Oregon Flood Maps and Flood Insurance Rates

The National Flood Insurance Program is a federally subsidized program that insures commercial and residential buildings, including mobile homes, with two types of coverage: structural and contents. Structural coverage is for the walls, floors, insulation, furnace, and other items permanently attached to the structure. Contents coverage may be purchased separately provided the contents are in an insurable building. It does not cover property outside the structure.

Oregon flood zones have been established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These classifications establish Base Flood Elevations and most often refer to general areas. These studies do not evaluate individual properties and are very broad based in nature.

Although FEMA uses the most accurate flood zone hazard information available for Oregon, limitations of scale or topographic definition of the source maps used to prepare the flood map may cause small areas that are at or above the flood elevation to be inadvertently shown within the high risk boundaries. Also, the placement of fill may elevate small areas within the high risk boundaries to an elevation at or above the flood elevation. When this happens, structures or parcels of land may be inadvertently included in the high risk areas on the flood maps.

Oregon flood zones are applied to specific structures by way of Elevation Certificates prepared by Surveyors and Engineers.

If you don’t think that flood insurance are not a necessity for you and your family think again. Review your home insurance policy carefully as it most likely will not state that flood damage is covered. You will need to get flood insurance to avoid the devastating damage that flooding can cause Flood insurance is available only in communities that agree to adopt flood controls.

To view the FEMA status report of Oregon communities in the National Flood Insurance Program click here.