Dane County Planning: Background; Flood Insurance REQUIRED for AE designated areas

(Ed.note: At the very end of the meeting on the floodplain the DNR representative explained that there are state standards, national standards and local standards for flood insurance for AE areas---Dane County has REQUIRED flood insurance where there is a federally insured mortgage involved. However, it is up to the local municipality to make this requirement. The following is from the Dane County Planning web site. )


Q: What do "Zone AE," "Zone A," and "Zone X" mean on the FIRM maps?
A:
Zone AE are areas that have a 1% probability of flooding every year (also known as the "100-year floodplain"), and where predicted flood water elevations above mean sea level have been established. Properties in Zone AE are considered to be at high risk of flooding under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is required for all properties in Zone AE that have federally-backed mortgages. Construction in these areas must meet local floodplain zoning ordinance requirements, including evidence that priniciple structures are above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) as shown on the adopted FIRM maps.

Zone A are areas that have a 1% probability of flooding every year (also known as the "100-year floodplain"), and where predicted flood water elevations have not been established. Properties in Zone A are considered to be at high risk of flooding under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is required for all properties in Zone A that have federally-backed mortgages. Construction in these areas must meet local floodplain zoning ordinance requirements. New construction in Zone A areas may also require submission of engineering cross-sections of the waterway to determine Base Flood Elevations and floodway and floodfringe boundaries.

Shaded Zone X are areas that have a 0.2% probability of flooding every year (also known as the "500-year floodplain"). Properties in Shaded Zone X are considered to be at moderate risk of flooding under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood insurance is not required for properties in Zone X. Local floodplain zoning ordinances do not apply to Zone X.