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Levee Breach Devastation A levee breach can devastate a neighborhood. Without flood insurance, the Lusks would have lost everything. View their story at FloodSmart.gov

FloodSmart Levee Simulator Living near a levee doesn't guarantee your home's protection. Learn about different ways a levee can fail using the FloodSmart Levee Simulator.

Levee Analysis and Mapping Approach Learn how FEMA is currently exploring more precise approaches for identifying flood hazards in areas impacted by levees.

The Reality of Levee Risk

The United States has thousands of miles of levee systems. They are built to help contain or control the flow of water to reduce the risk of flooding; but not all levees are alike. For example, some levees around residential areas were originally built long ago to protect farmland. Other levees in urban areas were designed to reduce the impacts of flooding, but only from a certain size flooding event.

While levees can help reduce the risk of flooding, it is important to remember that they do not eliminate the risk. Levees can and do deteriorate over time and must be maintained to retain their effectiveness. When levees fail, or are overtopped, the results can be catastrophic. In fact, the flood damage can be greater than if the levee had not been built.

For citizens and community officials living or working near levees, it is important to understand the risk, learn the facts, and be aware of steps they can take to protect their families, businesses, and communities from the threat of flooding:

Home and Business Owners: Many people living or working near a levee believe that it will always protect them from flooding; however, they are wrong. Although levees may be designed to the highest engineering standards, levees can and do fail. Learn more about flood risk and the steps that can be taken to minimize that risk.

Local, State, Tribal, and Federal Officials: As a leader, it is important to understand and clearly communicate the risk and issues surrounding levees with your constituents. By working with FEMA and other federal agencies, information and local plans can be developed to better educate citizens, make communities safer and help assist in making a rapid recovery when levees do fail. Learn more about communicating effectively with citizens to increase their understanding of flood risk and the steps they can take to reduce it.

Real Estate, Insurance, and Lending Professionals: For most property owners, their homes or businesses are their greatest investments. So they need to do their best to protect them. Property owners turn to you as a trusted source of information whether buying, selling, or providing the proper financial protection. Learn more about helping your customers understand their risk of living or working behind levees and what they can do to reduce it.

For More Information

For more information or additional assistance:

• Please e-mail a Map Specialist.
• Please call a Map Specialist in the FEMA Map Information eXchange, toll free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).
• Please register to receive updates on FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping activities, including updates on levee-related activities, via e-mail.

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