The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the Daytona Beach area were originally created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1973 and last updated in 2002.  

These maps are currently being revised to more accurately reflect current flood risk. Property owners are encouraged to review the preliminary maps as flood designations may have changed.
 
During this process residents and business owners may find that their current flood zone has changed. In some cases a property may be mapped into a lower-risk zone.  For others, a property’s zone may change from a moderate or low-risk area to a high-risk area, making flood insurance mandatory by most lenders.

The most significant changes are in the area generally bordered by Beville Road, Mason Avenue, US 1 and Nova Road.  If a property is mapped into a higher risk zone, or if the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) changes, flood insurance premium could increase. Property owners need to understand their options following changes to their community’s FIRM.  One of their options might be “grandfathering,” which is a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rule that was created in order to recognize property owners who carried a policy before the maps became effective or built to the correct standards relative to the flood map in effect at the time of construction.

This rule, along with other NFIP rules, can result in significant cost savings to policyholders compared to a potentially higher premium rate that results from a flood map revision. 

Individual property owners can appeal the proposed BFEs or protest other information included on the preliminary maps. Both the appeal and protest must be supported by technical or scientific data and submitted to the appropriate community officials within the designated “90-day appeal period.”

If you are a homeowner and believe your property is not located in a designated 100-year floodplain [also known as a 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain, or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)], as shown on the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map or Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map for your community and you would like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make an official determination regarding the location of your property relative to the SFHA, click here to request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F).
   
To see proposed FIRM maps for areas within Daytona Beach, click here. (NOTE: The city is divided into 20 sections. Each section is assigned a corresponding map. Once a section is clicked, the map will open.) 
Additional Information: To see proposed FIRM maps and compare to your location click here.

To see current FIRM maps for areas within Daytona Beach, click here.


How to interpret the FEMA FIRM Rate Maps

Whatever the area shown on a FEMA FIRM map, it may include several - or only a few - types of floodplain zones, each designated by a letter or a combination of a letter and number(s). Please see the table below for explanations of these zones.

Zone A	The 100-year or base floodplain. Six types of 'A' zones are described below.
A	Base flood elevations (BFE) are not determined. This is often called an unnumbered A Zone or an approximate A zone.
A1-30	Known as numbered A Zones (e.g., A7 or A14). BFEs are shown on a FEMA map that includes any of these zones.
AE	On newer FIRMs, AE Zones are the same as A1-A30 Zones (i.e., BFEs are shown).
AO	The base floodplain with sheet flow, ponding or shallow flooding. Base flood depths (feet above ground) are provided.
AH	Shallow-flooding base floodplain. BFEs are provided.
A99	Area to be protected from base flood by levees or Federal Flood Protection Systems under construction. BFEs are not determined.
AR	The base floodplain that results from the decertification of a previously accredited flood protection system that is in the process of being restored to provide a 100-year or greater level of flood protection.
Zone V	The coastal area subject to a velocity hazard (wave action) where BFEs are not determined on the FIRM map.
Zone VE	The coastal area subject to a velocity hazard (wave action) where BFEs are provided on the FIRM map.
Zone B and Zone X	Area of moderate flood hazard, usually the area between the limits of the 100-year and 500-year floods. B Zones are also used to designate base floodplains of lesser hazards, such as areas protected by levees from the 100-year flood, or shallow-flooding areas with average depths of less than one foot or drainage areas less than 1 square mile.
Zone C and Zone X (unshaded)	Area of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on FIRMs as above the 500-year flood level. Zone C may have ponding and local drainage problems that don't warrant a detailed study or designation as base floodplain. Zone X is the area determined to be outside the 500-year flood and protected by levee from the 100-year flood.
Zone D	Area of undetermined but possible flood hazards.