FEMA’s maps are essential tools for identifying flood risks, but they have significant gaps that limit their effectiveness.

FEMA flood maps are essential tools for identifying flood risks, but they have significant coverage gaps, and politics can get in the way.

After a weekend of severe flash flooding across the DMV, including Montgomery County and Silver Spring, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) says some of the hardest-hit areas ...

Even a small amount of water inside a home can cause costly damage. Here’s how to assess your flood risk and what to do if you’re in the danger zone.

Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in ...

Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic’s buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in ...

After an appeal, FEMA amended the county's flood map in 2013 to remove 15 of the camp's buildings from the hazard zone which were part of Camp Mystic Guadalupe, destroyed by last week's flood ...

Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in ...

Camp Mystic owners successfully appealed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to redesignate some buildings that had been considered part of a flood-hazard zone.

That designation means an area is likely to be inundated during a 100-year flood — one severe enough that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year.

What FEMA flood maps miss FEMA’s maps are essential tools for identifying flood risks, but they have significant gaps that limit their effectiveness.