Know your flood risk
It’s important that all homeowners, renters, and business owners know their flood risk. Everyone lives and works in an area with some flood risk, whether it is mapped or not. It’s just a question of whether you live and work in a high-risk, low-risk, or moderate-risk flood area.
Understanding flooding
When flooding occurs, one question is always in the forefront: why did it flood? Unfortunately, there is not one simple answer. Four different types of floodplains (valley, major river, shallow, coastal), each with its own characteristics, can lead to flooding.
Through wise floodplain management, communities can protect their citizens against much of the devastating financial loss and emotional toll caused by flood disasters.
Why map floodplains?
Mapping floodplains is vital for implementing all floodplain management strategies. It creates broad-based awareness of flood risk; provides the data necessary for floodplain management and land-use regulations, hazard mitigation programs, and rating insurance for new construction on an actuarial basis; and supports the decision-making process with respect to the natural value of floodplains.
What is a flood map?
Flood maps are used to identify a community’s flood risk. Specifically, flood maps are used to show a community's flood zone, floodplain boundaries, and base flood elevations.
There are different types of flood maps that are used in different situations.
- FEMAs flood maps are called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and are used to determine if a property owner is required by law to obtain flood insurance and assist in enforcing some state and community floodplain management regulations.
- DNR has also produced flood maps which are called the Best Available Floodplain Data. These maps are used to define where Indiana has jurisdiction through the Flood Control Act and assist in enforcing some state and community floodplain management regulations. The Best Available Floodplain Data was created by starting with FEMAs FIRMs and adding additional floodplain based on studies conducted by DNR.
Other zones exist and will be defined in your community's Flood Insurance Study (FIS).
What is a Regulatory Floodway?
Regulatory Floodway means the channel of a river, or other watercourse, and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height. In Indiana the increase in water surface elevation can not be more than 0.1 feet.
Where can I view my flood map?
