Alternative Text Description for DFIRM 100 Year Floodplain

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays areas within the 100-year floodplain across the state of Florida. The 100-year floodplain represents areas that have a 1% annual chance of flooding. The map shows the extensive distribution of flood-prone areas throughout Florida, derived from Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) data with a 10-meter cell resolution.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map encompasses the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle region in the northwest near Dothan and Albany to the southern tip near Miami and the Florida Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in the central region, Tampa on the west-central coast, Cape Coral on the southwest coast, and Miami in the southeast. Portions of southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama are visible to the north. The Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern coast, while the Gulf of America borders the western and southern coasts. Savannah, Georgia appears in the northeast corner of the map extent.

KEY INSIGHTS

The 100-year floodplain areas are extensively distributed throughout Florida, reflecting the state's low-lying topography and coastal geography. The most prominent patterns include widespread coverage along both the Atlantic and Gulf of America coastlines, with particularly dense floodplain areas in South Florida including the Everglades region and around Miami. The southwestern coastal areas near Cape Coral and Tampa show substantial floodplain extent. Northern Florida's panhandle region displays dense networks of floodplain areas following river systems and coastal zones. Central Florida shows more scattered floodplain coverage, with notable concentrations along river corridors and lake systems. The concentration of floodplain areas in coastal zones and along major waterways demonstrates Florida's significant flood risk exposure across both urban and rural areas.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

DFIRM 100 Year Floodplain Layer

This layer represents areas designated as within the 100-year floodplain based on DFIRM data.

100 Year Floodplain Areas (bright blue)

Appearance:

Areas within the 100-year floodplain are depicted in bright blue, contrasting against a light gray background representing areas outside the floodplain.

Distribution:

Floodplain areas appear throughout the entire state of Florida, with particular concentration along coastal regions, in South Florida, and following major river systems throughout the state.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

Floodplain areas follow clear geographic patterns including continuous coastal bands along shorelines, dendritic patterns following river and stream networks inland, and concentrated zones around major lakes and wetland systems. The floodplain features appear as both broad continuous zones in low-lying coastal areas and as narrow linear corridors following inland waterways. South Florida shows the most extensive and continuous floodplain coverage, while central Florida displays more fragmented patterns associated with specific water features.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map displays flood hazard information critical for land use planning, emergency management, insurance determination, and public safety. The 100-year floodplain designation indicates areas with significant flood risk that may require special construction standards, flood insurance, or development restrictions. The map is derived from official DFIRM data and represents regulatory floodplain boundaries. Users should note that this is a statewide overview, and site-specific flood determinations should reference official DFIRM panels at larger scales for precise boundary locations.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This layer is derived from the DFIRM_FLDHAZ vector layer, which contains official Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map flood hazard information. The data has been converted to a raster format with a 10-meter cell size for display purposes.

Data source layer name: DFIRM_100_DEC24

Definition Query:

This map displays only areas classified as within the 100-year floodplain, filtering the source data to show flood-prone areas versus areas outside the floodplain boundary.

Scale Information:

This is a statewide view appropriate for understanding regional flood patterns and general flood risk distribution. For property-specific flood determinations and regulatory purposes, users should consult larger-scale DFIRM panels.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data designation includes "DEC24" suggesting December 2024 as the reference period for this dataset version.

Limitations:

This raster representation simplifies the original vector DFIRM data to a 10-meter cell resolution, which may result in minor boundary generalization compared to official DFIRM vector panels. The map shows current floodplain designations, but flood risks can change due to development, climate change, improved modeling, or infrastructure changes. Areas outside the 100-year floodplain are not risk-free and may still experience flooding under certain conditions.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle to the Keys, with small portions of southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama visible for geographic context. The extent includes all Florida coastal areas along both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.