Is X-500 flood zone a myth?

[KenAZ]

I keep getting correction requests to change my flood zone from X to X500. Typically it is due to a flood cert by CoreLogic.

I did some extensive research and found that there is no such zone according to FEMA. They used to have Zone B and C, but they combined them both into Zone X. In 1985 FEMA changed their zone reporting, replacing zones B and C with a new designation, X. Areas previously marked as zone C were replaced with unshaded areas marked as X. Areas marked zone B were replaced with shaded areas also marked as X.

So technically we should not be stating flood zones as X-500. We should instead be labeling them as X (Shaded) and X (Unshaded).

Every reference I see for the X-500 is just invented by some lender, AMC or some other entity that is NOT FEMA. Anyone have any further information on this, and maybe an official statement to rebut those that require me to use the "X-500" zone?

Or should I just pick a different battle and let it be . . .

P.S. The URAR form asks for the "FEMA flood zone"

 

[RSW]

I use X in the spot for the zone and then report it as X unshaded or X shaded in the comment section.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Yeah, we have those.

The subject house not is located in a F.E.M.A. special flood hazard area, however the property is designated as X500 "Areas of 500-year flood; areas of 100-year flood with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile".

 

[CigarDad]

Definition/Description

Flood hazard areas identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map are identified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). SFHA are defined as the area that will be inundated by the flood event having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1-percent annual chance flood is also referred to as the base flood or 100-year flood. SFHAs are labeled as Zone A, Zone AO, Zone AH, Zones A1-A30, Zone AE, Zone A99, Zone AR, Zone AR/AE, Zone AR/AO, Zone AR/A1-A30, Zone AR/A, Zone V, Zone VE, and Zones V1-V30. Moderate flood hazard areas, labeled Zone B or Zone X (shaded) are also shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood. The areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood, are labeled Zone C or Zone X (unshaded).

Source: [url]https://www.FEMA.gov/floodplain-management/flood-zones[/URL]

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

500 years... so after a 100 year flood, you have only 400 more years to wait Tell corelogic you won't be alive then.

 

[Pilgrum]

I refuse to change a flood zone. I verify it through my software and through FEMA's site. I let the lender know that they can require flood insurance or not.

"Flood Zone Map is provided by appraiser's software and verified through http://www.FEMA.gov/hazard/map/index.shtm. Any other Flood Zone Designation provided by any other third party may be used at the discretion of the client's underwriter. No changes will be made to this appraisal report that may call for a different Flood Zone Designation."

 

[JTip]

Zone X is 500 years, period. I sold flood insurance for years and never seen X-500. Sounds like a blender model number from an infomercial. I like what Pilgrum offered, good stuff.

I bet you a beer if you put X-500 in the field it won't pass the UAD check anyways.

 

[Red Flint]

X500 is a FEMA flood risk zone, flood risk every 500 years.

See page 18

http://www.training.FEMA.gov/hiedu/docs/hazrm/handout 4-5.pdf

 

[BRCJR]

The lender (regulated) is required to pull their own flood certification BEFORE they close the loan.