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         U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency - National Flood Insurance Program

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      Buying a Policy
          
                                	
			      Buying a Policy
        
    
              Why Buy Flood Insurance
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			      Flood Risks and Costs
        
    
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              Before and After a Flood
          
                                	
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          My Flood Zone
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          Elevation CertificatesWhat does my flood zone mean?
  Everyone lives in an area with some flood risk—it’s just a question of whether you live in a high-risk, low-risk, or moderate-risk flood area.

Flood zones are indicated in a community’s flood map. Each flood zone describes the flood risk for a particular area, and those flood zones are used to determine insurance requirements and costs.
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							Know your property’s flood risk.
      
								 
            To find your community’s flood map, visit the Flood Map Service Center and search using your property’s address.
              No matter where you live or work, some risk of flooding exists.

Learn more about your flood risk and secure the insurance protection you need to protect your home and financial security.
              What is the moderate- to low-risk flood zone?
      Moderate- to low-risk flood areas are designated with the **letters B, C, and X on FEMA flood maps.**

In these areas, the risk of being flooded is **reduced, but not completely removed.** One in three insurance claims come from moderate- to low-risk flood areas.

				 
  What is the high-risk flood zone?
      High-risk flood areas **begin with the letters A or V on FEMA flood maps.**

These areas face the highest risk of flooding. If you own a property in a high-risk zone and have a federally backed mortgage, you are required to purchase flood insurance as a condition of that loan.


**Learn more**
 **Have questions about your home’s flood risk?** Contact your insurance agent or call the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 877-336-2627.


FEMA | National Flood Insurance Program
                        500 C St SW,
            Washington,
            D.C.
            20472 Disaster Assistance:
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