FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Planning on buying a home? Building an addition or shed? Concerned about seasonal flooding in your community?

The Department of Planning distributes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) free to interested agencies and citizens. These maps are also available from the FEMA directly at their website http://www.fema.gov. These maps show each Town and Village within Genesee County and what areas are susceptible to flooding. Contact our office by phone or come and visit us to learn more about the FIRM and how flooding affects your property and your community.

The FIRM is the basis for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance activities for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance applications include enforcement of the mandatory purchase requirement of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which "requires the purchase of flood insurance by property owners who are being assisted by Federal programs or by Federally supervised, regulated, or insured agencies or institutions in the acquisition or improvement of land facilities located or to be located in identified areas having special flood hazards" (Section 2 (b) (4) of the 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act). In addition to the identification of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the risk zones shown on the FIRMs are the basis for the establishment of premium rates for flood insurance coverage offered through the NFIP.

The Q3 Flood Data are derived from the FIRMs and published by FEMA. Q3 Flood Data files convey certain key features from the existing hard copy FIRM. Edge-matching errors, overlaps and deficiencies in coverage, and similar problems are not corrected during digitizing or post-processing. The Q3 Flood Data files are intended to provide users with automated flood risk data that may be used to locate SFHAs. More detailed information may be obtained from the paper FIRM.

The Q3 Flood Data can be interactively viewed on the County's Web Mapping Application.

Genesee County FEMA Flood Map Update FAQs

Flooding is the most common and costly disaster in the United States. Communities around the country need up-to-date flood risk information to know how to protect their homes and infrastructure. In Genesee County, communities are using flood maps published in the 1980s. County and community officials have been working together to update the flood risk data. In 2020, FEMA Region 2 began a flood study for Genesee County.

In March 2025, Region 2 published preliminary maps for Genesee County. The preliminary maps can be viewed at http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv. You can also compare side-by-side, existing FHAs with a preliminary version of new FHAs on the County's FHA Comparison Viewer.

Timeline

2021: Flood study starts 

March 3, 2025: Preliminary flood maps published

May 15, 2025: FEMA Open House

Fall 2025: 90-day appeal period

Late 2026: Effective date

Why is my community receiving a flood study?

Updated flood maps are important because flood risk changes over time. Changes occur due to growth in population, increased development, and movement in rivers and shorelines, and changes in technology, modeling techniques, and data. The new maps use modern data and technology to help people protect their property and keep communities safer. The new maps will be available online. They are also easier to use and understand.

Does this map reflect recent floods?

It took many years to produce these new flood maps. The last maps for Genesee County were made in the 1980s and reflect major changes. The new maps are not a direct result of the recent flooding in the area. The new flood maps were made using high-quality data and the newest technology. It's important to keep in mind that flood maps are based on much more than the extent of past flooding.

Do I have to buy flood insurance?

FEMA highly recommends taking out a flood insurance policy to protect the life you've built! Flood insurance rates are determined in part by the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that is in effect at the time. If the new preliminary FIRM shows your property in a high-risk flood area, and you have a mortgage through a government-backed lender, you must buy flood insurance. This will be required once the preliminary FIRM goes into effect. Wherever it rains, it can flood. Buying flood insurance is a good idea for property owners and renters, even in low-risk areas.

Can I change the new maps?

You can formally appeal information that is on the new maps. FEMA encourages you to speak with your local floodplain manager's office (see information below) to find out more about comments or appeals. If you believe the map incorrectly describes your property's risk, you can apply to FEMA for a formal determination. This is called a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). You can find resources for LOMAs on FEMA's website here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FLOOD MAPS IN GENESEE COUNTY, PLEASE CONTACT:

General Information: Call the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) at 1-877-336-2627 (1-877-FEMA MAP) or email FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA Region 2: Contact the FEMA Project Manager, Mike Foley, at Michael.Foley3@fema.dhs.gov.