What are areas identified by FEMA as having a high risk for flooding called?

Areas identified by FEMA as having a high risk for flooding are referred to as flood zones. These zones are delineated on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and categorize areas based on their risk of flooding. The designations in these flood zones not only help in understanding the potential for flood damage but also determine flood insurance requirements and building regulations that need to be followed in those areas.

FEMA uses the term flood zones to standardize how flood risks are communicated and how they guide policy-making, planning, and development in susceptible regions. Different flood zones indicate varying levels of risk, with specific designations signaling areas subject to inundation during significant weather events, which is critical for property owners and investors in making informed decisions about real estate in such areas.

The other terms, while they express similar concepts, do not align precisely with FEMA's official terminology. Floodplains typically refer more broadly to areas adjacent to rivers and lakes that can flood, flood areas is a more generic term that does not specifically identify the classification system used by FEMA, and flood risk zones is less commonly used in official communications than flood zones.