fldzone = 'V'

Risk tier: High — coastal high-hazard area within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

Zone V is the coastal 1%-annual-chance floodplain subject to additional hazard from storm-induced wave action. The "V" stands for velocity — the destructive force of breaking waves. It applies to the area along the open coast where waves of 3 feet or higher can occur during the base flood. As with A, the bare V designation means the study was approximate and no Base Flood Elevation was determined.

Why V zones are the most severe

Wave action adds forces that still-water flooding does not: hydrodynamic loads, debris impact, and erosion/scour that can undermine foundations. For this reason V zones carry the strictest construction standards of any flood zone.

• staticbfe is NULL for Zone V — no BFE was computed.
• The detailed-study equivalent with a determined BFE is VE.

Building and insurance implications

• Flood insurance is federally required for mortgaged structures, and V-zone premiums are the highest tier because of wave and erosion risk.
• New and substantially improved buildings must be elevated on an open foundation (piles or columns) so waves pass beneath the lowest horizontal structural member.
• Solid perimeter walls, fill for structural support, and enclosures below the elevated floor are prohibited or strictly limited (breakaway walls only).

zonesubty values

Zone V polygons usually carry no subtype.

In the data

SELECT lrid, parceladdr, fldzone
FROM   lr_parcel_us
WHERE  fldzone = 'V';

See also: Zone VE (coastal high hazard with a BFE), Zone A (inland equivalent).