FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Updates Finalized for O‘ahu
Flood risks change over time. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works with communities across the country to identify flood hazards and promote ways to reduce impacts and risks. FEMA recently studied numerous streams across O‘ahu and released a preliminary revision to Oʻahu’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). On October 29, 2025, FEMA issued a Letter of Final Determination for the FIRMs. This letter starts a six month compliance period from October 29 through April 29, 2026, after which the maps will become effective. Once the updated FIRMs become effective, property owners with properties newly mapped into the high-risk flood zone (“Special Flood Hazard Area”) will need to comply with building regulations and may be required to purchase flood insurance.
As a result of FEMA’s update to the FIRMs, you may find the designated risk of flooding around your property has changed. This could have impacts not only on new building requirements, but also the requirement and cost of flood insurance.
Click the button below to learn more about the FIRM update, find your property on the map, and explore resources.
O‘ahu Flood Risk Survey - The Results Are In!
The Resilience Office conducted the O‘ahu Flood Risk Survey between February and March 2024, and a total of 1,046 residents across Oʻahu participated. The survey sought to better understand residents’ awareness of flood risk, knowledge of flood insurance, and experience with flooding events. Results will be used to inform enhanced City outreach and education to improve community flood awareness and resilience island-wide, including the benefits of flood insurance.
Want to know more about your potential flood risk? Check out the Flood Hazard Assessment Tool.
Understand the Risk
Anywhere it rains, it can flood. Anywhere near the coast, it can flood too. In fact, everyone lives in a flood zone.
Find out more about how to determine flood risk in your area.
Insure My Property
Standard homeowners’ and renters’ insurance does NOT cover flooding.
Flood insurance covers your home AND your belongings from flooding incidents regardless of the cause, helping you recover faster and more fully after a disaster.
It takes 30 days for flood policies to become active, plan ahead to save what you love in a flood!
Stay Flood Safe
When faced with a flood: Turn around, don’t drown!
Here’s what to do if you, your car, or your home starts to flood.
Prepare My Home
Build Responsibly
Mālama ‘Āina
Repetitive Loss Area Analysis
The RLAA is an in-depth look at areas that have experienced multiple flood insurance losses in the past. The RLAA offers flood mitigation actions for individual buildings or areas, in contrast to community-wide approaches presented in the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan or other floodplain management plans. The City and County of Honolulu developed an RLAA for more comprehensive flood risk reduction and in preparation of an application to join the Community Rating System (CRS) under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).