![]() ![]() Low Risk areas do not mean that a property is safe from flooding! Moderate to low risk flood zones account for more than 20 percent of National Flood Insurance Program claims. The areas of low risk or minimal flood hazard are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded). Moderate to low risk flood zones account for more than 20 percent of National Flood Insurance Program claims. A property at moderate risk has nearly a 6% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage. These zones include the areas outside the SFHA, but within the 500-year flood event. Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM. These floodplain areas are also subject to specific regulations which provide guidance to minimize potential flood risk. If a property is located in the SFHA, flood insurance will be required for federally backed mortgages. A property in a SFHA has a 26 percent chance of experiencing a flood during the lifetime of a 30–year mortgage. SFHAs are labeled as Zones A, AE, AH, AO, or AR. ![]() High risk areas are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area on FEMA maps. These maps are used to set minimum building requirements and to determine flood insurance requirements and rates. Hard-copy FEMA FIRM Maps that contain more detailed information specific to each panel area (i.e., base flood elevations) are available for viewing at the Planning Counter. You can also visit FEMA’s Flood Mapping Portal for more information.FEMA floodplain maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show areas of high and moderate to low flood risk. It will give the panel number, effective date, and option to download the FIRM Panel if available. Use the arrows of the pop-up box to shif to the FEMA FIRM Panel info. If it does not appear, click the left and right arrows on the pop up box (where it says 1 of X) to shift to the appropriate panel. The flood zone and description should appear in the white pop-up box. Enter the APN (leaving out the hyphens) or Address in the appropriate box. Select “Find parcels by APN” or “Find Parcels by Address” at the top left corner of the screen. Expand the “FEMA” tab, and then check the box for “FEMA Flood Zones” and “FEMA FIRM Panels”. On the “Layers” tab, expand the “Hazards” entry (click on the sideways triangle).If there is a structure on the property information might also be available via address. You will need the 9-digit APN (0XX-XXX-XX0) for the property.For further information or assistance, contact San Mateo County Planning and Building Department at 650/599-7310 or 650/599-7311. The County also maintains elevation certificates for review, if available. The County can determine the relationship of a particular property to the floodplain including: (1) whether the property is located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (2) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Zone for property (3) Base Flood Elevation for property, if available and (4) whether the property is located within the Floodway. For more information, go to or contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IX at (202) 646-2500.Ī Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. It is designed to bring an orderly and systemic means of federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens.Ĭongress' intention was to encourage states and localities to develop comprehensive disaster preparedness plans, prepare for better intergovernmental coordination in the face of a disaster, encourage the use of insurance coverage, and provide federal assistance programs for losses due to a disaster. The Act gives FEMA the responsibility for coordinating government-wide relief efforts. It created the system in place today by which a presidential disaster declaration of an emergency triggers financial and physical assistance through FEMA. ![]() Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 100-707, signed into law Novemamended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, Public Law 93-288. The mission of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 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.
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