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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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If a Non-Levee Embankment Exists Near You

FEMA plans to re-evaluate and remap some areas impacted by "non-levee embankments" — embankments that were not designed or constructed as flood-control structures, such as those for highways and railroads. Because such embankments are not "levees" as defined in Section Section 59.1 of the NFIP regulations, FEMA cannot credit them with providing (1-percent-annual-chance) flood protection in accordance with Section 65.10 of the NFIP regulations. Therefore, FEMA will revise some NFIP maps to show some areas that were designated as being subject to a low to moderate risk as high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas.

If a non-levee embankment exists in your community, you may want to contact the local floodplain administrator to determine whether your home or business is affected, when any map change will go into effect, and what steps you may take to reduce the risk to your home or business.

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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.

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For More Information

For more information or additional assistance:

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Return to the Levee System Introduction page.

Last Modified: Monday, 04-Jan-2010 14:24:11 EST

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