FEMA Updates Flood Maps, Insurance Rates May Shift
Published Date: 1/21/2026
Notice
Summary
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for several communities, which could change flood zones and insurance rules. If you live in these areas, your flood insurance costs or building rules might change. You’ve got until April 21, 2026, to check the new maps and share your thoughts before the updates become official.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Flood maps may change your costs
FEMA is updating flood risk maps for listed communities, and those map changes could change flood zones, flood insurance costs, or local building rules for people who live there. If you live in an affected area, these changes could affect whether you need flood insurance or what rules apply to building or rebuilding on your property.
Communities must meet NFIP rules
The Preliminary FIRM and FIS reports are the basis for floodplain management measures that a community is required to adopt or show it already has to qualify or remain in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These determinations are the minimum required; communities may keep or adopt stricter rules.
Worth County, IA listed for update
Worth County, Iowa and its incorporated areas are listed in the notice (Project 24-07-0039S) with a Preliminary FIRM date of September 10, 2025; community map repository addresses for cities and unincorporated areas are provided. If you live in any listed Worth County community, the proposed determinations apply to you and you can inspect the materials or comment.
You can comment by April 21, 2026
You may submit comments on the proposed flood hazard determinations on or before April 21, 2026. FEMA provides online access to the Preliminary FIRM and FIS reports and gives contact details for submitting comments (Docket No. FEMA-B-2579).
Appeals and SRP review available
Communities or stakeholders can request reconsideration (an appeal) under 44 CFR 67.6(b). If FEMA and the local community consult for at least 60 days without a mutually acceptable resolution, the use of a Scientific Resolution Panel (SRP) is available to review conflicting technical data.
Preliminary maps and reports are public
The Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports are available online at https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/prelimdownload, and current effective maps are available at https://msc.fema.gov. Community map repository addresses for inspection are listed for each affected community.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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).
2026-17068, 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.
2026-17077, Final Flood Hazard Determinations
Starting November 27, 2026, certain communities will see updated flood risk maps that show new or changed flood zones and water levels. These updates affect homeowners, renters, and local governments by changing flood insurance rules and building requirements. If you live in these areas, it’s time to check the new maps to stay safe and save money on insurance!
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).
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.
2026-17072, Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations
This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Federal Regulations. The current effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-01057, 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 April 21, 2026, to check out the new maps and share your thoughts before they become official.
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