Frequently Asked Questions

HighTide Intelligence is a flood risk data company. We primarily work on flood vulnerability assessments for government agencies. As a mission-driven company, we have also made our data available to the public on Arkly.com, which is designed to help property owners manage their flood risk.

HighTide Intelligence is a B Corp certified company whose core technology, the Stanford Urban Risk Framework (SURF), was developed at Stanford University, and is peer-reviewed and published in Earth’s Future. SURF has received awards from both Stanford University and Microsoft. Arkly, our free flood risk management platform, received the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council’s Diamond Award.

Numerous positive testimonials from our partners and clients, multiple mentions in large media outlets like Florida Today and the Today Show, and thankful reviews from Arkly users make HighTide a trusted partner for your business.

B Lab is a trusted non-profit organization and a leader in economic systems change. It conducts an assessment for companies like HighTide to become Certified B Corporations (B Corps).

B Corp certification holds us to the highest standards of accountability and transparency, ensuring our clients can trust our commitment to more than just profit. It means that at HighTide, we prioritize our impact on people and the planet, integrating sustainability and social responsibility into everything we do.

HighTide uses state-of-the-art analytics, peer-reviewed methodologies, and collaborates with leading property data vendors to deliver accurate flood risk assessments.

At the core of our technology is the Stanford Urban Risk Framework (SURF), developed at Stanford University and published in the peer-reviewed journal Earth’s Future. SURF has been recognized with awards from both Stanford University and Microsoft, highlighting its innovative approach and reliability.

We integrate a range of publicly available datasets from authoritative sources, including FEMA, NOAA, and the US Census Bureau. For a detailed overview of our methodology and the datasets we employ, please refer to our published study in Earth’s Future: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001963.

To get in touch, please submit a message through our Contact Us page.

Arkly is a free flood risk management platform that makes flood risk data and solutions accessible and intuitive to homeowners.

Arkly is available in all of Florida and coastal areas of Puerto Rico.

We typically update Arkly’s data every 3-6 months. Communities that use Arkly Pro can receive more regular updates.

Flood risk for homeowners is the likelihood that their property will experience flooding, potentially leading to damage and financial losses. It depends on factors like the property’s location in a flood-prone area, its elevation relative to nearby bodies of water, and local weather patterns. Understanding flood risk helps homeowners make informed decisions about purchasing flood insurance and taking measures to protect their homes from flooding.

Flood risk is an abstract concept that is difficult for most people to understand – even experts! Arkly aims to make flood risk easier to understand by providing property-level flood risk in terms of dollars per year. For example, a homeowner may have a flood risk of $1,000 per year. This means that if their property’s flood risk doesn’t change, this homeowner is likely to experience $50,000 in flood damage over the course of 50 years. If that homeowner sets aside $1,000 each year, then after 50 years they would have the $50,000 needed to cover the expected flood damage. However, flooding is very difficult to predict, and it is possible that $50,000 in flood damage (or more) could occur any given first year.

The flood risk given on Arkly.com can be used as an estimate for self-insuring, however this example shows that self-insuring is still a risky way to manage your flood risk. In most cases, buying flood insurance is a better approach and has a lower annual cost.

“Self-insurance” cost is the estimated amount of money you set aside each year to cover your flood risk. The flood risk in dollars, provided on the Arkly platform, is effectively the same as the cost of self-insuring your flood risk. You can compare your flood risk/self-insurance cost to the cost of flood risk management solutions to determine the best option for your situation and needs.

Flood risk is complex, so you don’t want to rely on a single source of information. For a long time, people have misunderstood flood risk by thinking they only have risk if they’re inside one of FEMA’s high-risk flood zones. This is not true – there is risk of flooding even in places that have never flooded before. It’s important to keep in mind that more than 25% of flood insurance claims occur outside FEMA’s high-risk flood zones. Below is a list of options to help you get started understanding your risk:

1. Check FEMA Flood Maps: FEMA provides Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that designate flood zones and base flood elevations for different areas. You can access these maps on Arkly.com, FEMA’s Map Service Center, or at your local government office to see if your property is in a flood-prone area.

2. Consult Local Authorities: Reach out to your local government or planning department. They can provide information about flood hazards in your area, recent flood history, and floodplain regulations.

3. Talk to Neighbors: If you’re new to an area, ask neighbors about their experiences with flooding. They may provide valuable insights.

4. Hire a Professional: Consider hiring a surveyor or engineer to assess your property’s elevation and flood risk. They can provide expert advice on mitigation measures. You can hire a flood risk and mitigation experts on Arkly.com.

5. Monitor Weather and Warnings: Stay informed about weather forecasts and flood alerts issued by local authorities. Extreme weather events can cause unprecedented flooding. These warnings can help you prepare for potential flooding events.

6. Check your flood risk at Arkly.com: Search your address on Arkly.com to learn about your flood zone, your flood risk, and local government programs available in your area. We have done our best to centralize all the information you need to learn about flood risk and take action to protect your home from flooding.

Even though both of our properties are in the flood zone, flood risk for each property is calculated based on its individual characteristics, including but not limited to its location, elevation relative to nearby bodies of water, and square footage.

A flood zone, as defined by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), is a geographic area with varying levels of flood risk. FEMA designates flood zones on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) based on factors like historical flood data, topography, and hydrology.

The primary FEMA flood zone classifications include:

A Zones (Special Flood Hazard Area): Areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding (often referred to as the 100-year floodplain). Properties in these zones are typically required to have flood insurance if they have federally regulated mortgages.

V Zones (Coastal High Hazard Area): Coastal areas with a high risk of flooding and additional hazards like storm surges. These zones have more stringent building requirements.

X Zones (Moderate to Low Risk): Areas with lower flood risk. Properties in these zones may still be recommended for flood insurance, but it’s not mandatory.

Understanding your FEMA flood zone is crucial for determining flood insurance requirements and taking necessary precautions to protect your property from potential flooding. Arkly.com makes it easy for homeowners to search their flood zone and get the flood insurance coverage they need.

You can check your flood zone on Arkly.com if you are in Florida or Puerto Rico. Visit FEMA’s Map Service Center to check your flood risk anywhere in the United States.

A Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is an official FEMA map that shows flood risk zones, helping determine flood insurance requirements and premiums. It identifies high-risk areas (Special Flood Hazard Areas) and provides details like flood zones and Base Flood Elevation (BFE) to guide flood management and building regulations.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is a U.S. government agency responsible for coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts. It provides resources, funding, and support for emergency preparedness, including flood insurance programs and disaster relief assistance.

Flooding can be caused by heavy rainfall, snowmelt, hurricanes, storm surges, or dam failures, which can overwhelm natural or artificial drainage systems. It can also occur in areas near rivers, lakes, and coastal regions during periods of excessive precipitation. Generally speaking, “if it rains, it can flood.”

Every year, the United States can be affected by two kinds of hurricane seasons: the Atlantic hurricane season and the Eastern Pacific hurricane season.

The Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1st through November 30th each year and primarily affects Florida, the Gulf Coast states, and the East Coast up to the Mid-Atlantic states.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th to November 30th each year and primarily affects Mexico, Central America, the southwestern U.S., and Hawaii.

Flooding is getting worse due to a combination of factors, including climate change, urbanization, deforestation, and land-use changes. Climate change leads to more intense rainfall, rising sea levels, and increased risk of extreme weather events like hurricanes and heavy storms. Urbanization and land development can disrupt natural drainage systems and create impermeable surfaces that contribute to faster runoff. These factors, when combined, result in a higher likelihood of flooding and more severe flooding events.

The “Flood Risk Time Machine” on Arkly.com shows you how coastal flood risk from storm surge is getting worse due to sea level rise.

Florida experiences frequent flooding due to its low-lying geography, high water table, and the prevalence of hurricanes and tropical storms. The state’s flat terrain and porous limestone bedrock make it susceptible to both coastal and inland flooding during heavy rainfall events and storm surges.

A flood is a distressing ordeal for homeowners. It involves water invading your living spaces, potentially destroying furniture, appliances, and sentimental items. Moreover, if flood damage is not addressed promptly and properly it can lead to structural issues and create a breeding ground for mold, which poses a serious health hazard. Coping with the cleanup, insurance claims, and the emotional toll of seeing your home damaged can be both overwhelming and time consuming, underscoring the importance of flood preparedness and insurance coverage for homeowners.

More states are requiring sellers to disclose information about past flood damage.

In Florida, House Bill 1049 “Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property”  requires sellers to disclose details about their property’s flood risks to prospective homebuyers, including:

1. whether the seller filed a claim with an insurance provider relating to flood damage, and

2. whether the seller received federal assistance for flood damage to the property.

However, the law does not require the seller to disclose information about a home’s past flood damage.

Ground elevation is extremely important for determining flood risk, especially in coastal areas. In simple terms, ground elevation is roughly the height of your property’s land above sea level. In reality, ground elevation is measured relative to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), which is within 0.5 feet from sea level in most cases.

How can you use this data? If, for example, your area is expecting an 8 foot storm surge, and your ground elevation is 4 feet, then it is likely that you will be impacted by storm surge.

The ground elevation shown on Arkly.com is derived from the average ground elevation within the building footprint, based on data from the most recent publicly-available digital elevation model. Accuracy is within 1 foot in most places.

Here is our suggested after-the-flood to-do list:

1. Return to your property when allowed by officials.

2. If it’s safe to do so, turn off the electricity, gas, and water (in case it wasn’t done prior to an event).

3. Wear protective gear during cleanup.

4. Document damage by taking photographs or videos.

5. Create an inventory of damaged belongings.

6. Contact your insurer(s) to report the water damage.

7. Remove damaged furniture, appliances, and drywall.

8. Dispose of unsafe food.

9. Clean surfaces.

10. Ventilate or dehumidify the house until it is completely dry.

If your property is located in one of FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (i.e. SFHA or any flood zone starting with A or V) and have a federally backed mortgage, your mortgage provider will require that you purchase flood insurance. However, it is always advisable to have flood insurance, even if you are located in a low-risk or moderate-risk area where it has never flooded before.

In recent years, flooding has become more severe due to changing climate and it is becoming very difficult to predict flood risk accurately. When you buy flood insurance, you’re also buying peace of mind against the most expensive natural hazard.

In the majority of cases, homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a program administered by FEMA that provides federally backed flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses.