A / AE Inside the 1%-a-year floodplain: about a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage. AE has a mapped base flood elevation; plain A does not.
Floodway The channel and the land beside it that has to be kept clear enough to carry the flood. Building here is tightly limited.
X shaded The 0.2% (500-year) floodplain, plus some levee-protected and very shallow flood areas.
X Outside both lines. No federal requirement to insure, which is not the same as no risk.
What Is Zone AH?
Zone AH designates areas with a 1% annual chance of shallow flooding, typically 1-3 feet deep, in the form of ponding. Unlike riverine zones where water flows, AH zones experience water that collects and sits.
Common in flat areas with poor drainage, depressions, and areas near lakes or ponds. BFEs reflect the expected depth of ponding.
Flood Insurance Requirements
Flood insurance is required if you have a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan such as FHA, VA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Zone AH is a Special Flood Hazard Area.