Zone X (shaded)

Unfortunately, it's the same old problem with no BFE. No matter how you do it, someone will try to tell you that you did it wrong.

BTW, is the structure in Zone X or is it in the shaded area (Zone A-- no BFE)?

We have a few of those around here, I think they call them Zone X 500. My FPA said they do not give a BFE for that area and they do not require a FC for a building permit.

I live in a Zone X in Baton Rouge. No survey required for Flood Insurance.

This property already pays for flood insurance, they are trying to recalculate the premiums based on the Elevation Certificate results.
The zone is X (shaded) which is different from Zone X......why couldn't they have used a different letter????

The shaded Zone X is the area of the 100 year storm, i.e. one chance in a 100 that a storm will flood the area. The unshaded or clear Zone X is the 500 year storm area with a one in 500 chance of flooding. Both X zones have no BFEs. You can whatever foundation you want with no minimum floor elevation and in New York State no free board requirement.

> The shaded Zone X is the area of the 100 year storm, i.e. one chance in a 100 that a storm will flood the area. The unshaded or clear Zone X is the 500 year storm area with a one in 500 chance of flooding. Both X zones have no BFEs. You can whatever foundation you want with no minimum floor elevation and in New York State no free board requirement.

Zone X Shaded is the 500 year storm area, Zone X (unshaded) is considered to be outside of the flood hazard area. Zone A and AE are the 100 year flood zone.

I've never done an el cert in a zone X (shaded or unshaded), I've been told they have a low fixed rate and an el cert won't help.

You put NA in the form and note in the comments that the house is in Zone X (shaded).

Close examination will reveal that when no base flood elevation is given, like in Zone A with no number after it (like A8, etc), a detailed flood plain analysis was not done. The shaded area is what is supposed to be used. Some insurance companies here rate those all the same regardless of floor slab. If elevation is needed, they suggest that you calculate the BFE using their software/technique. I would NEVER DO THAT even though it is withing my field of training/licensing. I would not recommend it because of the liability and the gross variations computing the water surface profile caused by various assumptions such as stream roughness values, and the inherent grossly wrong numbers that can come out of the software in various conditions either from issues with the software itself, incorrect data entry, or a combination of both, and then all related to a statistical number computed by esoteric means in the first place.

If they did not do the elevation, and you find that one is needed, get the official flood plain management agency to give you an elevation or lead you to the right agency who can.

On the flood plain certificate, when you put the BFE, I suggest you consider making a note below the BFE, even if by hand writing, mentioning the source, and attach the source to the document.

Zone X has several meanings.
Regarding your question as to shaded, the definition is "Area of moderate flood hazard, usually the area between the limits of the 100-year and 500-year floods. Are also used to designate base floodplains of lesser hazards, such as areas protected by levees from 100-year flood, or shallow flooding areas with average depths of less than one foot or drainage areas less than 1 square mile."

So your question kind of depends on exactly what your shaded zone x is actually depicting.

I most commonly find the latter definition applying, areas of flood depth less than 1 foot.

So in this case, if a structure is slab on grade, a 100-year flood could be a problem. In this case, an elevation cert limited to showing the foundation height and relationship to adjacent grade, may provide the insurer with the ability to provide a lower risk assessment. Remember, NFIP ratings are based on elevated height, with increased height above flood level providing greater reduction. Local building codes are independent of flood insurance risk ratings.

If in doubt as to what your particular FIRM zone X designation is representing, contact your flood plain manager or the FEMA Map Center.

Ask your local floodplain administrator...

Sorry, I got off base. Was thinking Zone A, not X. Sorry about that.

OK, from the above posts the different zones most mean different things in different parts of the country. For example, FIRM 36103C0767 H 9/25/09 is part of the Village of Westhampton Beach, NY. On the map are the two Zone Xs, Zone AE with various BFEs, Zone VE with various BFEs and Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA). The Zone Xs are as I posted above. Zone AE gets some flooding during storms regularly. Zone VE has velocity hazard (wave action) buildings on piles. LiMWA is a line in the Zone AE north of the Zone VE or coastline which is the approximate landward limit of the 1.5 foot breaking wave. If you have 1.5 foot breaking waves regularly in Zone AE then it is not the 100 year storm area.

I believe they are the same nationwide but there are 2 different Zone X's....Zone X (Unshaded) are areas outside the 500 year flood and Zone X (shaded) are areas between the 100 yr flood (A zones) and the 500 year flood limit or areas within the 100 yr flood with depths less than a foot.