Flood Insurance Rate Map Revisions (FIRM)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has revised its flood maps for Marin County. The new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM's) take effect MAY 04, 2009. As there have been significant changes to these flood zone maps the following information is important for property owners:

• The May 09, 2009 FIRM's have significant changes from the previous 1982 FIRM's. This means your property may have been added to a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Please see the mapping links below to determine if your property is within the SFHA. For FEMA FIRM's please go to www.msc.fema.gov and enter your address.
  For the County of Marin's Geographical Information System (GIS) maps please go to www.marinmap.org and click "Parcel & Map Viewer"; Click - "look up by address" right click on your address and zoom into your property; Click the + next to Hydrology and turn on the layer "FEMA DFIRM Flood Hazard Zone"; you may want to turn on the "Orthos" layer to see your structure.
  We understand that the above exercise may be complicated, if you are unable to get a map please feel free to come into the Department of Public Works for Marin County, Room 304 of the Civic Center, and we will be able to give you the same map.
• Federally backed mortgage lenders will very likely require property owners that are partially or fully within a SFHA to purchase flood insurance. We recommend printing the FEMA FIRM's and the Marin GIS maps. Show the flood zone maps to your mortgage lender to get a determination from them if you are required to get flood insurance. For general FEMA flood insurance information please follow this link - www.floodsmart.gov.
• For parcels that weren't shown in the old 1982 FIRM's, you can purchase insurance at a significantly reduced premium if you purchase it prior to May 4, 2009. Please click HERE for FEMA's Preferred Risk Policy's.
  According to FEMA staff, the approximate current flood insurance rates as of April 2009 for a single family residence if you secure flood insurance prior to May 4, 2009 are as follows; First year: $388 for the first year's coverage (covers building and contents), and $900 for the second year's coverage and subsequent years (subject to annual adjustment for inflation, etc. in subsequent years. This rate would cover the building only, not contents. Please click HERE for the current FEMA insurance rates.

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