When it comes to protecting your property from flooding, knowledge is your first line of defense. That starts with understanding your flood zone.

Flood zones aren’t just labels on a map—they are critical tools used to assess risk, guide development, and determine insurance requirements. Whether you live near the water or miles inland, every Virginia homeowner has a flood zone designation, and knowing yours can help you make smarter, safer decisions.

What Is a Flood Zone?

A flood zone is a geographic area defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that indicates the level of flood risk in that location. These zones are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and help determine whether flood insurance is required and how much it might cost.

Flood zones are generally divided into three main categories:

• High-risk zones (A, AE, AH, AO, VE): These areas have a 1% or higher chance of flooding in any given year, also known as the “100-year floodplain.” If you live in one of these zones and have a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required.
• Moderate-risk zones (Shaded X): These areas have a lower risk of flooding—between 0.2% and 1% annually—but are still vulnerable. Insurance isn’t required here, but is highly recommended.
• Low-risk zones (Unshaded X): These areas have minimal flood risk, though flooding is still possible under extreme conditions.

Why It Matters on the Middle Peninsula

On the Middle Peninsula, where our rivers and creeks wind toward the Chesapeake Bay, many properties fall within high or moderate-risk flood zones. With sea level rise, more frequent storms, and heavier rain events, areas that didn’t flood a decade ago may be seeing water today.

Even if you’re not in a high-risk zone, it’s important to remember: more than 20% of flood insurance claims come from properties outside of mapped high-risk areas.

Know Your Zone, Lower Your Risk

Here’s what knowing your flood zone can help you do:

• Make informed property decisions: Whether you’re buying, building or renovating, understanding your flood risk can influence everything from design to location.
• Get the right insurance: Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Knowing your zone helps you determine whether flood insurance is required—and how much it might cost.
• Plan ahead: Flood zone knowledge informs everything from emergency preparedness plans to your elevation certificate and even grant eligibility for resilience upgrades.

Resources at Your Fingertips

You can look up your flood zone by visiting msc.fema.gov or contacting your local planning office. But understanding the map is just the beginning.

Renters or property owners with structures at risk should talk to their insurance agent to discuss flood insurance. There are options to protect your investment and protect you against flood risk.

At Fight the Flood, we help homeowners, businesses, and local governments take action. From understanding your zone to implementing property-specific resilience measures, we’re your partner in flood risk reduction.