Flood Insurance Rate Maps

What is a FIRM?

A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

Why would I need a FIRM?

• Private citizens and insurance and brokers use the FIRM to locate properties and buildings to determine the amount of flood risk and whether flood insurance is required.
• Community officials use the FIRM to administer floodplain management regulations and to mitigate flood damage.
• Lending institutions and federal agencies use the FIRM to locate properties and buildings in relation to mapped flood hazards, and to determine whether flood insurance is required when making loans or providing grants following a disaster for the purchase or construction of a building.

How do I read a FIRM?

FEMA provides the following tutorial on its website:

• How to Read A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

This tutorial details the use and application of FEMA FIRMs. Each component of the FIRM is explored. The tutorial includes a section that contains examples of getting specific information from FIRMs.

Rate Maps

You can search for your address at FEMA’s Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov or select a map from the list below.

The maps presented below are provided as is and were created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Some areas of the City of Oxnard may be split between multiple maps. Use the links below to link to the correct image.