By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director

As a resident of King County, understanding your flood risk is crucial for protecting your home, family, and property. Floods are natural events that can occur almost anywhere, even in areas not immediately near bodies of water. While river and coastal flooding are common, heavy rains, poor drainage, and nearby construction projects can also increase your risk of flood damage.

When flooding happens, it can cause significant damage, not only to the structures but also to the daily lives of those affected. The King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) is dedicated to helping our community stay informed and prepared. One of the most valuable tools we fund is the Flood Risk Map, which is operated and maintained by King County as the KCFCD’s service provider.

What is the Flood Risk Map?

Flood risk maps (also known as flood maps and floodplain maps) are essential tools that communities use to identify areas with the highest flood risk. These maps are a comprehensive, interactive tool designed to help residents identify their flood risk based on their location by illustrating the likelihood of flooding in specific areas. Any location with a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year is considered high-risk, which translates to at least a one-in-four chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage.

• A regulatory FEMA floodway is defined as the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land area that is reserved from encroachment in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water-surface elevation by more than a designated height.
• Areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding are also known as the 100-year floodplain.
• Areas with a 0.2% (or 1 in 500 chance) annual chance of flooding are also known as the 500-year floodplain.

Floods do not adhere to city limits or property lines, so flood risk maps allow you to see the relationship between your property and high-risk flood areas. While no area is entirely risk-free, some locations have lower or moderate flood risk. By utilizing advanced mapping technologies and up-to-date data, the flood risk map provides detailed insights into areas prone to flooding, historical flood photos, flood facilities, and other flood-related information.

Why Should You Use It?

Flood risk maps provide individuals valuable information about their flood risk, help communities develop strategies to reduce flood risk, and assist mortgage lenders in determining insurance requirements. The process to update mapping allows you and your community to better understand your flood risk, enabling more informed decisions on how to mitigate or manage that risk. So, why should you use the flood risk map?

• Stay Informed: Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes. Understanding whether you live in a high-risk flood zone can help you take necessary precautions to protect your home and loved ones.
• Plan Ahead: By knowing your flood risk, you can make informed decisions about flood insurance, property improvements, and emergency preparedness plans.
• Protect Your Investment: For homeowners, understanding flood risk can influence property values and the steps you might need to take to safeguard your investment.
• Emergency Preparedness: Being aware of your flood risk is the first step in creating a solid emergency response plan. This includes knowing evacuation routes, preparing emergency kits, and staying informed about weather alerts.

How to Use the Flood Risk Map

Accessing and using the Flood Risk Map is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Website: Go to the King County Flood Control District’s “find my flood risk” webpage and navigate to the King County iMap, or go directly to the County’s iMap.
2. Enter Your Address: Input your home or business address into the search bar in the upper left corner.
3. Turn on Flooding Info: Click on the Layer List icon in the upper right corner – the icon looks like three stacked squares. Click on the “Flooding info” to turn on the flood risk map (floodplain map).
4. Review Your Risk: The map will display your location’s flood risk by showing the FEMA floodway, 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, and areas with reduced risk due to levees. By opening the “Flooding info” layer, you will have access to turn on other information such as viewing historical flood photos and identifying where flood facilities are located.
5. Take Action: Based on the information provided, take appropriate actions such as securing flood insurance or preparing an emergency plan.

Additional Resources

The KCFCD offers a variety of resources to help residents prepare for flooding. This includes:

• Sign up to receive Flood Alerts! The KCFCD funds this service, which is provided by King County.
• Visit the Be Flood Ready page for an extensive list of other ways you can prepare for flooding.
• Learn more about sandbag distribution sites, another service funded by the KCFCD and implemented by King County.
• Stay informed by following the KCFCD on social media (Facebook and X)and check in weekly to read our blog, which is where you can learn more about flood risk and preparedness.

Conclusion

Flooding can be unpredictable, but being prepared doesn’t have to be. By utilizing the Flood Risk Map funded by the KCFCD and managed by King County, you can stay informed and take proactive steps to protect your home and loved ones. Don’t wait until it’s too late – check your flood risk today and be prepared for tomorrow.

Remember to share this blog post with friends and neighbors to spread awareness about flood risk and preparedness. The more informed our community is, the better we can protect ourselves against the impacts of flooding. Together, we can build a safer, more resilient community.