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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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: 2025-22240, Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations
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.
Next: 2025-22242, Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for several communities, which could change flood zones and water levels used for insurance and safety rules. If you live or own property in these areas, these changes might affect your flood insurance costs and building rules. You’ve got until March 9, 2026, to check the new maps and share your thoughts before they become official.