Floodplain maps, officially known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) from FEMA, are essential tools for understanding flood risk. These maps delineate areas with different levels of flood risk, ranging from high to minimal. Understanding these zones is crucial for setting building standards and determining flood insurance needs and costs, not just in general, but importantly for specific locations like Arkansas. If you’re asking “Where Is Arkansas On The Map” in relation to flood risk, these maps are your answer.
Decoding Flood Risk and Flood Zones
Flood maps categorize areas into different risk levels, each with specific implications for property owners.
High Risk: Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
High-risk zones are designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) on FEMA maps. These SFHAs are labeled with zone designations like A, AE, AH, AO, or AR. Properties within an SFHA face a significant flood risk – a 26% chance of experiencing a flood over the lifespan of a standard 30-year mortgage. For properties in these high-risk zones, flood insurance is a mandatory requirement for federally backed mortgages. Furthermore, construction and development in SFHAs are subject to stringent regulations aimed at minimizing potential flood damage and ensuring community safety.
Moderate Risk Flood Zones
Areas with moderate flood risk are marked as Zone B or Zone X (shaded) on FIRMs. These zones are located just outside the SFHA but still within the 500-year flood event boundary. Properties in moderate-risk zones still carry a noticeable flood risk, with almost a 6% chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage period. While flood insurance might not be federally mandated in these zones, it is still highly recommended to protect your investment.
Low Risk Flood Zones
Low to moderate flood risk zones are labeled as Zone C or Zone X (unshaded). It’s a common misconception that low risk means no risk. It’s important to understand that even these zones are not entirely immune to flooding. In fact, a significant portion, over 20 percent, of National Flood Insurance Program claims originate from these designated moderate to low-risk zones. Therefore, even if your property is in a low-risk zone, being aware of and prepared for potential flood events is prudent.
Locating Your Floodplain Map, Including for Arkansas
Finding your official flood map is straightforward thanks to FEMA’s online resources. The primary official source for flood hazard information is the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC). This online center is designed to help you find your specific flood map, explore various flood hazard products, and utilize tools to gain a better understanding of flood risks for any location, including areas within Arkansas.
You can access the Map Service Center directly at Map Service Center. For an alternative online viewing option, FEMA also provides the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer, accessible at FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Viewer.. Both resources are invaluable for anyone looking to determine the flood risk for a particular address in Arkansas or anywhere else.
To assist users in navigating these resources, FEMA provides downloadable guides. Consider downloading “How to View the Floodplain Maps Using the NFHL” and “How to View the Floodplain Maps Using the Map Service Center” for step-by-step instructions on using these websites effectively.
Understanding the Information on Flood Maps for Arkansas and Beyond
FEMA creates and updates Flood Maps through detailed engineering studies known as Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), also referred to as studies or mapping projects. These studies are conducted to graphically represent flood hazards and related risks within communities susceptible to flooding.
The data gathered from these FISs is then used by FEMA’s partners, including state, regional, and local agencies, as well as Indian Tribal entities participating in the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program, to create the Flood Maps and accompanying FIS reports.
Flood Maps display various flood hazard areas. A key area is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), representing high-risk zones. SFHAs are defined as areas with a one percent annual chance of flooding, often referred to as the “100-year flood” or “base flood.” It’s crucial to understand that the “100-year flood” is a statistical probability, not an event that occurs predictably every century. In reality, there’s a 26% chance of such a flood occurring over a 30-year period.
Lending institutions are required to check if a property is in an SFHA and mandate flood insurance if it is. Interestingly, about 25% of flood insurance claims under the NFIP come from areas outside these high-risk SFHAs, highlighting that flood risk exists even in lower-risk zones.
The SFHA standard is a balance between safety and development. Construction is permitted in SFHAs if it adheres to local floodplain management ordinances that meet minimum federal standards. Beyond SFHAs, Flood Maps contain a wealth of information, including:
- Major physical features like highways, roads, lakes, railways, streams, and other water bodies.
- Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) or base flood depths, indicating the predicted height of floodwaters.
- Flood insurance risk zone designations to help determine insurance premiums.
- Moderate-risk areas susceptible to the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood (the “500-year flood”).
- Low-risk areas outside the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood zone.
Flood Maps may also show regulatory floodways, which are stream channels and adjacent floodplain areas that must be kept clear to allow floodwater to flow without increasing flood elevations.
How Flood Maps Assist Communities and Homeowners in Arkansas
Flood Maps are powerful tools offering valuable information to community officials, residents, and other users in Arkansas and across the nation:
- Risk Identification: They clearly identify high-risk (SFHAs), moderate-risk, and minimal-risk areas.
- Property-Specific Location: Maps allow you to see exactly where a property is located in relation to SFHA, floodway, and moderate-risk boundaries.
- BFE Determination: They provide the Base Flood Elevation or depth for specific locations, crucial for building and insurance decisions.
- Flood Hazard Extent: Maps illustrate the overall extent of flood hazards in a given area, aiding in community planning.
- Floodway Location: They pinpoint regulatory floodways, essential for development and environmental considerations.
- Physical Feature Context: Maps show common landmarks like roads and waterways, providing geographic context.
By using FEMA Flood Maps, residents and officials in Arkansas can make informed decisions about flood risk, insurance, and community development, ensuring greater safety and resilience.
