FIRM Status

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)/Flood Insurance Rate Map Information (FIRM) - Information shown on the effective FIRM(s) by FEMA for communities participating in the NFIP.

• Accredited Levee System: A levee system that FEMA has shown on a FIRM that is recognized as reducing the flood hazards posed by a 1-percent-annual-chance flood. This determination is based on the submittal of data and documentation as required by 44CFR§65.10 of the NFIP regulations. The area landward of an accredited levee system is shown as Zone X (shaded) on the FIRM except for areas of residual flooding, such as ponding areas, which are shown as Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
• Non-Accredited Levee System: A levee system that does not meet the requirements in the NFIP regulations at Title 44, Chapter 1, Section 65.10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44CFR§65.10), Mapping of Areas Protected by Levee Systems, and is not shown on a FIRM as reducing the base flood hazards.
• Provisionally Accredited Levee (PAL) System: A designation for a levee system that FEMA has previously accredited with reducing the flood hazards associated with a 1-percent-annual-chance flood on an effective FIRM, and for which FEMA is awaiting data and/or documentation that will demonstrate the levee system’s compliance with the NFIP regulatory criteria of 44CFR§ 65.10.
• Zone AR: As defined in 44CFR§61.12, areas that result from the new non-accredited status of a previously accredited levee system that is determined to be in the process of being restored to provide base flood risk reduction. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply.
• Zone A99: As defined in 44CFR§61.12, areas subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, but which will ultimately be accredited upon completion of an under-construction levee system. These are areas of special flood hazard where enough progress has been made on the construction of a levee system, such as dikes, dams, and levees, to consider it complete for insurance rating purposes. Zone A99 may only be used when the levee system has reached specified statutory progress toward completion. No Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) or depths are shown. Mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements and floodplain management standards apply.
• No Regulatory Flood Hazard Information Published by FEMA: No Regulatory Flood Hazard Information Published by FEMA represents one of three potential situations: 1. The panel has not been printed, no effective FIRM. 2. Panel printed but no SFHA shown for levee system. 3. Panel printed and Zone D shown for levee system.
• No Data Entered: No Data Entered indicates an effective FIRM status determination is required for the levee system.