Flood Zone and Risk Information

Understanding Flood Risk in Volusia County

Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in Florida—and it doesn't only affect coastal areas. Numerous communities across the state experience flooding from hurricanes, tropical storms, high tides, seasonal rains, and even afternoon thunderstorms.

Knowing your flood zone and understanding your property’s risk is a critical step in protecting your home, your investment, and your family.

Find Your Flood Zone

Every property in Volusia County is located within a flood zone as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the County has no authority in assigning the zones. Some zones indicate a higher risk than others, but flooding can happen anywhere, regardless of zone as bouts of heavy rainfall can occur.

Use Our Online Lookup Tool:

Search Your Property’s Flood Zone

This tool allows you to:

• Enter a specific address to find out if it lies within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
• Determine the FEMA zone designation (e.g., Zone AE, VE, X)
• Access flood map panels, elevation data, and helpful layers

Understanding Flood Zones

FEMA uses flood zone designations to categorize the likelihood of flooding in different areas. Here’s what the zones mean:

Note: Flood zone designations are based on historical data and modeling. They do not reflect changing weather or local rainfall patterns.

What Determines Your Flood Risk?

Flood risk is determined by more than just FEMA zone designations. You should also consider:

• Elevation: Is your home above or below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)?
• Proximity to Water: Are you near rivers, lakes, canals, the ocean, or wetlands?
• Drainage Characteristics: Is your neighborhood in a closed basin where water has no natural outflow?
• Ground Saturation: Does your yard flood even during regular rains?

Volusia County's landscape includes open and closed basins, meaning some areas are more susceptible to rainfall-based flooding even outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.

Flood Risk Education and Preparedness

Flooding Can Happen Anywhere

• 25% of flood claims come from outside high-risk flood zones.
• A few inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
• Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners or renters insurance.

How to Reduce Your Risk:

• Keep gutters, drains, and swales clear of debris
• Avoid placing yard waste or trash near storm drains
• Install flood vents in crawl spaces or basements
• Elevate air conditioning units and appliances
• Know how to shut off utilities in case of flood

Flood Insurance: What You Need to Know

Flood insurance is typically not included in standard homeowners or renters policies. It must be purchased separately—usually through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.

Why Flood Insurance Matters:

• FEMA disaster assistance is limited and only available after a federal disaster declaration
• Flood insurance pays for structural damage, repairs, and personal belongings—whether a declaration is issued or not
• Policies take 30 days to go into effect, so don’t wait for a storm to buy coverage

Types of Flood Insurance:

• Building Coverage: Repairs to the home, foundation, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical, flooring, etc.
• Contents Coverage: Replacement of furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics, etc.

Who Should Get It?

• Everyone. Just because your property is not located within a special flood hazard area does not mean you’re exempt from receiving substantial rainfall.
• Again, homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover flooding and without flood insurance, the cost to repair or rebuild could be quite substantial.