Flood Insurance Terms (Florida Glossary)

🌊 Base Flood Elevation (BFE)

The height floodwaters are expected to reach during a 1% annual chance flood (formerly called the 100‑year flood). Used heavily in pricing and building requirements.

📍 Flood Zone

FEMA’s classification of your property’s flood risk. Examples include X (low), AE (high), and VE (coastal high‑velocity).

🗺️ Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

The official FEMA map showing flood zones, BFEs, and coastal risk areas for your community.

🏠 NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program)

The federal flood insurance program administered by FEMA. Offers standardized coverage and rates based on Risk Rating 2.0.

💼 Private Flood Insurance

Flood insurance offered by private carriers. Often cheaper than NFIP and may include higher limits or additional coverage options.

📏 Elevation Certificate (EC)

A document prepared by a surveyor showing your home’s elevation relative to BFE. Used for rating older NFIP policies and for LOMA requests.

🧭 LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment)

A FEMA determination that removes a property from a high‑risk flood zone if it sits above BFE.

📬 LOMR (Letter of Map Revision)

A FEMA update that changes flood maps due to new data, development, or improved modeling.

🌧️ 1% Annual Chance Flood

A flood event with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Formerly called the “100‑year flood.”

🌦️ 0.2% Annual Chance Flood

A larger, less frequent flood event with a 0.2% chance of occurring each year. Formerly the “500‑year flood.”

🏚️ Substantial Damage

When repairs cost 50% or more of a structure’s market value. Triggers elevation or compliance requirements in many communities.

🔨 Substantial Improvement

Renovations or additions costing 50% or more of the home’s value. May require bringing the structure up to current flood standards.

🌬️ Coastal A Zone

A special flood zone within AE areas where wave action is between 1.5 and 3 feet. Requires stronger construction standards.

🌊 VE Zone

High‑risk coastal flood zone with wave action over 3 feet. Requires pilings, open foundations, and strict building codes.

💧 Risk Rating 2.0

FEMA’s modernized pricing system that uses distance to water, elevation, foundation type, and replacement cost to calculate premiums.

🚪 Flood Vents

Openings that allow water to flow through enclosed areas, reducing pressure on walls during flooding. Required in many flood zones.

🏗️ Lowest Floor Elevation (LFE)

The lowest floor used for rating a flood insurance policy — often the finished floor or the lowest enclosed area.

📉 Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG)

The lowest ground level next to the structure. Used in elevation certificates and LOMA determinations.

🧾 ICC Coverage (Increased Cost of Compliance)

NFIP coverage that helps pay for elevation, demolition, relocation, or floodproofing after substantial damage.

🌪️ Storm Surge

Abnormal rise of water pushed inland by a hurricane. Not covered by home insurance — only flood insurance.