Elements that May Be Found on All Panels: Flood Insurance Risk Zone Designations – Moderate & Minimal Flood Areas

Moderate Flood Areas

Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or in newer FIRMs as Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood.

Minimal Flood Areas

The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or in newer FIRMs as Zone X (unshaded)

Zone D: Area of undetermined but possible flood hazard.

The image is a portion of a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map. Zone B. Arrows pointing to Zone B are labeled "This area protected from the 100-year flood by levee, dike or other structure subject to failure or overtopping during larger floods.

Select this link to access a printable version of the How to Read a Flood Insurance Map (FIRM) Course Glossary.