FEMA’s interactive Map Service Center can be used to view the currently effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Flood Insurance Study (FIS), and any Letters of Map Change (LOMC). 

Request a change to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).

A property owner may request a change by submitting a Letter of Map Change (LOMC) documentation to FEMA. Reasons to submit a LOMC request include:

• The property is at a higher elevation than the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) on the FIRM.
• The property has been re-graded or elevated with fill.
• More accurate information than shown on the FIRM is available.

National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Risk Maps

• This national depiction of storm surge flooding vulnerability helps people living in hurricane-prone coastal areas. These maps make it clear that storm surge is not just a beachfront problem, with the risk of storm surge extending many miles inland from the immediate coastline i some areas.

The City of Charleston GIS portal includes resources such as:  

• Currently effective and preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
• Tide trends and projected tides ("Tide Eye")
• Sea Level Rise (SLR) viewer

Stream Gauges and Stream-flow Data:

• NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction - Charleston Harbor Tide Gauge
• NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction - Church Creek Gauge

Local Sea Level Rise (SLR) Projections:

• The City’s 2019 Flooding & Sea Level Rise Strategy makes a planning recommendation of 2.0-3.0 feet of SLR over the next 50 years.
• Projected SLR values can be determined locally using the US Army Corps of Engineers Calculator.
• Interactive map visualizations are available from the City of Charleston and the NOAA Office of Coastal Management.