FEMA Assessment Parameters

Select the FEMA assessment parameter that most closely aligns with your property’s damage. Start by viewing the section that pertains to your home type: conventional built or manufactured. Then, view the section that pertains to the cause of damage: flood or non-flood. 

Conventional Built Home

Level: Affected

Flood

  • Waterline in the crawl space or an unfurnished basement.
  • Damage to an attached structure (e.g., porch, carport, garage, outbuilding, etc.), gutters, screens, landscaping, and retaining walls or downed trees that do not affect access to the residence.
  • Essential living spaces and mechanical components are not damaged or submerged.

Level: Affected

Non-Flood

  • The residence has cosmetic damage, such as paint discoloration or loose siding.
  • The residence has minimal missing shingles or siding.
  • Damage to gutters, retaining walls, or downed trees that do not affect access to the residence.

Level: Minor

Flood

  • Waterline is below electrical outlets in the lowest floor with essential living space.
  • Damage or disaster-related contamination to a private well or septic system.

Level: Minor

Non-Flood

  • Nonstructural damage to roof components over essential living spaces (e.g., shingles, roof covering, fascia board, soffit, flashing, and skylight).
  • Nonstructural damage to the interior wall components, to include drywall and insulation.
  • Nonstructural damage to exterior components.
  • Multiple small vertical cracks in the foundation.
  • Damage to chimney (i.e., tilting, falling, cracking, or separating from the residence).
  • Damage to mechanical components (e.g., furnace, boiler, water heater, HVAC, etc.).
  • Damage or disaster related contamination to a private well or septic system.

Level: Major

Flood

  • Waterline is at or above the electrical outlets in the essential living space.
  • Waterline on the first floor (regardless of depth) if the basement is completely submerged.

Level: Major

Non-Flood

  • Failure or partial failure of structural elements of the roof over essential living spaces, to include rafters, ceiling joists, ridge boards, etc.
  • Failure or partial failure of structural elements of the walls, to include framing, etc.
  • Failure or partial failure to foundation, to include crumbling, bulging, collapsing, horizontal cracks, and shifting of the residence from its foundation.

Level: Destroyed

Flood

  • There is complete failure of two or more major structural components (e.g., collapse of foundation, walls, or roof).
  • The waterline is at or higher than the ceiling of an above-ground essential living space.
  • Only the foundation remains.
  • The residence is in imminent danger (e.g., impending landslide, mudslide, or sinkhole).

Level: Destroyed

Non-Flood

  • There is complete failure of two or more major structural components (e.g., collapse of foundation, walls, or roof).
  • Only the foundation remains.
  • The residence is in imminent danger (e.g., impending landslide, mudslide, or sinkhole).

Manufactured Home

Level: Affected

Flood

  • Cosmetic damage only (e.g., skirting, paint, gutters or shingles are impacted).
  • The water level is below the floor system (e.g., there is no visible waterline).

Level: Affected

Non-Flood

  • Cosmetic damage only (e.g., skirting, paint, gutters, or shingles are impacted).
  • Damage to a retaining wall or downed trees that do not block access to the residence.

Level: Minor

Flood

  • The waterline has reached the floor system but has not entered the living space of the unit. There may be damage to bottom board,
    insulation, or ductwork in the floor system or to the HVAC.
  • There is no structural damage to the residence, and it has not been displaced from the foundation.

Level: Minor

Non-Flood

  • Some of the nonstructural components have sustained damage (e.g., damaged windows, doors, wall coverings, bottom board insulation, ductwork, utility hookups [e.g., water, electricity, gas, telephone/internet, and septic], and HVAC).
  • There is no structural damage to the residence, and it has not been displaced from its foundation.

Level: Major

Flood

  • Water has covered the floor system and entered the living space of the unit but is below the ceiling.
  • The residence has been displaced from the foundation, block, or piers and other structural components have been damaged.

Level: Major

Non-Flood

  • The majority of nonstructural components (e.g., windows, doors, wall coverings, bottom board insulation, ductwork, utility hookups [e.g., water, electricity, gas, telephone/internet, and septic], and HVAC) have sustained significant damage.
  • The roof is substantially damaged.
  • The residence has been displaced from its foundation, block, or piers, and other structural components have been damaged.

Level: Destroyed

Flood

  • Waterline is at or above the ceiling.
  • The residence’s frame is bent, twisted, or otherwise compromised.
  • Most of the structural framing of the roof or walls has been compromised, exposing the interior.

Level: Destroyed

Non-Flood

  • The residence’s frame is bent, twisted, or otherwise compromised.
  • Most of the structural framing of the roof or walls has been compromised, exposing the interior.