurs in Harris County falls into these two categories. A FIRM also does not show flooding risks from events greater than the magnitude of a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood, such as Tropical Storm Allison, which dropped unprecedented amounts of rain and far exceeded a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood in some parts of Harris County in 2001. In fact, 65 percent of the area that flooded during Allison was not in a mapped floodplain. Furthermore, of the more than 2,500 miles of bayous and creeks in Harris County, only about 1,300 miles have been studied for the purpose of identifying floodplains on the Harris County FIRM. Structures near unstudied bayous and creeks could be located in an unidentified floodplain. Flooding tops the list of natural threats in Harris County. The Harris County Flood Control District encourages all residents to have flood insurance.

To learn if your structure is located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) or coastal floodplain, visit FEMA’s online Map Service Center at www.msc.FEMA.gov. There, you can view a FIRM at no charge using a property’s address. As a property owner or renter, you can learn where your structure is located relative to a mapped floodplain. Contact a mortgage lender or insurance agent for an official floodplain determination.

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Floodplains and Floodways

• What is a floodplain? / What is a floodway?
• What is a 1 percent (100-year) flood/floodplain? / What are my chances of flooding in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain?
• What is a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood/floodplain? / What are my chances of flooding in a 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain?
• What is a coastal floodplain?
• What is a Special Flood Hazard Area?
• What is meant by Base Flood Elevation?
• Who determines the boundaries of a floodplain? / What data is used to create a Flood Insurance Rate Map?

What is a floodplain? / What is a floodway?
A floodplain is an area at risk for flooding from a bayou, creek or other waterway overflowing during certain flooding events. Floodplains delineated on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) include the 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) and coastal floodplains.

A floodway is an area within a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain closest to a bayou or creek where land development is regulated by a city or by a county. It is the area where water flows most quickly and is most likely the deepest. Technically speaking, the floodway is the area needed to discharge or move the 1 percent (100-year) flood, or the Base Flood, downstream without causing the Base Flood Elevation to rise more than 1 foot.

For questions pertaining to development and construction of or improvements to a property located in Harris County, contact your local municipality or the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department’s Permit Office at (713) 956-3000 or www.hcpid.org/permits.

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What is a 1 percent (100-year) flood/floodplain? / What are my chances of flooding in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain?
A 1 percent (100-year) flood, also known as the Base Flood, is a flooding event that has a 1 percent (1 in 100) chance of occurring in any given year at any given location. Statistically, a 1 percent (100-year) flood has a 26 percent chance of occurring during a 30-year period of time, which is equal to the duration of many home mortgages. Contrary to what the term suggests, a "100-year flood" is not a flood that occurs only once every 100 years. A "100-year flood" can occur multiple times in a century.

A 1 percent (100-year) floodplain, also known as a Special Flood Hazard Area on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map), is an area at risk for flooding from a bayou, creek or other waterway overflowing during a 1 percent (100-year) flood. Structures located in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain have a minimum of a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year. Statistically, structures located in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain have a minimum of a 26 percent chance of flooding during a 30-year period of time, which is the duration of many home mortgages. And, the risk for flooding increases the closer a structure is to a bayou or a creek, assuming the structure is not elevated. A mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain is an area where land development is regulated by a city or a county.

Structures located in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain on a FIRM are required to have flood insurance if the owners have federally-backed mortgages or if their mortgage lenders require it. However, structures not located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain are still at risk for flooding. While a FIRM is a good indicator of flooding risks from a bayou or creek overflowing during certain floods, it does not identify all flooding risks for Harris County, which receives an average of 48 inches (4 feet) of rain each year. A FIRM does not identify risks from street flooding caused by roadside ditches and storm sewers exceeding their capacity or from sheet flow, which is water traveling over land to reach a bayou. Half or more of the flooding that occurs in Harris County falls into these two categories. A FIRM also does not identify flooding risks from events greater than the magnitude of a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood, such as Tropical Storm Allison, which dropped unprecedented amounts of rain and far exceeded a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood in some parts of Harris County in 2001. In fact, 65 percent of the area that flooded during Allison was not in a mapped floodplain. Furthermore, of the more than 2,500 miles of bayous and creeks in Harris County, only about 1,300 miles have been studied for the purpose of identifying floodplains on the Harris County FIRM. Structures near unstudied bayous and creeks could be located in an unidentified floodplain. Flooding tops the list of natural threats in Harris County. The Harris County Flood Control District encourages all residents to have flood insurance.

To learn if your structure is located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain, visit FEMA’s online Map Service Center at www.msc.FEMA.gov. There, you can view a FIRM at no charge using a property’s address. As a property owner or renter, you can learn where your structure is located relative to a mapped floodplain. Contact a mortgage lender or insurance agent for an official floodplain determination.

If your structure is not located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain, it does not mean you do not need flood insurance. It means that you get cheaper flood insurance. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. For information on flooding in Harris County, visit the Harris County Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org.

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What is a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood/floodplain? / What are my chances of flooding in a 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain?
A 0.2 percent (500-year) flood is a flooding event that has a 0.2 percent (1 in 500) chance of occurring in any given year at any given location. Statistically, a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood has a 6 percent chance of occurring during a 30-year period of time, which is equal to the duration of many home mortgages. Contrary to what the term suggests, a “500-year flood” is not a flood that occurs only once every 500 years. A "500-year flood" can occur multiple times in a 500-year period of time.

A 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain is an area at risk for flooding from a bayou, creek or other waterway overflowing during a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood. Structures located in a 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain have a minimum of a 0.2 percent chance of flooding in any given year. Statistically, structures located in a 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain have a minimum of a 6 percent chance of flooding during a 30-year period of time, which is the duration of many home mortgages. And, the risk for flooding increases the closer a structure is to a bayou or a creek, assuming the structure is not elevated.

To learn if your structure is located in a 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map), visit FEMA's online Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov. There, you can view a FIRM at no charge using a property’s address. As a property owner or renter, you can learn where your structure is located relative to a mapped floodplain. Contact a mortgage lender or insurance agent for an official floodplain determination.

Flood Insurance is typically not mandatory for structures in a mapped 0.2 percent (500-year) floodplain; however, because flooding is at the top of the list of natural threats to Harris County, all property owners in Harris County should have flood insurance. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. For information on flooding in Harris County, visit the Harris County Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org.

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What is a coastal floodplain?

A coastal floodplain is an area at risk for flooding during a 1 percent (100-year) storm surge, which is the rise in sea water generated by a tropical storm or hurricane that is higher than the predicted normal high tide. Structures located in a coastal floodplain have a minimum of a 1 percent (1 in 100) chance of flooding from a storm surge in any given year. Statistically, structures in a coastal floodplain have a minimum of a 26 percent chance of flooding during a 30-year period of time, which is the duration of many home mortgages. In Harris County, a 1 percent (100-year) storm surge is generally 11 to 13 feet above sea level.

Structures located in a coastal floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) are required to have flood insurance if the owners have federally-backed mortgages or if their mortgage lenders require it. However, structures not located in a coastal floodplain are still at risk for flooding from a storm surge greater than a 1 percent (100-year) storm surge.

To learn if your structure is located in a mapped coastal floodplain, visit FEMA’s online Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov. There, you can view a FIRM at no charge using a property’s address. As a property owner or renter, you can learn where your structure is located relative to a mapped coastal floodplain. Contact a mortgage lender or insurance agent for an official floodplain determination.

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What is a Special Flood Hazard Area?

A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is an area on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) that has a minimum of a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year. Essentially, a SFHA is the 1 percent (100-year) floodplain on a FIRM.

Structures located in a SFHA are required to have flood insurance if the owners have federally-backed mortgages or if their mortgage lenders require it.

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What is meant by Base Flood Elevation?

The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the level to which floodwater is anticipated to rise in a bayou or creek during the Base Flood, also known as a mapped 1 percent (100-year) flood on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map). The BFE is used by a city or by a county to regulate land development in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain. The BFE is specifically used to determine the minimum elevation at which a structure’s lowest finished floor should be constructed.

The relationship between the BFE and the elevation of a structure's lowest finished floor often determines the rates of flood insurance premiums. When the lowest finished floor of a structure located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain is at or below the BFE, the structure’s flood insurance rate will typically be based on the 1 percent (100-year) floodplain. When the lowest finished floor of a structure is mapped in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain but elevated above the BFE, its flood insurance rate typically will be based on a floodplain of lesser risk.

Because flooding is at the top of the list of natural threats to Harris County, all property owners in Harris County should have flood insurance. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. For information on flooding in Harris County, visit the Harris County Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org.

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Who determines the boundaries of a floodplain? / What data is used to produce a Flood Insurance Rate Map?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), often working with local cities and counties that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), develops and produces Flood Insurance Rate maps (FIRMs or floodplain maps) that determine the boundaries for the 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) and coastal floodplains based on rainfall data, topography and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. FIRMs are used by the NFIP to set flood insurance rates and by local cities and counties to manage floodplains and to regulate land development. FIRMs vary for each community because floodplains are based on each community's unique topography and flooding risks.

In Harris County, the Harris County Flood Control District and FEMA launched the Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project (TSARP) in the fall of 2001 as a large-scale, comprehensive effort to produce a new FIRM for Harris County. The FIRM was produced using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to define the topography of Harris County in unprecedented detail and to better define the boundaries of floodplains. The FIRM was adopted in 2007 by the city of Houston, unincorporated Harris County and the 33 other municipalities of Harris County. To learn more about TSARP, visit the Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org/storm-center/tropical-storm-allison or see the History section of this website.

To learn if your structure is located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) or coastal floodplain, visit FEMA’s online Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov. There, you can view a FIRM at no charge using a property’s address. As a property owner or renter, you can learn where your structure is located relative to a mapped floodplain. Contact a mortgage lender or insurance agent for an official floodplain determination.

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Floodplain Status/Floodplain Determination

• Is my home located in a mapped floodplain? / Which mapped floodplain is my home in? / How do I get an official floodplain determination?
• What is an Elevation Certificate? / What is a Letter of Map Amendment? / What is a Letter of Map Revision?
• The Flood Insurance Rate Map shows that my lot is in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain, but my house sits on higher ground/is raised on pier and beam construction/is elevated. Do I still need flood insurance? / Can I obtain cheaper flood insurance?
• My home is not in a mapped 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) or coastal floodplain. Does this mean I am not at risk for flooding?
• The Harris County Flood Control District is constructing a project on a bayou in my neighborhood. Will my home be out of the floodplain when it’s complete?

Is my home located in a mapped floodplain? / Which mapped floodplain is my home in? / How do I get an official floodplain determination?

To learn if your structure is located in a 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) or coastal floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map), visit FEMA’s Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov. There, you can view a FIRM using a property’s address at no charge and view or purchase FIRM panels (A FIRM is divided into a series of numbered panels. Harris County has 144 panels.). In addition, you can create a FIRMette, which is a full-scale section of a FIRM panel that you can save on your computer and print. A FIRMette also is available at no cost and is an effective FIRM. If you need the entire map panel, you may prefer to purchase a FIRM from FEMA’s Map Service Center.

You also can learn about and view a copy of a FIRM by contacting the floodplain administrator in the city or county in which you live. To see a list of floodplain administrators serving Harris County, visit www.hcfcd.org/FA.

Official floodplain determinations are made by a mortgage lender or insurance agent and are based on the FIRM for your city or county. If you can demonstrate that your structure is incorrectly mapped in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain, or that it is elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), you can submit an application for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) to FEMA. FEMA will not charge a fee to review the application, but you may need to hire a licensed land surveyor or licensed professional engineer to provide technical information to complete the application. FEMA will make a final floodplain determination for a structure typically within 30 to 60 days. Submitting a LOMA application is not a guarantee that a structure will no longer be considered in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) or coastal floodplain. An approved LOMA can be presented to your mortgage lender and/or insurance company to show that there is no federal requirement for flood insurance on your structure or to obtain a better rate on flood insurance. However, the lending institution retains the right to require flood insurance, which is generally less expensive for structures outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) or coastal floodplain or for those structures elevated above the BFE.

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What is an Elevation Certificate? / What is a Letter of Map Amendment? / What is a Letter of Map Revision?

An Elevation Certificate is an official record that certifies the elevation of the lowest finished floor, adjacent land or location of the mechanical equipment of a structure in relation to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) for a structure located in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map). An Elevation Certificate may be used to support a reduction in the cost of flood insurance. A licensed land surveyor or licensed professional engineer must be hired to prepare an Elevation Certificate.

A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) is an official amendment, by letter, to a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map). A LOMA establishes a structure’s location in relation to a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain. A LOMA is usually issued because a structure has been inadvertently mapped in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or when its lowest finished floor is elevated above the Base Flood Elevation.

A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) is a modification, by letter, made to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) generally based on changes that affect the topography of land and hydrologic or hydraulic characteristics of a flooding source, and thus result in the modification of floodplains, floodways or Base Flood Elevation. The boundaries of floodplains can change as a result of natural and man-made changes to an area's topography or from flood damage reduction projects that reduce the size of floodplains. Once a flood damage reduction project or phases of a project are substantially completed, a request for a LOMR is sent to FEMA for approval and then to local cities and counties for adoption. That approval and adoption process generally takes a year or more to complete. FEMA is the only entity that can make official changes to a FIRM.

The Harris County Flood Control District does not issue or interpret Elevation Certificates and is not a part of the LOMA process. However, the Flood Control District reviews locally-submitted LOMR applications, but final mapping efforts are coordinated by FEMA. To access the required forms and for more information on the LOMA or LOMR process, call FEMA’s Map Information Exchange Number at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or visit www.fema.gov and search "LOMA" or "LOMR." Or, contact the floodplain administrator in the city or county in which you live. To see a list of floodplain administrators serving Harris County, visit www.hcfcd.org/FA.

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The Flood Insurance Rate Map shows that my property is in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain, but my house sits on higher ground/is raised on pier and beam construction/is elevated. Do I still need flood insurance? / Can I obtain cheaper flood insurance?

If a structure is built or elevated above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), flood insurance is still typically required by mortgage lenders until an owner can demonstrate otherwise using an Elevation Certificate and Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). However, such a structure is still at risk for flooding from extreme rainfall events, and it is highly recommended that it be protected with flood insurance. Structures built or elevated above the BFE are typically eligible for cheaper flood insurance.

If you can demonstrate that your structure is elevated above the BFE, you can submit an application for a LOMA to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA will not charge a fee to review the application, but you may need to hire a licensed land surveyor or licensed professional engineer to provide technical information to complete the application. FEMA will make a final floodplain determination for a structure typically within 30 to 60 days. Submitting a LOMA application is not a guarantee that a property will no longer be considered in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain on a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map). An approved LOMA can be presented to your mortgage lender and/or insurance company to show that there is no federal requirement for flood insurance on your structure or to obtain a better rate on flood insurance. However, the lending institution retains the right to require flood insurance, which is generally less expensive for structures outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) or coastal floodplain or those structures elevated above the BFE.

The Harris County Flood Control District does not issue or interpret Elevation Certificates and is not a part of the LOMA process. However, the Flood Control Distric reviews locally-submitted LOMR applications, but final mapping efforts are coordinated by FEMA. To access the required forms and for more information on the LOMA or LOMR process, call FEMA’s Map Information Exchange Number at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or visit www.fema.gov and search “LOMA” or “LOMR.” Or, contact the floodplain administrator in the city or county in which you live. To see a list of floodplain administrators serving Harris County, visit www.hcfcd.org/FA.

Many homeowners may want to demonstrate that their structures are not in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) or coastal floodplain to cancel their flood insurance policies. However, severe floods can and do happen. Even if a structure is on high ground or if it is elevated above the BFE, it can still be damaged from flooding sources not shown on a FIRM.

While a FIRM is a good indicator of flooding risks from a bayou or creek overflowing during certain floods, it does not identify all flooding risks for Harris County, which receives an average of 48 inches (4 feet) of rain each year. A FIRM does not identify risks from street flooding caused by roadside ditches and storm sewers exceeding their capacity or from sheet flow, which is water traveling over land to reach a bayou. Half or more of the flooding that occurs in Harris County falls into these two categories. A FIRM also does not show flooding risks from events greater than the magnitude of a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood, such as Tropical Storm Allison, which dropped unprecedented amounts of rain and far exceeded a 0.2 percent (500-year) flood in some parts of Harris County in 2001. In fact, 65 percent of the area that flooded during Allison was not in a mapped floodplain. Furthermore, of the more than 2,500 miles of bayous and creeks in Harris County, only about 1,300 miles have been studied for the purpose of identifying floodplains on the Harris County FIRM. Structures near unstudied bayous and creeks could be located in an unidentified floodplain. Flooding tops the list of natural threats in Harris County. The Flood Control District encourages all residents to have flood insurance.

For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. For information on flooding in Harris County, visit the Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org.

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My home is not in a mapped 1 percent (100-year), 0.2 percent (500-year) or coastal floodplain. Does this mean I am not at risk for flooding?

Even though your structure may not be located in a floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map), everyone in Harris County is at risk for flooding to varying degrees.

If your structure is located outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain, which are both considered by FEMA to be areas of high risk, it does not mean that you are not at risk for flooding. In fact, approximately one-fourth of all flood insurance claims occur in areas outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain. These areas are considered to have low-to-moderate flooding risks. If your structure is not located in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain, it does not mean that you do not need flood insurance. It means that you get cheaper flood insurance.

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The Harris County Flood Control District is constructing a project on a bayou in my neighborhood. Will my home be out of the floodplain when it’s complete?

Whether or not your structure's floodplain status will be affected by a Harris County Flood Control District project depends on the type of project, where your structure is located in relation to the project and whether or not your structures lies in a mapped floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map).

Generally speaking, the Flood Control District implements two types of projects: maintenance projects and capital improvement projects. Maintenance projects involve repairing eroded banks of bayous and stormwater detention basins, removing sediment from bayous and creeks, removing undesirable vegetation and mowing right of way. These projects typically do not reduce the size of floodplains. They are intended to maintain the efficiency of the bayou/creek system and therefore would not affect a structure’s floodplain status.

Capital projects typically reduce the size of floodplains by increasing the capacity of bayous and creeks. After a capital project or phases of a project are substantially completed, it typically takes a year or more for changes to a floodplain to be reflected on the FIRM for Harris County, provided the structure is in a mapped floodplain. Once the Flood Control District substantially completes a capital project or phases of a project, a request for a Letter of Map Revision is sent to FEMA for approval and then to a city or a county for adoption. That approval and adoption process generally takes a year or more to complete. FEMA is the only entity that can make official changes to a FIRM.

For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. For information on flooding in Harris County or on capital projects in your area, visit the Flood Control District at www.hcfcd.org.

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Flood Insurance

• Does standard homeowners insurance cover losses and damages from flooding?
• Am I required to have flood insurance? / Do I still need flood insurance if I live outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain?
• If my home floods, will federal disaster assistance pay for all of my damages?
• Is damage from wind-driven rain or rain that comes through my roof covered by my flood insurance policy?
• How can I obtain flood insurance?
• How much does flood insurance cost? / Why is my flood insurance so expensive?
• Can I get flood insurance if I rent?

Does standard homeowners insurance cover losses and damages from flooding?

Damage from flooding is not covered by a homeowners insurance policy. A separate flood insurance policy must be purchased to cover damages from flooding for contents and structure. To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov or contact your insurance agent.

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Am I required to have flood insurance? / Do I still need flood insurance if I live outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain?

Flood insurance is available for all homeowners but is typically required for structures located in a 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map that have federally-backed mortgages or by mortgage lenders that require it. Mortgage lenders also have the authority to require flood insurance for structures located outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain.

All structures in Harris County are at risk for flooding to varying degrees because of the relatively flat terrain, impermeable clay soils, vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes, and average annual rainfall of 48 inches (4 feet). Because flooding is at the top of the list of natural threats to Harris County, all structures in Harris County should have flood insurance. In fact, approximately one-fourth of all flood insurance claims occur in areas outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain. These areas are considered to have low-to-moderate flooding risks. If you live outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain, you may qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy (a lower-cost flood insurance policy) that provides structure and contents coverage beginning at $129 a year. Because flood insurance rates are regulated by the federal government, they do not vary among insurance agencies. To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov.

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If my home floods, will federal disaster assistance pay for all of my damages?

No. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) only issues federal disaster assistance checks to those who have flood insurance and only if the president of the United States formally declares a disaster. Typically, those checks are meant to cover basic living needs in the aftermath of a disaster, and those who have flood insurance can file a claim to help supplement the cost. If you do not have flood insurance, FEMA offers federal disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to repair damages. The loans are only made available in federally-declared disaster areas.

In Harris County, not having flood insurance could prove to be more expensive than the cost of a flood insurance premium. Just an inch of water inside a structure can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Repaying a $50,000 disaster loan at a 4 percent interest rate, for example, will cost an average of $240 a month for approximately 30 years, while a $100,000 flood insurance policy costs about $400 per year. Don’t risk financial loss from flood damage when you can protect your structure relatively inexpensively with flood insurance.

To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov.

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Is damage from wind-driven rain or rain that comes through my roof covered by my flood insurance policy?

No. When wind-driven rain enters a structure through a window or door or comes through a hole in a wall or roof, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) considers the damage to be windstorm-related, not flood-related. Although flood insurance specifically excludes wind and hail damage, most homeowners insurance policies provide such coverage, so it is important that you know the details of your policy’s coverage.

To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the NFIP at www.floodsmart.gov.

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How can I obtain flood insurance?

You can obtain flood insurance through your insurance provider. If you do not have an insurance agent and need help locating one in your area, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov and search for an agent using your zip code.

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How much does flood insurance cost? / Why is my flood insurance so expensive?

Flood insurance rates depend on several factors. The primary determining factor is a structure's flooding risk as shown on a Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map. Other factors include the date and type of construction of a structure and the elevation of a structure’s lowest finished floor. Rates increase as a structure’s flooding risk increases.

Flood insurance rates are set by the federal government and do not vary among insurance agencies. Because rates are set by the federal government, they are lower than actuarial rates. Those who live in a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain typically pay higher rates because their risk of flooding is higher.

The average cost of an annual $100,000 flood insurance policy is $400. Structures in low-to-moderate risk areas, or areas outside a mapped 1 percent (100-year) floodplain or a coastal floodplain, may be eligible for a Preferred Risk Policy (a lower-cost flood insurance policy) that provides building and contents coverage beginning at $129 a year.

In Harris County, not having flood insurance could prove to be more expensive than the cost of a flood insurance premium. Just an inch of water inside a structure can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Repaying a $50,000 disaster loan at a 4 percent interest rate, for example, will cost an average of $240 a month for approximately 30 years. Don’t risk financial loss from flood damage when you can protect your structure relatively inexpensively with flood insurance.

To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov, or contact your insurance agent to obtain flood insurance. If you do not have an insurance agent and need help locating one in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov and search for an agent using your zip code.

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Can I get flood insurance if I rent?

Yes. If you live in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), such as the city of Houston, unincorporated Harris County or any of the 33 other municipalities in Harris County, you can purchase flood insurance.

To learn more about flood insurance or to view different types of coverage and policy premiums, visit the NFIP at www.floodsmart.gov, or contact your insurance agent to obtain flood insurance. If you do not have an insurance agent and need help locating one in your area, visit www.floodsmart.gov and search for an agent using your zip code.

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