Deadly and destructive flash flooding in Texas and several other states in July 2025 is raising questions about the nation’s flood maps and their ability to ensure that communities and homeowners can prepare for rising risks.
The same region of Texas Hill Country where a flash flood on July 4 killed at least 129 people was hit again with downpours a week later, forcing searchers to temporarily pause their efforts to find missing victims. Other states including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont and Iowa also saw flash flood damage in July.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps are intended to be the nation’s primary tool for identifying flood risks. Originally developed in the 1970s to support the National Flood Insurance Program, these maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or FIRMs, are used to determine where flood insurance is required for federally…