New Flood Plain Maps For Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began a six-month process to develop revised flood maps for Washington, D.C., designed to help local officials and residents identify known flood risks, and assist in making insurance and development decisions.
FEMA continues to update its flood hazard maps nationwide under Congressional guidance and direction in order to provide communities with solid information for making decisions on how to mitigate and insure against the risks posed by floods.
In revising flood maps, FEMA works closely with local communities to ensure that any verifiable data and additional input that will strengthen the flood maps is included and incorporated—along with detailed ground elevation data, decades of rainfall and storm gauge information, and engineering models.
Home and business owners who purchase flood insurance prior to the effective date of the new maps may be able to obtain a preferred risk policy or be grandfathered into the current flood zone, thereby saving money on flood insurance, and should talk with their local insurance agent to discuss their options.
Once the revised flood maps are finalized and effective, some flood insurance policy holders may see changes in their policies. All policyholders are encouraged to contact their insurance agent or company to ensure that they have adequate coverage and that policies account for new flood risk information. More information on flood insurance is available at www.floodsmart.gov.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.