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Check a property's FEMA flood zone, then see what floods as the water rises

Search an address, outline the property or the neighborhood, and get FEMA flood zones, the 100-year floodplain and base flood elevations on your map. Then drag a slider to raise the water on detailed terrain. Your first 3 runs are free.

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The Scribble Maps Flood kit with the water raised 6 m over downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa: the flooded ground in blue, a report card with a slider on the map, and the water level, flooded area and depths in the kit panel.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I am a realtor, and this software has made it super easy to create a customizable map to share with our clients to map out our next territories.”

Why use Scribble Maps for flood zones

FEMA zones in plain words

See the floodway, the 100-year and 500-year floodplains, coastal high hazard areas and levee areas, each in its own color. The report shows how much of the area sits in the 100-year floodplain.

Watch the water rise

Drag one slider and the water climbs over the terrain right away. See which streets and lots go under first, how deep the water gets, and how much ground floods.

On a map you can share

The flood zones and the water level go on your map with a report card. Share it by link with a client, a buyer or your team. No GIS software needed.

Built for agents, adjusters, realtors and builders

FEMA flood zones along the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa: the regulatory floodway in red, the 1% annual chance floodplain in blue and the 0.2% floodplain in orange, with a report card showing 43% of the area in the 100-year floodplain.

Look up the FEMA flood zone for a property

Find the address, outline the lot or the block, and read its FEMA flood zones. Each zone is drawn on the map and listed with its share of the area, its base flood elevation and the FIRM study it comes from.

Charleston, South Carolina with the water raised 3 m in the Scribble Maps Flood kit: the low streets near the Ashley River flooded in blue, and the water surface, flooded area, volume and depths in the kit panel.

Raise the water and see what floods

Move the slider to set the water level. The kit shows the flooded ground, the deepest point, the average depth, the water volume and the share of the area under water as you move it.

The Flood kit water set to the FEMA base flood elevation of 4.6 m on the Charleston peninsula, covering 99% of the area, with the Base Flood Elevation button in the kit panel.

Flood the map to the base flood elevation

After you read the FEMA zones, one click sets the water to the highest base flood elevation FEMA lists for the area. See the ground that level would cover, lot by lot, on detailed terrain.

The Charleston peninsula with water raised 4 m across the edge of the area, about half of it flooded, and the report card with its slider on the map.

Test a storm surge or sea level rise height

Let the water come in across the edge of the area, like a river or the sea at a set height, and raise it step by step. Or pick a marker where water enters, such as a creek or a drain, and watch it spread from there.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “What I appreciate most about Scribble Maps is its intuitive interface and versatility. It enables me to easily draw, label, and personalize maps without needing advanced GIS expertise.” — Aneurys Nicanor A. Project Manager

Features that matter

  • FEMA flood zones from the National Flood Hazard Layer for US areas
  • Floodway, 100-year (1% annual chance) and 500-year (0.2%) floodplains
  • Coastal high hazard (V), levee, undetermined (D) and minimal hazard zones
  • Share of the area in the 100-year floodplain
  • Base flood elevations with their vertical datum, and FIRM study numbers
  • Water level slider that floods the terrain live, with no waiting
  • 1 m USGS lidar terrain across much of the US, 30 m terrain worldwide
  • Water from the area's edge, the lowest ground, every low spot, or a marker you pick
  • Raise one level, or release water at a point and watch it spread
  • Flooded area, deepest point, average depth and water volume
  • Areas up to 25,000 acres
  • Results saved on your map with a report card and slider
  • Ask Scribble AI to run a flood simulation or read the flood zones
  • 3 free runs on any account, more with Pro Business

Scribble AI

Build maps with plain English

Tell Scribble AI what you need. Try “draw a 500m buffer around every site,” “import this CSV and color by status,” or “measure the route from the depot to each stop.” It does it in seconds. No GIS training needed, and your team gets the same map, ready to share.

Try Scribble AI →

Try it free, then go Pro Business

Pro Business

$100 per month

  • 3 free flood runs on any Scribble Maps account
  • Free 7-day trial for eligible first-time subscribers
  • $90 a month when billed yearly
  • Flood, Site Analysis, Farming, Traffic and every other Pro Business kit

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the flood zone for an address?

Open the Flood kit, search the address, and outline the property or the area around it. Choose FEMA flood zones and run it. The zones are drawn on the map, and the report lists each zone, its share of the area and its base flood elevation.

Where does the flood zone data come from?

The zones come from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer, the data behind FEMA's flood maps (FIRMs). The report names the FIRM study the zones come from, so you can check it against FEMA's own map.

Is this an official flood zone determination?

No. It is for planning and research. Lenders and insurers use an official flood zone determination for a mortgage or a policy. Use Scribble Maps to see the risk, explain it to a client, and decide where to look closer.

What do Zone AE, Zone X and Zone VE mean?

Zones that start with A, like AE, are in the 100-year floodplain: land with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Zones that start with V, like VE, are coastal areas that also face storm waves. Shaded Zone X is the 500-year floodplain, or land protected by a levee. Unshaded Zone X has minimal flood hazard. The kit names each zone in plain words.

Does a home in the 100-year floodplain need flood insurance?

Buildings in the 100-year floodplain with a federally backed mortgage must carry flood insurance. The report marks how much of the area falls in that floodplain.

How does the water level simulation work?

The kit loads the terrain for your area once. As you move the slider, the water fills the ground it can reach from its source, such as the edge of the area or a marker you pick. It is a still water level on the terrain, not a flood forecast: it does not model rainfall, flow speed, drains or flood walls the terrain does not show.

Can I make a sea level rise or storm surge map?

Yes, as a still water level. Let the water come in across the edge of a coastal area and raise it to the height you want to test. The map shows what ground sits below that level and is connected to the water.

Which areas are covered?

FEMA flood zones cover the United States, though some counties have no FEMA flood map. The water level simulation works anywhere, on 1 m lidar terrain across much of the US and 30 m terrain elsewhere.

What does it cost?

Every signed-in account gets 3 free flood runs. After that the Flood kit is part of Pro Business, at $100 a month or $90 a month billed yearly, with a free 7-day trial for eligible first-time subscribers.

Check the flood zone of your next property today

Check Flood Zones

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