What is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
In support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has undertaken a massive effort of flood hazard identification and mapping to produce Flood Hazard Boundary Maps, Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps. Several areas of flood hazards are commonly identified on these maps. One of these areas is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which is defined as an area of land that would be inundated by a flood having a 1% chance of occurring in any given year (previously referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood). The 1% annual chance standard was chosen after considering various alternatives. The standard constitutes a reasonable compromise between the need for building restrictions to minimize potential loss of life and property and the economic benefits to be derived from floodplain development. Development may take place within the SFHA, provided that development complies with local floodplain management
Related Questions
- What if my property is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), but the structure is not? Is flood insurance required?
- Can I buy flood insurance for my property if the property is not in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
- How can a property owner determine if the property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?
