Hurricane Rita Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps

Vermilion Parish, Louisiana

FEMA has developed Hurricane Rita Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps (referred to as, “Rita Recovery Maps”) to aid Vermilion Parish property owners to repair or rebuild structures to newly determined advisory coastal flood elevations. These maps are based on Flood Recovery Guidance for Vermilion Parish (PDF 118KB, TXT 10KB) that FEMA published in November 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Vermilion 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 Vermilion Parish Index Map (PDF 1.0MB), 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 2.3 MB.

FF38 CC57 BB57 AA57 AA58 AA62 AA61 AA60 AA59 BB58 BB62 BB61 BB60 BB59 CC58 CC62 CC61 CC60 CC59 DD58 DD59 DD60 DD61 DD62 EE62 AA56 AA55 AA54 BB56 BB55 BB54 CC53 CC54 CC55 CC56 DD56 AA53 BB53 AA52 AA51 AA48 AA47 BB42 CC43 CC42 DD43 DD42 EE44 CC44 DD44 DD45 BB47 BB45 CC45 CC47 DD46 DD47 CC48 BB48 BB49 BB50 BB51 BB52 CC52 CC51 CC50 CC49 DD48 DD49 DD50 DD52 DD51 EE49 EE50 FF50 FF49 EE45 EE46 EE47 EE48 FF48 FF45 FF46 FF47 GG46 GG45 FF44 EE42 EE43 FF43 FF42 FF41 FF40 FF39 GG44 GG43 GG42 GG41 GG40 HH45 HH44 HH43
P52 P51 T57 T46 T45 U44 S43 S44 S45 S46 R45 R49 R48 S47 S49 S48 T47 T48 T49 U48 W49 V51 V50 U50 R50 S50 T50 R51 S51 R53 R54 S54 S53 T53 T52 U52 U53 U54 V54 W52 W53 W54 W55 W56 W58 W59 Y61 Y62 Z62 Z61 X60 X59 Y60 Z60 Y59 Z59 Y58 Z58 X57 X56 Y57 Z57 Y56 Z56 X55 Y55 Z55 Y54 Z54 Y53 Z53 Y51 Y52 Z52 Z51 Z50 Z49

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.

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Last Modified: Monday, 06-Nov-2006 16:56:18 EST