Are Federal Flood Maps Accurate Or Outdated

Q: As we are looking for a home, I have been checking FEMA flood maps to avoid areas that flood. Are those maps accurate? Frank, Linden, NJ

A: Federal flood maps are very important. Rising rivers and lakes can cause flooding and most home insurance policies don’t cover flooding. Also, most mortgage lenders require separate flood insurance coverage. 13 million properties lie outside FEMA designated flood zones that have a similar risk of flooding as 8 million properties that are designated in a flood plain. Many of these properties are located in urban areas. FEMA flood maps are often more than a decade old. Heavier rainfall creates higher risk of flooding and heavy rainfall is increasing across the US. Many communities resist the efforts to expand flood zones because homeowners fear higher insurance costs. Since Hurricane Katrina payouts for flooding in the US has dwarfed premium revenue. The fact is that more accurate flood maps make disaster recovery less expensive for everyone. As we grapple with the effects of climate change, federal flood maps should be revised and updated to accurately show current flood risks. Thanks for your question, Frank.

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