Floodplain Management
Flooding can happen anywhere in Tennessee. Floodplain management helps communities reduce flood risk, guide safer development, and protect lives, property, and public infrastructure.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency supports floodplain management across the state by providing guidance, technical assistance, mapping resources, and information related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Through this work, TEMA helps local officials, property owners, surveyors, and community partners better understand flood risk and take steps to reduce future flood damage.
Why Floodplain Management Matters
Floodplain management is one way communities can reduce the impact of flooding before it happens. Local floodplain management programs help guide development in areas that may flood, support safer building practices, and help communities maintain participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Floodplain management also helps residents, businesses, local governments, lenders, insurance agents, and other partners understand where flood risk exists and what requirements may apply to properties located in mapped flood hazard areas.
Find What You Need
Not Sure Where to Start?
Questions often depend on where a property is located and what you are trying to do. If you are buying property, building, making improvements, looking for flood insurance, or trying to understand your flood risk, start by reviewing the flood map for the property and contacting the local floodplain administrator for the community where the property is located.
Your local floodplain administrator can provide community-specific information about local requirements, permits, development standards, and floodplain questions.
Contact Us
If you have questions about floodplain management, flood insurance, or local National Flood Insurance Program requirements, contact your local floodplain administrator first. Local officials can provide the most accurate information about requirements in your community.
If your local floodplain administrator is unable to answer your question, please complete the TEMA NFIP contact form, and a member of the TEMA floodplain management team will follow up to provide additional support.