Flood Zone
Definitions
100
Year Flood:
As determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a flood event
of a magnitude expected to be equaled or exceeded once on the average
during any 100-year period. The term "100-year flood" is misleading.
It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years. Rather, it is
the flood elevation that has a 1- percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded each year. Thus, the 100-year flood could occur more than once
in a relatively short period of time. The 100-year flood, which is the
standard used by most Federal and state agencies, is used by the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as the standard for floodplain
management and to determine the need for flood insurance.
500 Year Flood:
The flood having a 0.2% or greater annual probability of occurring.
Base
Flood Elevation:
The expected flood height measured in feet above mean sea level
(NGVD
1929 Datum)
Zone A:
Flood hazard areas inundated by the 100 Year Flood, no base
flood elevations determined.
Zone
AE: Flood
hazard areas inundated by the 100 Year Flood, with base flood elevations
determined.
Zone
VE: Areas
of coastal flooding with velocity hazard (wave action), base
flood elevations have been determined.
Zone
X:
Areas determined to be outside the 100 year flood plain.
Zone X500:
Areas
determined to be outside the 500 year flood plain.
