Background
The North Carolina Flood Mapping Program (NCFMP), in concert with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), is in the process of updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) in Wake County. You may be more familiar with hearing these maps being referred to as flood maps, flood inundation maps or floodplain maps. These FIRMs show studied areas that are at risk of flooding during large rainfall events (1% and 0.2% Annual Chance Floods). The last time the maps were updated for this area was in 2006. The National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 requires FEMA to assess the need to revise and update all floodplain areas and flood hazard zones at least once every five years. The first step in updating the FIRMs is to publish the revised FIRMs as preliminary. The preliminary FIRMs were most recently published by the NCFMP in April 2015.
To view the proposed maps in comparison to the current maps use WAKE FLOOD MAPS
2022 Update
The final appeal process in 2021 has been completed with no new cases. On January 19, 2022, FEMA issued a Letter of Final Determination for Wake County. The Wake County Board of Commissioners adopted the maps by ordinance amendment on April 18, 2022.
Accordingly, the flood hazard determinations for Wake County are considered final. The final notice for flood hazard determinations has been published in the Federal Register. The FIS report and FIRM will become effective on July 19, 2022. For insurance purposes, the community number and new suffix code for the panels being revised are indicated on the FIRM and must be used for all new policies and renewals.
How does this affect me?
|
If your lot is currently in or near a FEMA floodplain, you can access the preliminary maps or call your local government floodplain manager for technical assistance. Data from the State indicate that there is a cumulative decrease of properties in the floodplain. Some properties are no longer in the floodplain, but some properties have been added. Parcel owners in the Wake County unincorporated area will receive notification of floodplain increases (about 30 parcels). Cumulatively there are about 60 fewer structures located in the floodplain based on the preliminary mapping. Please contact the County Floodplain Administrator with questions or comments about the process. |
View Preliminary maps
You can view/download both the effective (current) and preliminary maps by going to NC FRIS.
Click on the Flood Risk Information System map image, select Wake County and zoom into your property. This will show the effective map. To view the preliminary map click in the top right corner on the button that says Effective, and select Preliminary.
Using the search tool, enter your address. Note: This may only get you close to your property.
Wake County's iMAPS shows only the effective maps. The updated maps will be loaded on or before July 19, 2022.
Wake County maintains a repository of paper maps from 1978, 1986 and 1992.
Anticipated FEMA Map Update Schedule
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| March 2015 | Preliminary FEMA Maps released to Local Governments |
| May 2015 | Local Governments met with State to discuss map adoption process |
| October 2015 | Public Open Houses: Holly Springs, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary |
| October 2016 | Start Federal Register process |
| complete | Start 90 day appeal process |
| complete | End 90 day appeal process |
| January 19, 2022 | FEMA issues Letter of Final Determination after reviewing all appeals. Begins 6 month Local Government adoption process |
| July 19, 2022 | Local Governments adopt new maps by ordinance amendment; Wake County amendment date is April 18, 2022. |
| July 19, 2022 | New maps will be available through iMaps (use ncfris.com for now) |
Flood Insurance
Changes to the flood maps may impact your need to obtain flood insurance or effect a rate change. Feel free to discuss flood insurance decisions with your local floodplain official in addition to your insurance agent.
Anyone can obtain flood insurance; even those outside of a FEMA floodplain. Insurance rates are based on flood zone and elevation of the structure, and more. With Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA has the capability and tools to address flood rating disparities by incorporating more flood risk variables. These include flood frequency, multiple flood types—river overflow, storm surge, coastal erosion and heavy rainfall and distance to a water source along with property characteristics such as elevation and the cost to rebuild. Phase I of Risk Rating 2.0 was implemented in 2021.
PHASE I
New policies beginning Oct. 1, 2021, will be subject to the new rating methodology. Also beginning Oct. 1, existing policyholders eligible for renewal will be able to take advantage of immediate decreases in their premiums.
PHASE II
All remaining policies renewing on or after April 1, 2022, will be subject to the new rating methodology.