Is Your Client's Property in a Flood Hazard Area?

Monsoon Season in Arizona officially begins on June 15 and ends on September 30, but those dates may be incidental if your client’s property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

REALTORS® should be aware of the importance of flood-proofing and insuring a flood-prone home. Homeowners’ policies do not typically cover flood damage, but flood insurance may be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Several cities in Arizona participate in the NFIP through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and have adopted a Floodplain Management Ordinance that includes mapping and rating of SFHAs. Some have established development requirements for projects within SFHAs that keep properties from flooding and erosion hazards to a minimum, as well as protecting natural resources in flood-prone areas.

Structures located in FEMA floodplains of “A” type zones are often required to have an elevation certificate for each structure. To find out if a property is located in a flood hazard area and elevation certificates are available, refer to Section 2, Article 15 of the Buyer Advisory or contact one of the following agencies if in your area:

• City of Phoenix Floodplain Management
• City of Tucson Floodplain Information
• City of Flagstaff Stormwater Management

To assist an insurance adjuster in the event of a flood, you may wish to advise clients to keep a list of personal property and photos of their home in a safe place.

Tags: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, flood, flood insurance, flood plain, flooding, floodplain, monsoon season, National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP, SFHA, special flood hazard area