By Jon Solomon

Well maybe not a flash flood, but Wow, Tropical Storm Debby did some fast work.  Makes me recall many a flood scene from recent and past movies, but one of my favorites is from Evan Almighty.  Not one of Steve Carell’s best works, but entertaining.  This scene puts our recent flooding in perspective.

Not a whole lot we can do about Mother Nature, but I thought it was a good time to discuss flood zones.  Stop ‘yer yawning.  I know that’s a let down from the exciting video, but you’re already reading, so why not learn something new.

Throughout many areas of Hillsborough and Pinellas we have flood zones.  The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) calculates flood risk and develops maps that show geographically what areas are prone to flooding.  These areas are called Flood Zones.  These zones range from Zone V for Coastal areas, to Zone A for High Risk Flood areas to Zones B & C for moderate to low risk areas.

As you might guess, V and A zones are prone to flooding and high winds.  As a result, when it comes to building a new home in these areas, there are a variety of unique building requirements specific for these areas.  These range from raising the minimum height of the living area to how the structure is engineered to withstand high wind and flood waters.

If you’d like to see your home’s flood map, visit FEMA’s website to see more.  If you’d like to discuss other requirements of flood zones for your custom home, please contact us.

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