Flood Zones on Oahu
When purchasing Oahu Real Estate, it is important to know what Hawaii flood zone the home is in and the implications of the flood zone designation. What are the risks of flooding at your Oahu home and how can you mitigate those risks? Is mandatory flood insurance required for your Oahu real estate purchase and where can you get mandatory flood insurance in Hawaii?
It is also helpful to know whether you are in a Tsunami Evacuation Zone and what to do in case of a Tsunami warning.
Flood Zones On Oahu
Under the FEMA Definitions for Flood Zone Designations:
- High Risk Flood Zones
- Moderate to Low Risk Zones are designated by B, C and X
- Undetermined Risk Zones
See the Flood Map Legend to the right for additional detail.
Oahu FEMA Flood Maps
FEMA is currently revising the Flood Zone Maps in Hawaii, so we can expect some things to change over the next year.
Flood Insurance in Hawaii
Flood Insurance may be advisable for certain Flood Map Zones and federally regulated lenders REQUIRE Flood Insurance to purchase any home in areas designated as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
Oahu homes are considered to be in a SFHA when there is a least a one percent chance of a flood equal to or exceeding the base flood elevation (a 100-year flood) in any given year. Thus, during the life of a 30-year mortgage loan, the risk of flooding for a home in an SFHA is at least 26 percent. To find out about whether Mandatory Flood Insurance is required, please check with your lender. You can also review the Consumer Compliance Outlook for Flood Insurance for more detailed information, as to lender requirements for Flood Insurance.
Flood Insurance is NOT part of your regular standard Homeowner’s Insurance Policy.
To find out about the costs and availability of Flood Insurance, please check with your Hawaii Insurance Agent. Contact me and I can recommend a good agent.
For More information on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), please visit the following sites:
- FEMA Flood Insurance Information
- FloodSmart.gov - The Official Website for the NFIP
Oahu Tsunami Information & Oahu Tsunami Maps
- Tsunami Evacuation Map Oahu - Hawaii State Civil Defense Website - Has information about Tsunamis, Floods & Other Natural Disasters in Hawaii, Evacuation & Disaster Preparedness, etc.
- Tsunami Preparedness & Safety Information Oahu
- Honolulu Tsunami Evacuation Maps and Information
