Am I in a Floodplain?

AlabamaFlood.com is an interactive floodplain mapping application brought to you by the Office of Water Resources.  AlabamaFlood provides regulatory FEMA floodplain data in a user-friendly platform searchable by address or county.  The regulatory effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels, Flood Insurance Studies (FIS), and effective stream models are available for download from AlabamFlood.  Please contact casie.pritchard@adeca.alabama.gov if you need assistance accessing any of this data.

FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Another resource for the latest digital data and flood maps is the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC).  To view, download, and print effective and preliminary FIRM panels and FIS reports as well as the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) and Flood Risk Products, visit the MSC Search All Products area.  To print a FIRMette, visit the MSC Search By Address area.

Flood Risk Products

Also available for many watersheds across the state are Flood Risk Products.  Flood Risk Products, also called Risk MAP Products, are created alongside regulatory products to enhance the understanding and communication of flood risk.  These products include the Water Surface Elevations (WSELs), Depth Grids, and Changes Since Last FIRM (CSLF).  Importantly, AlabamaFlood offers clickable WSELs for most locations in the State.

Letters of Map Revision

One of the most important components of maintaining flood data is the continuous incorporation of changes to Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) caused by development or other physical changes in the floodplain.  In 2010, Alabama’s floodplain mapping program was selected by FEMA to process the Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) within the State.

With the in-house, LOMR program, OWR can provide local resources to work with engineers and developers to get requested map changes through the approval process.  OWR provides training opportunities throughout the State for developers, engineers, and local communities to facilitate the understanding of the LOMR process and the data needed to prevent delays.  Having local resources provides a more collaborative environment for the whole of the LOMR process, which leads to more cooperation between the developers, communities, State, and FEMA.  Please contact casie.pritchard@adeca.alabama.gov if you have any questions regarding Letters of Map Revision.