Banks, builders, landlords and homeowners rely on federal maps to assess the risk of flooding, the costliest type of natural disaster in the U.S. Typical home insurance doesn’t cover flooding, so most mortgage lenders require separate coverage inside the U.S. government’s designated flood zones. But federal maps overlook millions of at-risk homes across the country—often ones far from the coast, particularly in urban areas, where rainfall causes more damage than rising rivers, lakes or oceans. (WSJ)

11/10/2025