FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Update for O‘ahu
Flood risks change over time. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with communities across the country to identify flood hazards and promote ways to reduce the impacts and risks. Since 2019, FEMA has been conducting the Oʻahu Flood Hazard Restudy by performing detailed hydrologic and hydraulic studies using the latest high-quality data to analyze changes in flood risk along numerous streams, many of which have not been studied before. Using the study’s findings, FEMA released a preliminary revision to Oʻahu’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). The revised (draft) FIRMs give updated information about Oʻahu’s flood risk and includes risk changes for areas across the island.
As a result of FEMA’s update to the FIRMs, you may find the designated risk of flooding around your property has changed. This could have impacts not only on new building requirements, but also the requirement and cost of flood insurance.
Click the button below to learn more about the FIRM update, find your property on the map, and learn about the appeal process taking place March 13 - June 10, 2025.
O‘ahu Flood Risk Survey - The Results Are In!
The Resilience Office conducted the O‘ahu Flood Risk Survey between February and March 2024, and a total of 1,046 residents across Oʻahu participated. The survey sought to better understand residents’ awareness of flood risk, knowledge of flood insurance, and experience with flooding events. Results will be used to inform enhanced City outreach and education to improve community flood awareness and resilience island-wide, including the benefits of flood insurance.
Want to know more about your potential flood risk? Check out the Flood Hazard Assessment Tool.
Understand the Risk
Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Anywhere near the coast, it can flood too. In fact, everyone lives in a flood zone.
Find out more about how to determine flood risk in your area.
Insure My Property
Standard homeowners’ and renters’ insurance does NOT cover flooding.
Flood insurance covers your home AND your belongings from flooding incidents regardless of the cause, helping you recover faster and more fully after a disaster.
It takes 30 days for flood policies to become active, plan ahead to save what you love in a flood!
Stay Flood Safe
When faced with a flood: Turn around, don’t drown!
Here’s what to do if you, your car, or your home starts to flood.
Prepare My Home
Build Responsibly
Mālama ‘Āina
Repetitive Loss Area Analysis
The RLAA is an in-depth look at areas that have experienced multiple flood insurance losses in the past. The RLAA offers flood mitigation actions for individual buildings or areas, in contrast to community-wide approaches presented in the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan or other floodplain management plans. The City and County of Honolulu developed an RLAA for more comprehensive flood risk reduction and in preparation of an application to join the Community Rating System (CRS) under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).