What is the difference between a flood zone and an evacuation zone?

• 3 August 2023

Storm surge is a temporary rise in sea level that occurs along the coastline caused by the wind and low pressure associated with a storm. Evacuation zones are determined based a variety of factors including elevation and isolation. Flood zones are determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and refer to the probability of an area flooding resulting from the overflow of water onto normally dry land in any given year, often due to excessive rainfall, melting snow, or other factors that cause water bodies to exceed their capacity or natural boundaries. Flooding can occur in coastal areas due to storm surges, but it can also happen in inland regions due to heavy rainfall, river overflows, dam breaches, or urban drainage system failures. Both types of flooding can be very dangerous.