Flood Zone Determination Services

Flood Zone Determinations Can Help Reduce Risk

Flood zones are ubiquitous in much of the continental United States. For lenders, it’s crucial to determine whether the collateral used to secure a mortgage loan is within a high-risk flood plain — and to document the details as a part of the underwriting process.

These critical reports help underwriters to determine if flood insurance is necessary. Failure to do so may lead to uninsured damage to the collateral, the potential for repurchase from an investor, and regulatory penalties.

While Flood Zone Determinations are intended to answer a simple question, they include a variety of important details that are sometimes misunderstood. With DataVerify's Flood Zone Determinations, you’ll receive a clear and useful report in a timely manner.

DataVerify Flood Zone Determinations
Are Clear and Comprehensive

Not all Flood Zone Determinations are the same. With DataVerify, access the data you need with

a variety of secondary benefits and options.

Comprehensive Coverage

Timely flood zone determinations for all 50 states and U.S. territories

Complete Reports

Aerial map copy, parcel data and precise property location

View a Sample Report

Multiple Ordering Platforms and Delivery Options

Ordering platforms include web, loan origination systems, and custom interfaces. Reports may be delivered within the respective ordering platform, or by email.

Life-of-Loan Tracking

Track the flood status of a property through the term of the loan. When a FEMA flood map is revised, DataVerify notifies you of mandatory purchase requirement status changes

View FEMA Map Updates

Loan Monitoring

Services range from life-of-loan monitoring of determinations not made by DataVerify to a complete quality audit of determinations in a lender’s portfolio

Re-Determination

DataVerify will research, re-evaluate, and verify that an accurate determination has been made based on additional information provided by the customer

HMDA / Census Tract Information

All relevant Census Tract data needed for HMDA reporting can be included on the Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form or as a standalone product

Automated Workflow Options Available

Include Flood Zone Determinations within your automated verification workflow for a more seamless underwriting experience.

Discover Workflow Automation

Get Started with Flood Zone Determinations Now

Start with a demo or free trial — it’s your choice. Connect with one of our Flood Zone Determination specialists today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Flood Zone or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?

In support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA has undertaken a massive effort of flood hazard identification and mapping to produce Flood Hazard Boundary Maps and Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is defined as an area of land that would be inundated by a flood having a 1% chance of occurring in any given year (previously referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood). Development may take place within the SFHA, provided that development complies with local floodplain management ordinances, which must meet the minimum Federal requirements. Structures in SFHA with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders require coverage by flood insurance.

Who is the flood zone determination for?

The flood zone determination is provided for the benefit of the lender to ensure the collateral for a mortgage loan is not in a special flood hazard.

Why is flood insurance required?

Flood insurance is required as designated by the 1994 National Flood Insurance Reform Act and subsequent amendments. During the life of a 30-year mortgage, the risk of a 100-year flood in a Special Flood Hazard Area is approximately 26 percent and subsequent amendments to ensure the collateral securing the mortgage loan is not in a special flood hazard.

What data is necessary to request a Flood Zone Determination?

Generally, the following information is required:

Borrower's/Owner's name
Property street, city, state, and zip code

Additional information to locate a property could include:

Parcel number
Legal description
Appraisal survey
Maps (Subdivision, Tax, Plat, Site)
Current owner (if different from borrower)

What if there are multiple flood zones on the property?

DataVerify Flood Services maps to the structure(s) on the property. If a property is located in multiple flood zones, the Flood Zone Determination will reflect the most hazardous zone that impacts the structure(s).

What if I disagree with the Flood Zone Determination?

If a customer disagrees with the Flood Zone Determination, they may request a re-determination. The re-determination request should include one or more of the following: a legal description, appraisal, survey, certified plat drawing, subdivision map, Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or any other information that helps identify where the structure is in relationship to the SFHA.

How quickly can I expect to get my Flood Done Determination?

The majority of orders are returned within seconds. For those Flood Zone Determinations that require manual mapping, most are completed within 4 hours, but some may take up to 24 hours.

How do I transfer a Flood Zone Determination to another lender?

Email a list of Flood Zone Determination numbers tofloodscs@dataverifyflood.com. Transfers can also be made using CBCWeb. Only Life-of-Loan service products are transferable to other lenders.

How do I notify DataVerify Flood Services when a loan has been paid off?

Email a list of determination numbers indicating loan payoff, to floodscs@dataverifyflood.com.

Flood Zone Determinations

Protection for Your Portfolio

Flood Zone Determinations Can Help Reduce Risk