TrueViewly

Coastal Storm Surge and Property Screening

A hurricane-category planning map answers a different question from a FEMA flood zone. Read the mapped scenario, coverage and local guidance together.

Practical guide

Property buyers and teams reviewing coastal exposure before property-specific flood and evacuation checks.

By TrueViewly. Last reviewed:

Read the scenario before the depth

Where mapped, TrueViewly shows NOAA SLOSH high-tide inundation ranges in feet above ground for each available hurricane category. These are regional planning estimates, not a forecast for an approaching storm.

  • A range such as 3-4 ft is not a surveyed water depth at a building or a FEMA Base Flood Elevation.
  • Hurricane categories are not annual probabilities. Do not convert the scenarios into a return period, freeboard or loss estimate.

Check regional coverage

The source grids used by the report cover Gulf and East Coast areas, Southern California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa. They are not nationwide flood coverage.

  • Southern California has categories 1-2; Hawaii has 1-4; the other mapped regions have 1-5.
  • Outside coverage and no mapped estimate are distinct from a depth value. Neither means no flooding.
  • A leveed-area designation provides no depth estimate or guarantee of protection.

What the sample demonstrates

Sonoma lies outside these planning grids. Its sample report therefore shows no SLOSH depth. At a separately checked San Diego coastal point, categories 1 and 2 returned 1-2 ft and 3-4 ft respectively; those values do not apply to Sonoma or all of San Diego.

  • Compare the result with the official flood map, local evacuation zone and property elevation information.
  • Use local emergency management for current warnings and a qualified professional for property-specific questions.

Sources and further reading

Source publications and live agency pages may differ from the snapshot used in a report. Check the report's source dates and confirm material findings through the responsible authority.

Frequently asked questions

Is storm-surge inundation my building's flood depth?

No. It is a mapped planning scenario, not surveyed building elevation, first-floor exposure or a forecast of damage.

Does a missing surge estimate mean zero risk?

No. Missing coverage or a missing cell value does not rule out coastal, riverine or rainfall flooding.

Does SLOSH change the risk score?

No. These scenarios are additional evidence, separate from existing scores and weights. They do not determine insurance terms.

Guide Post-Fire Debris-Flow Assessments Read dated basin evidence together with its rainfall conditions. Guide Illinois Flood-Risk Screening A first-pass flood and location-risk workflow for Illinois real estate. Guide Property Due-Diligence Checklist A consistent early checklist for property and location questions. Guide Screen Multiple Properties A bulk workflow for address lists, portfolios, and acquisition pipelines. Guide How to Read a Property Risk Report Use a screening report to guide the right next questions and reviews. Guide Wildfire Risk, WUI & Flame Length Separate annual fire likelihood, surrounding vegetation setting and conditional intensity. Guide Earthquake Ground Motion Separate reference-site shaking from modeled local ground conditions. Guide NFIP Community Status & CRS Understand jurisdiction matching, community participation and potential discount context. Guide Levees & Flood Screening Separate mapped-area intersection from proximity and dated inspection context. Guide NFIP Claims & Policy Context Read regional history without inferring property claims or active coverage. Guide Storm History & Footprints Read regional NOAA context and exact-point hail/tornado matches with source limitations. Guide Nearby Dams & Property Diligence Distinguish inventory hazard potential from failure probability and downstream exposure. Guide Karst & Property Due Diligence Use mapped geology to ask local ground and foundation questions. Guide Radon Zones & Building Testing Read county context without substituting it for a building test. Guide UST & Release Records Separate nearby source records from property contamination findings. Guide Water Systems & PFAS Context Confirm the supplier before interpreting historical monitoring.
Explore all guides

TrueViewly reports are informational decision-support outputs based on available datasets and user-provided inputs. They are not certifications, legal advice, engineering opinions, insurance determinations, government approvals, or a replacement for official records and professional due diligence.

See a sample report View pricing Talk to the team