They allow both homeowners and policymakers to make informed decisions about asset management, urban planning, and flood risk management. Flood maps indicate which areas generally flood if water rises to a certain level. The United States has flood maps available online for homeowners to review. The first step is to determine if you live in a flood zone. If flood insurance is available to you, you may want to consider it if you are endangered or feel vulnerable. Some insurers are finding themselves paying more for sewage backups, given that the infrastructure in many municipalities can be overwhelmed by torrential downpours. In fact, even though you may consider your property to be at low risk, flood risk is spread across all types of terrain, across income levels and in both rural and urban locations. Flood zone determinationĮven if it’s statistically unlikely that you’ll be the victim of a flood, it’s unwise to ignore the possibility, because if it does happen, it can wipe out possessions or investment properties in a matter of minutes. It’s an event that they watch on the news. Most people, don’t believe that a flood will ever affect them. and Canada have seen their urban centers become denser with the sprawl reaching further from the downtown cores. has increased approximately five percent the past 50 years, which leads to increased danger of floods.Ĭhanges in land use also contribute to the potential for flooding as an area becomes built up, there is less permeable land available to absorb water. In 2009, the United States Global Research Program determined that the average precipitation in the U.S. The data revealed that 20% of Canadian households could be qualified as high-risk, and of those, 10% could be considered very high risk. Source What does this mean for home owners?Īs of February 2016, the IBC now has flood maps that let the bureau and insurance companies assess the flood risk right down to the residential level for both fluvial flooding (which occurs when excessive rainfall over an extended period causes a river to exceed its capacity) and pluvial or surface water flooding (caused when heavy rainfall creates a flood event independent of an overflowing water body). This is certainly a feature any homeowner would review when weighing the pros and cons of relocating to a specific area. Simply enter in your location and you can view a very detailed map that highlights likely risk areas. In other countries, like the UK, there are online tools that allow anyone to view the flood risk for their particular region. And then incorporated address data, residential replacement costs, and peril information. These maps took into account river gauge and rainfall data to measure flood extent and depth, flood defense information, historical flood records, snowmelt and terrain data. And their main focus was the creation of current flood maps. Recognizing that on a federal level, Canada lacked effective flood hazard maps, IBC along with other partners, collaborated on a national flood program led by the private sector. In terms of insurers, up-to-date flood maps enable them to more accurately assess their risks when considering flood insurance options. In a nutshell, a flood map provides stakeholders with the necessary data needed to make smart decisions about asset management, urban planning, and flood risk management. You should always contact your insurance agent to be sure.How does a flood map help canadian home owners?Ī flood map shows which areas are prone to flooding in the event of water level rising to a particular elevation. Keep in mind that, Will my property flood? is not the same as, Do I need flood insurance? If it is raining your property has the potential to flood. Generally, if the property is not located in Zone-X you should purchase flood insurance. The VE portion can be subject to heavy wave action during storm events. The 100-year storm (1% annual chance flood hazard) is noted by AE and VE zones. Check the Flood Hazard Zone Definitions chart for explanation of the zone code.From there the field "Flood Zone" will indicate your flood zone. Use the arrows at the top of the pop-up to find the "Flood Hazard Zone" window.A popup will appear with FIRM panel and FEMA Floodplain results. Enter an address or location into the "Find Address or Place" toolbar above and press enter.Go to the Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS).See the summary directions below or, for more help step-by-step instructions with pictures (pdf): FEMA floodplains are the areas likely to flood during the 100- and 500-yr flood events and are based on current and historic conditions (without consideration of potential sea-level rise along a shoreline).
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