Flood Plain Information
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies a flood plain as land that has been or may be covered by floodwater during a regional flood, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Flood zones are geographic areas defined by varying levels of flood risk. These zones are depicted on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) or Flood Hazard Boundary Map. Each zone reflects the severity or type of flooding in the area, based on FEMA’s reports.
In the City of Northville, the particular flood zones are A, AE and X.
Zone AE are areas that have a 1% probability of flooding every year (also known as the "100-year flood plain"). Properties in this zone are considered at high risk of flooding under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is federally regulated. Building in an AE zone is considered to be in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and is lower than the Base Flood Elevation.
Zone X is a moderate- to low-risk area. It is depicted on a FIRM as above the 500-year flood level.