KNOW YOUR RISK
About the Flood Insurance Rating Factors Tool
FEMA’s new Risk Rating 2.0 pricing approach uses a variety of factors to determine flood insurance premiums. Under the previous pricing approach, policies were primarily rated based on a property’s flood zone shown on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Risk Rating 2.0 modernizes this process by using more detailed data to assess the individual flood risk of each property.
This tool displays the geographic rating factors used in Risk Rating 2.0 to help illustrate how location contributes to flood risk. It includes data layers to visualize information such as inland flooding, coastal erosion and storm surge factors that vary across the region.
To create this tool, HRPDC staff developed an approach based upon FEMA’s methodology to estimate geographic flood risk. Using publicly available data and FEMA’s documented approach, HRPDC developed regional layers that show how relative flood risk varies by location across Hampton Roads.
Coastal Erosion
Areas closer to the shoreline are more likely to experience coastal erosion. This layer shows how distance from the coast affects the chance that land may wear away over time.
Storm Surge
Storm surge risk depends on how high or low the land is and how close it is to the ocean or coast. Lower areas near the water are more likely to flood during strong coastal storms.
Inland Flooding
Inland flooding risk looks at how close a property is to rivers or streams and how its ground elevation compares to the nearby river and surrounding land. Areas that sit lower than the nearby river or land surface are more likely to flood during heavy rain.
Please note that this tool only represents location-based risk. FEMA’s actual flood insurance rates also depend on property-specific characteristics, such as how a structure is built, its elevation, and the replacement cost value.
This tool is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not an official FEMA product and should not be used to estimate insurance premiums or determine individual policy costs. For an official estimate from FEMA, please visit the NFIP Quoting Tool.
Rating Factor Tool FAQs
What is this tool showing?
This tool shows the geographic flood risk factors used in FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 approach, such as inland flooding, storm surge, and coastal erosion. It helps illustrate how flood risk can vary by location across the Hampton Roads region.
Does this tool show my actual flood insurance cost?
No. This tool does not calculate flood insurance premiums. FEMA’s actual insurance rates depend on additional property-specific factors such as building type, elevation, construction details, and replacement cost.
Is this an official FEMA flood map?
No. This tool is not an official FEMA product and is not a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). It is provided for educational and informational purposes only.
How is this different from FEMA flood zones on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)?
Flood Insurance Rate Maps primarily show flood zones based on historical and modeled flooding. Risk Rating 2.0 uses a broader set of factors to assess flood risk at the individual property level. This tool focuses on the location-based components of that approach rather than flood zones.
What does “location-based risk” mean?
Location-based risk refers to flood risk that is dependent upon where a property is located, such as its distance from water bodies, elevation relative to nearby rivers, or proximity to the coast. It does not include information about how a specific building is constructed.
Why do some areas show higher inland flooding risk?
Areas closer to rivers or streams, or areas that sit lower than the surrounding land or nearby river levels, are more likely to flood during heavy rainfall. The inland flooding layer reflects these geographic conditions.
What does the storm surge layer represent?
The storm surge layer shows how flood risk from coastal storms varies based on elevation and distance from the coast. Lower-lying areas closer to the ocean or coastline generally face higher storm surge risk.
What does the coastal erosion layer show?
The coastal erosion layer illustrates how proximity to the shoreline affects the likelihood of land gradually wearing away over time. Areas closer to the coast typically face higher erosion risk.
Why doesn’t this tool include my building’s elevation or construction details?
This tool focuses only on geographic risk factors that vary across the region. Property-specific information, such as building elevation and construction type, is used by FEMA when calculating actual insurance premiums but is not included here.
How were these map layers created?
The layers were developed by Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) staff using publicly available data and FEMA’s documented Risk Rating 2.0 methodology to estimate regional, location-based flood risk.
Can I use this tool to decide whether I should buy flood insurance?
This tool can help increase awareness of flood risk based on location, but it should not be used to make insurance decisions. Flooding can occur outside of mapped high-risk areas, and flood insurance is recommended regardless of mapped risk.
Where can I get an official flood insurance estimate?
For an official flood insurance quote, please visit FEMA’s NFIP Quoting Tool or contact a licensed insurance agent.
Get started protecting yourself!
Use FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program Quoting Tool to get an estimate of your flood insurance cost.
