More FEMA Flood Maps: Communities Comment on Risk Zones
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Notice
Summary
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for certain communities, which could change flood zones and rules for flood insurance. If you live or own property in these areas, these changes might affect your insurance costs and building rules. You’ve got until March 9, 2026, to check out the new maps and share your thoughts before they become official.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Flood map changes can alter costs
FEMA is proposing changes to flood maps that may add or change Base Flood Elevations (BFE), Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries, flood zone designations, or regulatory floodways for listed communities. If you live or own property in those communities, those changes might raise or lower your flood insurance costs and change local building or development rules; you can review and comment on the preliminary maps before March 9, 2026.
Community must meet NFIP rules to keep insurance
The Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) are the basis for floodplain management measures that a community must adopt or show are in effect to qualify or remain qualified for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If a community does not meet those requirements, its participation in the NFIP could be at risk, which affects the availability of federal flood insurance for local property owners.
Appeals can use independent expert panel
Communities or stakeholders can request reconsideration of revised flood hazard information, and if FEMA and the local community cannot resolve an appeal after at least 60 days of collaborative consultation, the Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) process can be used to review conflicting scientific and technical data. The SRP is an independent panel of experts in hydrology and hydraulics to help resolve technical disputes about the preliminary maps.
Preliminary maps available; comment deadline
Preliminary FIRMs and FIS reports for the listed communities are available online at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload and at local Community Map Repositories; the current effective maps are on https://msc.fema.gov for comparison. You may submit comments on the preliminary materials identified by Docket No. FEMA-B-2572, and comments must be submitted on or before March 9, 2026.
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