FEMA Redraws Flood Maps: Your Property's Insurance Nightmare Begins
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Notice
Summary
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for certain communities based on new science and data. These changes affect flood zones, flood heights, and insurance rules, so homeowners and businesses in those areas should check the new maps. You’ve got 90 days after local notice to ask for a review, and these updates could impact flood insurance costs and requirements starting on the listed dates.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Flood map changes may alter insurance
FEMA revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for specific communities; these changes affect flood zones, base flood elevations, and insurance rules and could change flood insurance costs and requirements starting on the dates listed in the table (examples include Dec. 26, 2025; Dec. 31, 2025; Jan. 2, 2026; Jan. 16, 2026). The current effective community number shown in the table must be used for all new policies and renewals.
90‑day review period to challenge maps
After the second local newspaper notice, any person has 90 days to request that the Assistant Administrator for the Federal Insurance Directorate reconsider the flood hazard determinations; requests must be submitted through the community to the Chief Executive Officer listed in the table. The flood hazard determination information may change during that 90‑day period.
Revised maps available online and locally
Revised flood hazard information and the current effective FIRM and FIS reports for each listed community are available online at the FEMA Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) and at the community map repository addresses shown in the table; use those resources to compare old and revised maps before filing for insurance or appeals.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17075, Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations
Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
2026-17069, Final Flood Hazard Determinations
Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having an effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
2026-17071, Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations
New or modified Base (1-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities.
2026-17076, Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations
Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
2026-17125, Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review, Comment Request; Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Unified Reporting Tool
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. FEMA invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning this annual requirement for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA to identify current capability levels for all States, territories, urban areas, and Tribes receiving non-disaster preparedness grant funds administered by DHS.
2026-17078, Final Flood Hazard Determinations
Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having an effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-22239, Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations
FEMA just updated flood risk maps for several communities, changing flood zones and water levels that affect flood insurance rules. If you live or own property in these areas, your insurance rates or building rules might change soon. These updates are final and already in effect, so check your local map or online to see how you’re impacted and plan ahead!
Next: 2025-22241, Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations
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.