Levee System Information for Stakeholders

Homeowners and the General Public

Read general information about levee systems on the Levee System Introduction page.

Map Modernization and Levee Systems

As the Federal agency responsible for administering the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies flood hazards, assesses flood risks, and provides appropriate flood hazard and risk information to communities nationwide. This information is provided to communities in the form of maps, called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FEMA has an effort underway, called Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod), to update and modernize existing FIRMs for most of the United States.

Levee systems have been identified in over one-fourth of the counties that will receive modernized maps—Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs)—as part of Map Mod. Therefore, FEMA has been working, and continues to work with Federal, State, and local professionals and technical partners to determine the flood protection and risk-reduction capabilities of the Nation's levee systems and to accurately reflect the flood hazard and risk in levee-impacted areas on the DFIRMs.

Back To Top

Understanding the Risk in Levee-Impacted Areas

People who own property, live, or work in areas that are impacted by levee systems should be aware of the flood risk in these areas. No levee system provides full protection from all flooding events. Levee systems are designed to provide a specific level of flood protection. Levee systems can be overtopped or even fail during flood events that are larger than the levee system was designed to contain. In addition, levee systems require regular maintenance to retain their level of flood protection. The fact is, levee systems can and do decay over time, and maintenance can become a serious challenge to levee owners. When levee systems fail or are overtopped, the damage is often catastrophic and more severe than if the levee system had not been built.

Back To Top

If You Live or Work in a Levee-Impacted Area

If you live, work, or own property in a levee-impacted area, it is important to know your flood risk. To mitigate this risk, FEMA encourages you to do the following:

Back To Top

If a Levee System Construction or Restoration Project is in Progress Near You

In the interest of public safety, some communities and State agencies may undertake levee system construction or restoration projects, alone or in cooperation with a Federal agency such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). These communities and agencies are attempting to reduce the flood risk to people and structures impacted by the levee system. These communities and agencies also may be reducing the flood insurance premium rates for property owners living and working in the levee-impacted areas.

If work on a local levee system construction or restoration project is planned or underway, you may want to learn more about the project by contacting the local floodplain administrator. To learn whether you will receive any reduction in your flood insurance premium rate once the project is completed, you should contact your insurance agent.

Back To Top

Useful Resources

The resources listed below will assist you in gaining a better understanding of levee systems and the flood risk in levee-impacted areas. These resources and an array of other useful FEMA, NFIP, and Map Mod resources are located in the FEMA Library.

Back To Top

For More Information

For more information or additional assistance:

Back To Top

Return to the Levee System Introduction page.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Oct-2008 10:14:47 EDT

References


Related Topics


Government Links