There are parts of Lake Gaston that are considered by FEMA to
be within a Flood Zone or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
In reality, the vast majority of structures (houses, garages)
are above the 100 year flood elevation, and can be waived from
requiring flood insurance if an application is submitted to
FEMA. Ask your agent for information about this during
the purchase process.
The Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) administers the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP). The mission of the NFIP is to identify and
map flood hazard areas nationwide and make flood insurance available within
communities that participate in the NFIP.
Federally backed mortgage lenders require insurance coverage if the house
(or other structure) is located below the 100 year flood elevation.
Insurance is not required for undeveloped land.
FEMA has published maps (FIRMS) that designate which areas are above & below the
100 year flood elevation level. The maps contain grids or map panels
that are referenced and used for determination purposes. These maps are
available for viewing on line through the FEMA site. Appraisers will reference
the map panel number in their appraisal where they state if a property is or is
not within a flood zone.
There are several flood determination companies
throughout the country that interpret the FEMA maps and inform lenders if a
property is located within a special flood hazard area or zone.
NOTE: Occasionally, the flood determination
companies do not take extra steps available to properly determine (or eliminate)
a lot from the "A" zone which requires that flood insurance be obtained.
If you believe that your house or structures are
above the SFHA, you might ask you lender to challenge the Flood Certification
from the company they use. Ask to have the flood determination company
"review" their findings using aerial maps and overlays. You may also
request that the lender get a second opinion by using another company to make
the determination. One of many such companies is LSI Flood Services (800)
833-6347 (formerly GeoTrack).
To view or purchase these maps, Click Here.
(http://msc.fema.gov)
On the FEMA maps, the flood area is colored in blue (includes the lake and
some of the shoreline) and has a dark line separating it from the land above
the flood area (colored white-zone X). The lighter, inside line indicates the
actual shoreline. Any zone beginning with the letter A is below the 100 year
flood elevation.
FEMA
INSTRUCTIONS after logging on to FEMA site above:
Note: If
you "product search” by address, be sure to verify that it
returns the correct map panel /location (that search type is
not error free!)
Or
1. Locate
the box “Looking For…” 2.) click on Flood Maps, 3.) Select
a State, 4.) Select a County, 5.) Select a Community, and
then 6.) Get FEMA maps.
If you
already know your Map Panel Number, select to view it by
Clicking the View or Buy column; Otherwise, first go to the
bottom choice which returns the entire area, then locate the
grid where your property is located, and determine which
Community/Map Panel # applies. Then go back and select that
Map panel # to determine the mapping code for your property.
Map Panels
for Lake Gaston land:
Warren
County, NC = 370396 0002 C
Halifax
County, NC = 370327 0005 B or 370327 0010 B
Northampton County, NC = 370173 0005 C or
370173 0010 C
Brunswick County, VA = 501236
0175 B
Mecklenburg County, VA = 510189 0200 A
The NC Floodplain Mapping program is part of FEMA's Cooperating
Technical Partner initiative. Click here for maps & to view that site:
NC CTP Initiative.
