Does South Seminole Heights flood?
South Seminole Heights, Tampa, FL · ZIP code 33603: the ZIP code on 30 of the 30 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around South Seminole Heights have filed flood claims. About 19% of South Seminole Heights’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 30 claims from the Census block groups that cover South Seminole Heights, from 1982 through 2024. 24 of them received a payment, totaling $1,355,487 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2024 (18 claims), 1982 (3 claims), 1985 (3 claims).
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in South Seminole Heights
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone and the hurricane evacuation zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in South Seminole Heights
The named streets in South Seminole Heights, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside South Seminole Heights lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside South Seminole Heights; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 10 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| N Highland Ave | 5,280 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (94%) |
| N Ola Ave | 3,310 ft | 5.2% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| W Emma St | 3,190 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W North Bay St | 2,720 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Lynn Ave | 2,680 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Chelsea St | 2,670 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| N River Blvd | 2,660 ft | 81% | AE (81%) |
| W Osborne Ave | 2,650 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| North Blvd | 2,620 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Alva St | 2,350 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Clearfield Ave | 2,170 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Curtis St | 2,070 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Louisiana Ave | 2,030 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (72%) |
| W Hillsborough Ave | 1,960 ft | 7.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (71%) |
| W Violet St | 1,950 ft | 42% | X (unshaded, minimal) (51%) |
| W Wilder Ave | 1,860 ft | 15% | X (unshaded, minimal) (81%) |
| W South Ave | 1,850 ft | 26% | X (unshaded, minimal) (64%) |
| W Haya St | 1,830 ft | 18% | X (unshaded, minimal) (77%) |
| W Crest Ave | 1,780 ft | 7.5% | X (unshaded, minimal) (87%) |
| W Giddens Ave | 1,650 ft | 5.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| Riverside Dr | 1,410 ft | 80% | AE (80%) |
| W Cayuga St | 1,360 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Genessee St | 1,350 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W Genesee St | 1,350 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Hilda St | 1,330 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved October 25, 2026. Each street is clipped to the neighborhood boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in South Seminole Heights
Share of South Seminole Heights’s mapped area (about 1.567 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 11 to 11 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (12057C0351J, 12057C0352J): October 7, 2021.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 76% |
| AE | 19% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 4.5% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover South Seminole Heights. About 100% of the combined area of those block groups lies inside South Seminole Heights. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8 | $26,625 |
| 1990s | 1 | $872 |
| 2000s | 2 | $4,233 |
| 2010s | 1 | $10,774 |
| 2020s | 18 | $1,312,983 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Helene: 11 claims
- Hurricane Milton: 5 claims
- Hurricane Elena: 3 claims
- Hurricane Debby: 2 claims
- Hurricane Irma: 1 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 22
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 8
How much is flood insurance in South Seminole Heights?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in South Seminole Heights costs $1,304 a year: the median of 96 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $1,036 and $2,526. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed October 25, 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in South Seminole Heights
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
- Hiring movers? Check the moving company’s federal license and insurance first with the free Tampa mover check.
Living in South Seminole Heights
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare South Seminole Heights with other Tampa neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Tampa on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does South Seminole Heights flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around South Seminole Heights have filed flood claims. About 19% of South Seminole Heights’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 30 claims from the Census block groups that cover South Seminole Heights, from 1982 through 2024. 24 of them received a payment, totaling $1,355,487 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2024 (18 claims), 1982 (3 claims), 1985 (3 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is South Seminole Heights in a flood zone?
About 19% of South Seminole Heights’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 76%; AE 19%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 4.5%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect October 7, 2021.
Which streets in South Seminole Heights are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of N River Blvd and Riverside Dr lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of N Highland Ave, N Ola Ave, W Emma St, W North Bay St, Lynn Ave, W Chelsea St, W Osborne Ave and North Blvd does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is South Seminole Heights in?
South Seminole Heights is in Tampa, FL. ZIP code 33603: the ZIP code on 30 of the 30 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
How much is flood insurance in South Seminole Heights?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in South Seminole Heights cost $1,304 a year: the median of 96 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $1,036 and $2,526. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Does Old Seminole Heights flood?
- Does Riverbend flood?
- Does Riverside Heights flood?
- Does Tampa Heights flood?
- Does Wellswood flood?
- West Riverside Heights
How these numbers were made
Neighborhood boundary: City of Tampa, Neighborhoods (open data, CC0). Flood zone shares: the neighborhood polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Hillsborough County (county code 12057), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. A 2010 Census block group is counted for a neighborhood when at least 25% of the block group lies inside the neighborhood, or at least 25% of the neighborhood lies inside the block group. Block groups used: 120570023003 (99.8% of the block group is inside South Seminole Heights), 120570023001 (99.6% of the block group is inside South Seminole Heights), 120570023002 (100.0% of the block group is inside South Seminole Heights). Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- City of Tampa, Neighborhoods (open data, CC0).
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and October 25, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 25, 2026.