Blog : South Florida’s Flood Zone Designations

South Florida’s Flood Zone Designations

Flood surveys and elevation surveys are two popular services provided by Stoner. These surveys are required to ensure that all new buildings adhere to proper flood, elevation, and building requirements.  Elevation certificates for construction properties are available and help determine if a property is located within a designated flood zone.

In order to determine whether a property is located within a flood zone, the property must have flood certification. While some are hesitant to spend the money to acquire such a certification, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that flood insurance savings earned by following its flood guidelines average $90,000 over the span of 10 years.  To search if your property may be in a FEMA designated flood zone visit the FEMA Flood Zone Map link for more information.

Flood Zone Designations

To identify a community’s flood risk, FEMA conducts a Flood Insurance Study. The study includes information on canals, streams, storm tides, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, rainfall, and topographic surveys.

After compiling the data, FEMA uses it in order to create the flood hazard maps – the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) that outline your community’s different flood risk areas.  The following are the definitions for all the flood zone designations shown in Miami-Dade County’s DFIRMs.

ZONE AE (Moderate to High Flooding Risk) This is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds with flood depths greater than three feet. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

ZONE AH (Moderate to High Flooding Risk) Areas with a 1% annual chance of shallow flooding, usually ponding with, with an average depth ranging from 1 to 3 feet. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. Base flood elevations derived from detailed analyses are shown at selected intervals within these zones.

ZONE AO (Sheet Flow) Areas with a 1% or greater chance of shallow flooding, usually sheet flow, with an average depth ranging from 1 to 3 feet. These areas have a 26% chance of flooding over the life of a 30‐year mortgage. Average flood depths derived from detailed analyses are shown within these zones.

ZONE VE (High Flooding Risk) This is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to coastal areas that have additional hazards associated with storm waves. There is at least a one-in-four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage.

Zone A (unnumbered) (High Flooding Risk) Because detailed analyses are not performed for such areas, no depths or base flood elevations are shown within these zones. There is at least a one-in-four chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage.

Zone D Areas with possible but undetermined flood hazards. No flood hazard analysis has been conducted.

Zone X Areas with usually minimal to no flooding.

To learn more about acquiring a flood survey and/or elevation survey for your property call us at (954) 585-0997.

About Stoner

Since 1988, Stoner has continually provided the highest level of quality service to each and every project.  Staying true to the company mission statement of Experience, Excellence, Service and Technology: These are the watchwords that we apply to each of our clients’ projects.  Today, the company services the greater South Florida area including Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties.  Allowing the team of professionals to deliver critical surveying services in a timely manner to both the private sector and the government.  For more information on Stoner, please call (954) 585-0997or visit www.stonersurveyors.com.