Flood maps refer to areas of high, medium or low risk as “flood hazard zones” and the zones of highest risk as “Special Flood Hazard Areas.”
Visit FEMA’s website (https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps/tools-resources/risk-map) or Hays County’s (https://haysco.halff.com/portal1/Map.aspx) to find your property and determine your flood risk.
Risk Level | Flood Hazard Zone |
---|---|
High Flood Risk | AE, A, AH, AO, AR, A99 Zone. These properties have a one-percent-annual-chance of flooding in any year – and a 26 percent chance of flooding over the life of a 30-year mortgage. Statistics show they also have a much greater chance of having a flood than a fire.
Insurance note: High-risk areas are called Special Flood Hazard Areas, and flood insurance is mandatory for most mortgage holders * |
Moderate or Low Flood Risk | Shaded X Zone. These properties are outside the high-risk zones and are in areas of moderate flood risk. Remember: the risk is reduced, but not removed.
X Zone. These properties are in an area of overall lower risk. Insurance Note: Lower-cost preferred rate flood insurance policies (known as Preferred Risk Policies) are often an option in these areas. |
Undetermined Risk | D Zone. The D zone designation is used for areas where there are possible but undetermined flood hazards. In areas designated as a D zone, no analysis of flood hazards has been conducted. Flood insurance is optional and available. |
* Required for loans provided by federally regulated and insured lenders as well as Government Sponsored Enterprises such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae |