Understanding Flood Zones When Buying a Home in Southwest LA

A flood zone is an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that represents a property's estimated flood risk based on available mapping and engineering data. 

These designations appear on official Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and help guide building standards, lending requirements, and floodplain management.

A home's flood zone may influence:

• Whether flood insurance is typically required by your lender
• Building and development requirements
• Future renovations or substantial improvements
• Resale considerations
• The information buyers, lenders, and insurance providers use when evaluating a property

Flood Zone X
Risk Level: Low
Flood Insurance Typically Required by a Lender? Usually No

Flood Zone AE
Risk Level: High
Flood Insurance Typically Required by a Lender? Usually Yes

Flood Zone A
Risk Level: High
Flood Insurance Typically Required by a Lender? Usually Yes

Flood Zone VE
Risk Level: Coastal High Hazard
Flood Insurance Typically Required by a Lender? Usually Yes (primarily in coastal areas)

In Calcasieu Parish, most residential properties you'll encounter are located in Flood Zone X or Flood Zone AE. 

Flood insurance requirements vary depending on your lender, loan type, and individual circumstances. This information is intended as a general guide.

Flood Zone X is generally considered a lower-risk flood zone than AE or A. For many mortgage-financed homes, lenders typically do not require flood insurance in Flood Zone X. Although lenders usually do not require that you purchase flood insurance for properties located in Flood Zone X, you still have the option to do so. 

(This is for general informational purposes and is in no way a guarantee that your lender will not require flood insurance regardless of the flood zone. Every situation is unique. Verify specifics with your lender.)

• Shaded Zone X = 0.2% annual chance of flooding 
• Unshaded Zone X = Minimal flood risk (less than 0.2% annual chance)

AE is one of the most common flood zones throughout Southwest Louisiana.

Properties in an AE flood zone:

• Have a 1% annual chance of flooding each year (sometimes referred to as the "100-year floodplain") 
• Have a published Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
• Generally require flood insurance when financed with a mortgage

The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the elevation that floodwaters are expected to reach during a flood with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. It helps establish building standards and is one of many factors considered when evaluating flood risk.

Flood Zone A is also considered a high-risk flood zone and generally requires flood insurance when a home is financed with a mortgage.

The primary difference between Zone A and Zone AE is that Zone AE has a published Base Flood Elevation (BFE), while Zone A does not.

Because no Base Flood Elevation has been established for Zone A, additional engineering or elevation information may sometimes be needed for new construction, development, or certain permitting requirements.

Most residential buyers in Calcasieu Parish are more likely to encounter Flood Zone AE than Flood Zone A.

Flood insurance is separate from homeowners insurance. In most cases, a standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover damage caused by flooding.

Flood insurance policies that are backed by FEMA as well as private insurance companies are options to consider.

It's a good idea to compare quotes from a licensed insurance professional before purchasing coverage. 

Yes.

FEMA periodically updates flood maps as new engineering studies, drainage improvements, levee projects, and flood data become available.

As a result, a property's flood zone designation can change over time.

For that reason, buyers should always verify the current flood zone during the home-buying process.

These are two different things.

• A property's flood zone estimates its mapped flood risk. 
• A property's flood history reflects what has actually occurred at that property.

A property may have flooded even if it was never the subject of an insurance claim or federal assistance. Likewise, the absence of a known flood history doesn't necessarily mean a property has never experienced flooding. 

Both are important when evaluating a home, and one should never be used as a substitute for the other.

Myth: "This home isn't in a flood zone."

Fact: Every property has a FEMA flood zone designation. When people say a home is "not in a flood zone," they usually mean it is located in Flood Zone X, which represents a lower level of flood risk—not the absence of flood risk.

Myth: "If a home is in Flood Zone X, it can't flood."

Fact: Any property can flood. Flood Zone X simply indicates a lower statistical risk than higher-risk flood zones.

Myth: "Only homes near rivers or lakes flood."

Fact: Flooding can result from heavy rainfall, poor drainage, storm surge, overflowing canals or ditches, or other sources of rising water.

Myth: "My homeowners insurance covers flooding."

Fact: Standard homeowners insurance policies generally do not cover damage caused by flooding. Flood insurance is typically purchased as a separate policy.

Myth: "Flood insurance will always be inexpensive if I choose to purchase flood insurance for a home located in Flood Zone X."

Fact:  Risk Rating 2.0 is the methodology FEMA uses to determine the NFIP insurance premium. The premium is no longer based primarily on the flood-zone designation. It considers property-specific risk factors, including distance from a flood source, type of flooding, building characteristics/replacement cost, and prior claims history.