Checking flood risk before you buy in Atascosa County

Atascosa County is drained by the Atascosa River and several smaller streams that can rise quickly during heavy rain. Properties in the 1-percent annual chance floodplain (the 100-year floodplain) typically require flood insurance if the buyer has a federally backed mortgage. Properties in the 0.2-percent floodplain carry lower but still real risk.

The FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov lets you search by address to see your official flood zone designation and the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel for any parcel in the county. Flood zone designations can change when maps are updated, so check the current effective map, not just what a seller tells you.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) even if a lender does not require it. The Texas Water Development Board also maintains flood mapping resources and planning information for the region.