FEMA Updated Flood Maps in 100 Communities Across 12 States

This summer, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) redrew many of its maps. The changes impacted 100 communities across 12 states, giving homeowners new information when it comes to what their flood risk looks like. 

According to Cotality, that has changed things for thousands of properties that are now considered part of high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). That designation does more than just hint at an increased risk; it also means that property owners in these new flood boundaries who carry federally backed mortgages need to carry flood insurance.

NerdWallet reports that the average cost of NFIP flood insurance in 2026 was $976 per year. That being said, some states will pay more (like Missouri, where it averages $1,445 a year), while others will pay less (like Maryland, where it averages $505 a year). 

That means thousands of property owners just found out they will need to budget for the extra expense, with some receiving a 45-day deadline to obtain the extra policy, while others received no notification at all. Here’s what we know about the changes. f

FEMA Changed Flood Map Boundaries This Summer

The maps were overhauled in June 2026, adding (and in some cases removing) homes to the SFHA (an area that has a 1 percent chance of flooding during any given year) to give homeowners more protection, which the agency explains using real-world risks. However, this change was an unexpected one for many homeowners who were sold homes under the pretense they were “safe and dry” just a few months prior.

According to Cotality, the states that saw the biggest adjustments included Virginia and Massachusetts, which saw 533 and 626 maps updated, respectively. Other states saw much less significant changes, like Louisiana, which only saw eight. 

There were some states that didn’t have any revisions, which included places like Idaho and Pennsylvania. 

You Don’t Need to Live in a Flood Zone to Buy Insurance

While mortgage lenders do require homeowners to carry flood insurance if they live in a FEMA-designated flood zone, you don’t actually have to live in one in order to purchase insurance, according to FEMA’s FloodSmart. 

Instead, you have the option to purchase insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if your community participates in the program. NFIP communities work to mitigate a community’s flood risk using floodplain management rules. 

These homeowners may even see discounted rates when it comes to flood insurance, according to NerdWallet, which can range from five percent to 45 percent, depending on the community’s rating.