![]() ![]() You might look at a FEMA flood map and think that because you are on the outside of the 100-year flood zone line (e.g. You could roll snake eyes twice in a row or never see it in 100 rolls. You could see many "100-year" floods in the same town in the same year because it's just a statistical average based on past precipitation records and we never know what mother nature will do. And that's a pretty reasonable thing to say when we use the "100-year-flood" term all the time rather than putting the meaning behind it. People say all the time that their property hasn't flooded in 100 years so there's no way it's in a 100-year flood zone. Try saying "zero point two percent annual chance flood zone" two dozen times a day and you can see why we use the short version. Since 1% is also "1 out of 100", the term "100-year flood" was adopted because that's easier to talk about than rattling off a bunch of statistics.įEMA sometimes shows a 500-year flood on their maps and that is technically the 0.2% annual chance flood. It means there is a 1% chance you will see a flood like the one on the FEMA flood map each and every year. But it doesn't mean what you might think. A guide on how to properly use the maps when waters are rising is also available in the portal.I use the term “100-year flood zone daily for elevation certificates, LOMA’s, and explaining flood maps. ![]() Users can reach the portal by going to the LSU AgCenter’s website and clicking the “Flood Maps” link under “Features” on the homepage. In the later stages of review, they can prepare for the coming change.” “People can use the portal to compare their flood zone on the current map to what it will be when the newer map is adopted,” Skinner said. “In the early stages of review, they can advise their local government of potential problems that can be fixed before the maps become final. Preliminary maps are available for some parishes, too, offering insight on future regulations. Because users can view past and current flood maps on the webpage, they can see how flood risks change over time. The maps have proved useful for property owners as well as floodplain managers, local officials, insurance agents and realtors, Skinner said. “The maps help consumers understand their flood risk, but in doing that they also help some communities keep flood insurance premiums down,” Skinner said. Skinner’s team has also integrated information from the community level, such as local permitting requirements and information on the status of map updates. “These maps can be helpful in building or remodeling a home, especially if you’re using federal mitigation dollars,” Skinner said. Users can click the button to read more information about the map, flood hazard zone and implications for flood insurance and building a house. The portal also provides ground and flood elevation data that can be compared to the predicted elevation of nearby rivers or storm surges to estimate the likely depth of flooding at a specific location, Skinner said.Ī recently-added feature is a “What Does This Mean?” button that appears after entering a location on the webpage. ![]() Users can enter their address to see the maps overlaid on aerial photos and to see if they live in a flood zone, said Pat Skinner, AgCenter disaster recovery and mitigation specialist. The AgCenter’s portal displays the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs, of the National Flood Insurance Program, which show areas most at risk of flooding in storms and are used to calculate flood insurance rates. ![]()
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