If a recently annexed area is not shown on your community's FIRM, what map should be used?

Using the FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) for the county or previous community is the correct approach for a recently annexed area that is not specifically shown on your community's current FIRM. This is important because the annexed area may still be subject to floodplain management requirements dictated by broader regional policies.

Typically, when a municipality incorporates new areas, it may take some time for those areas to be updated on the FIRM. While the community may have its own regulations, federal floodplain management standards require that flood risk assessments rely on the most accurate and current data available, which often comes from the broader county map or the FIRM of the community from which the area was annexed.

This ensures consistency in floodplain management and enforcement of regulations, as the flood risks associated with the annexed areas may mirror those of adjacent regions already established in the FIRM. Thus, using the FIRM from the county or previous community provides necessary guidance for managing flood-related issues before the local maps can be updated.