As the Federal Emergency Management Agency remaps flood zones—an ongoing project all over the US—it’s perhaps inevitable that those who own property in areas newly classified as floodplains are upset. Recently in Massachusetts, some homeowners have pledged to hire surveyors to dispute FEMA’s designations.
Reclassification of a property can occur for several different reasons. FEMA is updating decades-old maps using new computer models and current topographical data, which should produce a more accurate picture of which areas have at least a 1% chance of flooding in a given year—the criterion the agency uses to determine a “flood area.” In addition, recent federal requirements say that structures like dams, dikes, and levees must be certified. Some of the structures were built long ago and engineering documents for them no longer exist; certifying them is a slow and expensive process, which falls on local governments. Until they are certified, FEMA reclassifies the areas protected by the structures as being in a floodplain.
Being in a floodplain can raise insurance rates and lower property values. Some mortgage companies require flood insurance for homes in a floodplain. Homeowners can purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is also overseen by FEMA and whose policies are administered by private insurers. Rates vary by risk level, so those in a floodplain will pay more. However, homeowners who purchase insurance, or increase the amount of coverage, before a new map becomes official can get a lower insurance rate, so many are racing to do so before the new maps for their areas are adopted.