If your home or structure is in or near a flood hazard area, it is at risk of damage from flooding. The most up to date maps of inundation risk in Washington County can now be viewed on the Vermont Natural Resource Atlas.
In Washington County, the extent of the mapped flood hazard area has changed in some locations, and some areas have been newly identified as exposed to flooding. A structure that has been identified as being in a Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone A, AE, or AO) for the first time may benefit by buying flood insurance now before the map change on March 19, 2013. Flood insurance may currently be available as a low cost Preferred Risk Policy and later increase to full actuarial cost (please see the blog post “Washington County – Home Identified as in Flood Hazard Area for the First Time?).
Federal law requires lenders to be sure that mortgages on structures in the flood hazard area are insured for their known flood risk. Currently an average flood insurance policy in a flood hazard area in Vermont has a premium of around $1,400 per year for $170,000 in value.
DFIRM Data
On the Vermont Natural Resources Atlas, the current Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) data is posted for Chittenden, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties as well as several municipalities (Hardwick, Jay, Montgomery, Stowe, and Wolcott). The Atlas also has Preliminary DFIRM data for Bennington County (9/24/11) and Washington County (final as of 9/19/2012).
Current and Non-DFIRM Data
In most parts of Vermont the extent of the mapped flood hazard areas can be identified by going to the FEMA Map Service Center. The FEMA Map Service Center hosts current and historical Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Most of the maps are not officially digital and are shown against white paper backgrounds.
What Flood Zone is Your Home In?
If your structure is clearly in the flood hazard area on the new/upcoming Washington County DFIRM map – but is not currently in the mapped hazard zone – you may benefit from buying flood insurance now before the map change. The Special Flood Hazard Area on the new DFIRM is labeled as Zone A, AE, or AO. Areas shown as Zone X are not in the Special Flood Hazard Area (these areas may have unstudied and unmapped flood risks).
To confirm that your structure is currently out will require measuring the distance from a local landmark (such as an intersection you can find on the FIRMette) to the lowest and most exposed corner of the structure nearest the mapped flood hazard. Plot this location on the FIRMette to find out whether any part of the structure is in the current mapped flood hazard area (expiring in March).
Flood insurance can be secured from the agent that handles your homeowners insurance.
In Washington County, informational meetings regarding flood insurance are currently being scheduled. Watch this space for updates.
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