Evacuation zones are based on a property’s vulnerability to storm surge from a hurricane. Everyone lives in a flood zone, which may be high, moderate or low risk.

Flood zones are not the same as evacuation zones. Flood zones are used for assessing a property’s flood risk, which can be caused by heavy rains or tropical storms and hurricanes.

Know Your Zone - Charlotte County, FL

The current Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) took effect beginning Dec. 15, 2022.

The current flood zone called Coastal A Zone (CAZ) will be incorporated into these maps. The CAZ flood zone is also known as the Limits of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) and will depict the areas where properties may be impacted by wave crests of 1.5-foot- 3-foot during a 1% chance flood event.

Structures built in the CAZ will need elevations and foundations similar to those located in the coastal high hazard area V/VE flood zones. The V/VE flood zone are areas that have impacts from wave crests 3-foot and higher.

For insurance purposes, the community number and new suffix code for the panels are indicated on the FIRM and must be used for all new policies and renewals starting Dec. 15, 2022.

• FEMA-FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Welcome!
• What’s this LiMWA thing? FEMA LiMWA Fact Sheet
• Call FEMA With Questions 1-(877) FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) 

Download FEMA FIRM Panels for City of Punta Gorda – Index Map and Full Size PDF Maps - Index Map

Flooding in Punta Gorda is caused by heavy rainfall that occurs in short periods of time, as is common during summer thunderstorms. However, the greatest flood threats come from the excessive rainfall that accompany coastal storms, tropical storms and hurricanes.

Charlotte County Local Mitigation Strategy: 2025-charlotte-county-lms 

Questions or comments regarding the flood facts should be directed to the Flood plain Coordinator at 941-575-3418 or ddamaso@cityofpuntagordafl.com , or to the Flood Plain Administrator at 941-575-3344 or rcohowcz@cityofpuntagordafl.com