Where Do the Scores Come From?

Every Flood Form rates a property on four types of flood exposure on a scale of Minimal, Low, Moderate, and High, along with its potential to absorb roof runoff into the ground. The ratings combine public data with a methodology Flood Form developed from more than a decade of Field Form experience designing and installing stormwater systems across New York City.

The four exposure types

• Stormwater — Heavy rain that collects on and around a property faster than it can drain away.
• Sewer Backup — Sewage and stormwater pushed back up through basement drains and fixtures when the sewer system is full.
• Groundwater — Water that rises through the ground and enters through foundation walls and floors.
• Coastal — Flooding from storm surge and high tides along the city's shoreline.

Many properties face more than one. Your report shows each type separately and names the one driving flooding at your address.

The data behind them

Flood Form draws on:

• Flood maps and models published by city, state, and federal agencies
• Public records of past flooding and sewer conditions
• Property records, including the building, lot, and ground elevation
• Soil, groundwater, and geological data

How these sources are evaluated and combined is Flood Form's own methodology. The agencies that publish the data do not produce or endorse Flood Form ratings.

What can change a score

Ratings are updated as agencies publish new data. What you tell us about flooding at your property is taken into account, and a Flood Form site visit gives the most complete picture of all.

What the scores are not

Flood Form ratings are a planning tool. They are not a FEMA flood zone determination, an insurance rating, an engineering certification, or a guarantee about future flooding. Public data can be incomplete, and conditions on site can differ from what records show, which is why a site visit is the recommended next step before planning a mitigation project. See our Terms of Service for details.