What questions should you ask about flood risk before you move? And how easy is it to find answers? NPR talked to flood experts and put together this guide, a version of which was originally published in 2020. You can use it to find information whether you’re planning to move soon, or just wondering about flood risk where you already live.
1. Has this building or area flooded before?
Why should I ask this?
Places that flood once often flood again, especially as the climate changes.
Where to start
Landlords or real estate agents may share information about past flooding, but in many places they are not required to do so, and the information you do receive may not be complete. You can check the laws for homebuyers in your state using this map from the Natural Resources Defense Council, although it does not include disclosure requirements for renters, which are more rare.
Longtime residents and local media reports are often some of the best sources of information about past flooding in the area.
2. How likely is it that this building will flood while I live there?
Why should I ask this?
The flood history for your building or neighborhood isn’t enough information. What you really need to know is how sea level rise and more extreme rain are going to contribute to your flood risk in the future.
The answer depends on how long you intend to live there. If you’re buying a house using a 30-year mortgage, and planning to live in it for decades, you’re much more likely to experience a flood at that address than if you’re planning to rent the same house for one year.
Where to start
Some real estate sites, such as Realtor.com and Redfin.com, include flood risk in their listings. People in coastal areas can also look up their flood risk on the Climate Central Riskfinder.
Some states and cities publish local information about flood risk, including Rhode Island’s coastal management mobile app and Louisiana’s coastal protection forecast. Contact your state’s emergency management agency to see if such information is available for your area.
3. Is this building in a FEMA-designated flood zone right now?
Why should I ask this?
FEMA publishes the flood maps that are used to set public flood insurance premiums. Many local and state governments also use them for planning.
It’s important to know your FEMA-designated flood zone, because you might need to buy flood insurance.
But even if the FEMA map says you’re at low risk, you might not be. Many FEMA flood maps are out of date, and even newly updated ones don’t take into account climate-driven heavy rain or sea level rise.
Where to start
FEMA flood maps are publicly available and searchable online. Just put in your address here. Watch out: The map loads very slowly.
Read entire article at: https://www.npr.org/2025/07/12/nx-s1-5464735/flood-risk-information-sources-texas?goal=0_ea97ed434d-ff414fd57f-16064254&mc_cid=ff414fd57f&mc_eid=08593a5e07
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