Learn about the FEMA Floodplain Overlay, including the definition, benefits, tips, coverage and update frequency.
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- All plans
Definition
The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Floodplain is an area of land adjacent to a river, stream, lake or other water body that is susceptible to flooding during periods of high water flow. FEMA identifies and maps floodplains to assess flood risk, manage land use and guide community planning and mitigation efforts.
Key Benefits
- Utilizing FEMA Floodplain instrumental in evaluating flood risk and informing strategic land-use planning. This data empowers emergency responders to swiftly identify vulnerable areas, facilitating proactive measures to protect communities, optimize evacuation routes and implement targeted mitigation strategies.
- The designation of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) by FEMA triggers the application of flood insurance requirements and land development regulations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to minimizing the impact of potential flooding events.
Tip: Click on a floodplain to see the pop-up with information including the floodplain type and category.
Limitation: This layer should be used for reference only. Users should be cautious of potential temporal lags in updates and positional precision errors.
Coverage
United States of America
Update Frequency
Daily