HOW DO FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS (FIRMs) AFFECT ME?
By showing the extent to which areas of San Joaquin County – and individual properties – are at risk for flooding, FIRMs help home and business owners understand their flood risk and make more informed financial decisions about protecting their property. All property owners are advised to become educated about their property’s flood risk, and to consider purchasing flood insurance. In some cases, flood insurance is required, based on your FEMA-designated flood zone. FIRMs also allow community planners, local officials, engineers, builders and others to make important determinations about where and how new structures and developments should be built to minimize flood risk. Because San Joaquin County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, we must follow the Program’s rules and regulations for what and how we build in SFHA.
