The 100-year flood is also referred to as what?

The 100-year flood is commonly referred to as the base flood. This terminology indicates the flood event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, which serves as a crucial benchmark for floodplain management and regulatory purposes. The term "base flood" is integral to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as it defines the level of flooding that communities must consider when determining floodplain management regulations and when developing flood hazard maps. Understanding this concept helps in recognizing the potential risks associated with flooding and the importance of building codes and insurance requirements in flood-prone areas.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the 100-year flood. The special flood hazard area refers to regions that may be at higher risk than the general area, but it is not synonymous with the base flood. The standard flood is not a recognized term in flood management literature, and although regional floods can occur, they do not designate a specific statistical probability like the base flood does.