Are you in a flood zone?

[Ixolib]

...as Ixolib stated, anyone below 30 feet should get flood insurance.. it will only cost you about 317 bucks for about 350K coverage if you are in a B or C zone...

If I'd have only known then what I know now -- and so many others for that matter. It is truly amazing the changes a two-hour event can bring to one's life. Amazing indeed...

[Flakeys]

High risk here, but I've got stilts!

[beachbum_al]

Moderate to Low Risk.

[bevgo]

Moderat to low risk here in OS but my house in LA is listed high risk..On the FEMA maps I am in an X zone though.

[Cookiely]

I'm not in a flood zone but during El Nino it flooded some in this neighborhood. I bought flood insurance this year because of the wonderful people on storm2k sharing their stories and pain. Maybe something good can come from what they went through and prevent others from experiencing their problems.

[cajungal]

That is interesting. I just typed my street address in and found out that I am in the high risk zone. We never, ever flooded before. And this house was built in 1978 when I was only 2 years old. We did not even flood for Allison while my neighbors almost got water in their homes. And we do not have flood insurance.

[SouthFloridawx]

That is interesting. I just typed my street address in and found out that I am in the high risk zone. We never, ever flooded before. And this house was built in 1978 when I was only 2 years old. We did not even flood for Allison while my neighbors almost got water in their homes. And we do not have flood insurance.

When was the last time you had a flood-cert done. Mortgage companies always order one when you get a mortgage. You may want to have that done.

[AnnularCane]

It says I am in a low to moderate risk zone. I find that kind of hard to believe.

[Audrey2Katrina]

That depends on what part of Metairie you're in. You see, close to the lake, it's definitely higher risk as the elevation drops as you get closer to the lake. If you're anywhere near old Metairie, particularly north of the tracks, you're on that ridge which would be at or even a little above sea level, lowering your risk.

A2K

[lester]

[MomH]

Mine said low to moderate. I live on a canal to a little lake that goes to a big lake. The entrance is also the exit. I mean the water doesn't flow through. We didn't have trouble in 2004 when so many canes passed really close but--I have seen the water come within 3 feet of my storage building during a particularly wet summer. Right now water is very low but I'll keep a close eye on it. Much rain and I'll go get flood insurance.

[TSmith274]

Yup. This area has levees, flood ways and a dam.

Also included are outdoor flood sirens and a telephone flood warning service.

Whenever a flood warning is issued the sirens sound every hour for a few minutes.

Now why in the world doesn't New Orleans have this? It's a shame we'd need sirens for levees breaking, but we do. We need something like this.

[Audrey2Katrina]

Now why in the world doesn't New Orleans have this? It's a shame we'd need sirens for levees breaking, but we do. We need something like this.

I'm sure by now you've seen on the news how woefully UNprepared we are for anything further regarding hurricanes? Sad isn't it? What a wonderful city, and so woefully lacking in leadership! JMHO

A2K

[jusforsean]

apparently i am in a high risk flood zone, i am very inland about 30 mins from the beach what determines your risk? land elevation i am assuming?

[OuterBanker]

Let's see. 800 ft from ocean, first floor 9.1 ft msl. Zone V. Special flood hazard area. High risk area. Actually homeowners in this area don't have the option of flood Insurance. It is a requirement.

[Ixolib]

I believe there is some confusion as to what constitutes and/or causes a flood zone to exist. On one hand, flooding is caused by rain, and that seems to be what the FEMA site primarily concentrates on.

BUT!!! on the other hand, flooding is caused by storm surge - and that is what I believe needs to be publicized to a much greater degree.

There ought to be a much greater distinction between "coastal flooding" caused by storm surge and accompanying waves and "inland flooding" that is caused by rain.

In my case with Katrina, it could have rained for days on end and I would not have flooded - in fact, my property in Biloxi never did flood in its entire existence. But the storm surge from Katrina was a completely different story. And, since this is a tropical weather forum, I'm just hopeful our members take the time to consider the huge difference in the causes of the two types of flooding noted above - one being coastal and the other being inland.

Coastal flooding from storm surge is, in my opinion, a very inexact concept, and one that I do not believe is very well defined by FEMA or any other agency. Even the SS Scale is way off base in terms of surge impact on coastal communities.

[cajungal]

When was the last time you had a flood-cert done. Mortgage companies always order one when you get a mortgage. You may want to have that done.[/quote]

I still live at home with my parents, so it is not my decision to make. My dad is the one that does not think we need flood insurance.

[yzerfan]

Low to moderate risk according to that site, which matches the new county evac maps. My neighborhood is 35-50 feet above msl, and has very sandy soil and adequate storm sewers. We've gotten 20 inches of rain in 36 hours, and everything's drained downhill towards the bay just fine.