Maybe by Sat I will have a definitive answer for all of you. Headed for a seminar Friday that will be given by one of the big bosses for FEMA out of San Francisco. Did some digging right now through some info from a similar FEMA seminar about 10 years ago.
Community Number:
Six digit National Flood Insurance Program identification number for the mapped community. The community number is often followed by a letter suffix, which is increased alphabetically each time the Flood Insurance Rate Map is revised.
Flood Hazard Area Designation:
Dark and light tints that identify areas of greater or lesser flood hazard, respectively. Dark tinted areas are designated as Zone A, AE, AO, AH, A1-A30, A99, V, VE or V1V30. Light tinted areas are desinated as Zone B and areas where no tints are shown are designated as Zone C or Zone D or Zone X.
Explanation of Zone Designations:
Zones A--areas of 100 year flood
Zone B--Areas between limits of 100 year flood and 500 year flood
Zone C--Areas of minimal flooding
Zone D--Areas of undetermined, but possible, flood hazards
Zone V--Areas of 100 year coastal flood
Zone X (tinted)--Areas of 500 year flood, or 100 year flood with average depth of 1 foot or drainage areas of less than one square mile, and areas protected by levees from 100 year flood.
Zone X (not tinted)--Areas determined to be outside 500 year flood plain.
Zones A and V might be dark tinted or polka dotted with floodways noted by slash marks.
What other questions should I ask at the seminar on Friday?
