Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
Base Flood Elevation is the computed water-surface elevation of the flood that has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any year, as shown on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps for zones such as AE. Local floodplain ordinances often require finished floors or critical equipment to sit at or above the BFE plus added freeboard. The freeboard amount varies by community, so it is checked locally.
The full guide · Environmental & physical riskCan You Build a Data Center in a Floodplain?How FEMA flood zones, floodways and base flood elevations affect data center sites, what it takes to build near a floodplain, and how to screen flood risk.Where Base Flood Elevation comes up
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