Flood Zones

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Flood Zones

Everyone is in a flood zone, but not everyone has the same risk of flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses these Flood Zone designations to indicate varying levels of risk. The zones are shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Zone A, AE and A1-A30
Zone AE (A on older maps) is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the 1-percent chance ("100-year") floodplains. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

Zone AH
Zone AH is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of 1-percent chance shallow flooding with a constant water-surface elevation (usually areas of ponding) where average depths are between one and three feet. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

Zone AO
Zone AO is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to the areas of 1-percent chance shallow flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain) where average depths are between one and three feet. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

Zone AR
Zone AR is the flood insurance rate zone used to depict areas protected from flood hazards by flood control structures, such as a levee, that are being restored. Mandatory purchase requirements for flood insurance will apply in Zone AR, but the rate will not exceed the rate for unnumbered A zones if the structure is built in compliance with Zone AR floodplain management regulations.

Zone A99
Zone A99 is the flood insurance rate zone that corresponds to areas of the 1-percent chance floodplains that will be protected by a Federal flood protection system where construction has reached specified statutory milestones. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements apply.

Zone D
The Zone D designation on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maps is used for areas where there are possible but undetermined flood hazards. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements do not apply, but coverage is available.

Zones B, C, and X
Zones B, C, and X are the flood insurance rate zones that correspond to:

areas outside the mapped, 1-percent chance ("100-year") floodplains
areas of 1-percent chance sheet flow flooding where average depths are less than one foot
areas of 1-percent chance stream flooding where the contributing drainage area is less than one square mile or
areas protected from the 1-percent chance flood by levees.

Flood insurance is not mandatory in Zones B and C, but is available. Zone X represents the future floodplain as defined by the Future Land Use Map and is used to regulate new construction.

For more information about flood zone designations, contact:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
704-432-RAIN (7246)
floodinfo@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

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