Hurricane Rita Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps

Cameron Parish, Louisiana

FEMA has developed Hurricane Rita Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps (referred to as, “Rita Recovery Maps”) to aid Cameron Parish property owners to repair or rebuild structures to newly determined advisory coastal flood elevations. These maps are based on Flood Recovery Guidance for Cameron Parish (PDF 118KB) that FEMA published in November 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the Rita Recovery Map that shows my property?

Cameron Parish Image Map Thumbnail

To locate a particular property, the first step is to determine which detailed Rita Recovery Map panel applies to the area of interest. Users should first consult the Cameron Parish Index Map (PDF, 0.7 MB), which shows which panels were produced and what area is covered by each. Panel numbers are shown in green text (e.g., PP25). Panels were only produced for areas where structures or other significant development could be observed on recent aerial photography.

Once the detailed Rita Recovery Map panel number is known, it can be opened by clicking on the corresponding panel number on the parish map immediately below. The panel will open up in the internet browser window using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. The Rita Recovery Map panels range in size from 1.1 MB to 2.0 MB.

W28 W27 W26 W25 X23 X25 X26 X27 X28 X24 Y24 Y23 CC23 DD24 DD23 T41 T40 T39 T38 T37 T36 T35 U41 U40 U39 U37 U38 V38 V37 U36 U35 U34 U33 U32 W29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V36 V35 V34 X29 W30 X30 W35 W34 W33 W32 W31 X31 X32 X33 X34 X35 Y32 Y33 Y34 Y35 Y25 Y26 Y27 Y28 Y29 Y31 Y30 Z30 Z29 Z26 Z27 Z28 AA27 AA26 BB25 BB26 BB27 CC25 CC26 CC27 CC28 DD28 CC29 DD29 DD31 DD30 EE29 EE30 EE31 EE32 EE33 DD33 EE34 BB40 BB41 BB42 CC42 CC41 DD42 EE42 EE41 EE40 EE39 EE38 EE37 EE36 EE35 FF42 FF41 FF40 FF39 FF38 FF37 FF36 FF35 FF33 FF29 FF28 EE28 DD27 EE27 FF27 FF26 EE26 DD26 DD25 EE25 FF25 EE23 EE24 FF24 FF23
X10 V8 V7 V6 W21 X21 X22 Y22 Y21 W15 W16 W17 W19 W20 Y20 X20 Y19 X19 W18 X18 Y18 Y17 X17 X16 Y16 W9 X9 W10 W11 X11 W12 W14 W13 X13 X14 X15 Y15 Y14 Y13 Y10 Y9 Z13 W8 X8 W7 X7 W6 W5 W4 W3 W2 W1 X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 Y6 Y5 CC19 CC18 CC17 DD22 DD21 DD19 DD18 DD17 DD16 DD15 DD12 DD11 DD10 EE9 EE10 EE12 EE13 EE16 EE17 EE18 EE19 EE21 EE22 FF22 FF21 FF20 FF19 FF18 FF17 FF13 FF12 FF10 FF9 FF8 FF6

Rita Recovery Maps are for advisory purposes only; they do not supersede effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The Hurricane Rita-related data presented are preliminary and subject to update as additional data become available.

How do I determine what Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) applies to my property?

The Rita Recovery Maps depict ABFEs (that is, elevations that FEMA recommends be used for rebuilding) for defined areas or zones. The visual appearance of these advisory zones and elevations was intentionally made similar to the format of flood hazard data shown FEMA’s FIRMs. [Note: Individuals unfamiliar with FIRMs can view the online tutorial, “How to Read a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).”]

On the Rita Recovery Maps, each ABFE zone is outlined in yellow and is labeled with the applicable advisory flood zone type and whole-foot elevation (e.g., ABFE Zone VE Elevation 16). ABFEs are measured relative to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29), or roughly sea level. The whole-foot ABFE listed on each contour can be directly applied to properties located within the zone. On some maps, a thick yellow line marks the inland limit of the ABFEs; landward of this line, ABFEs do not apply.

I know my ABFE. How high above ground does this mean I have to elevate my structure?

Since the ABFEs are measured relative to NGVD29 (or roughly sea level), property owners will need ground elevations to determine how high above grade a structure should be elevated to meet the ABFE. Property owners are advised to consult with a licensed surveyor or professional engineer to determine ground elevations at their site. Once the ground elevation is known, it can be subtracted from the ABFE to calculate the height above grade that a structure’s first floor (in A Zones) or lowest horizontal structural member (in V Zones) should be elevated.

How did FEMA determine what areas got flooded by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, and should I be concerned if I think the surge limits are inaccurate?

FEMA used the best data available at the time the recovery mapping was completed to estimate the extent and magnitude of Hurricane Rita’s storm surge. To develop this data layer, surge-only High Water Marks (HWMs) collected by FEMA shortly after the storm were compared to detailed, pre-storm topographic data provided by the State of Louisiana. In some areas, few or no HWMs were available to help guide the mapping; in these cases, surge inundation limits were interpolated from more distant HWMs, with coastal engineering judgment and eyewitness accounts (when available) used to complete the mapping. As a result of these and other data limitations, the mapped Rita surge limits may over- or underestimate the actual coastal flooding that occurred.

The ABFEs, not the estimated Rita surge limits or surge heights, are what FEMA is advising be used for rebuilding, so there should be no negative impact on property owners if the Rita limits were over- or underestimated. If property owners have detailed documentation concerning the height and/or extent of Rita’s surge flooding that differs from the data shown on the Rita Recovery Maps, they can submit this information through the recovery mapping helpline link listed below. Unless there becomes a need to completely reanalyze the Rita surge and remap large areas, FEMA will only be able to use submitted information to help improve the surge inundation modeling and mapping procedures for future recovery mapping efforts.

For inquiries concerning Louisiana, please visit the Louisiana coastal mapping project web site or e-mail the helpline at: info@lamappingproject.com.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 21-May-2008 16:59:19 EDT