Which flood hazard zone is the next-most vulnerable after Zone V and corresponds to the 100-year floodplain?

• A. Zone B
• B. Zone A
• C. Zone X
• D. Zone V

Answer: (B)

Understanding flood hazard zones helps you see how flood risk is ranked. Zone V represents the coastal flood hazard area with wave action—the most vulnerable in these maps. The next level of risk corresponds to the 100-year floodplain, the area likely to flood in a one-percent annual chance event. In this material, that 100-year floodplain is labeled Zone B, so it’s identified as the next-most vulnerable after Zone V. The 100-year floodplain concept is about the likelihood of flooding occurring within a year, not about wave action, which distinguishes it from Zone V. Zone X and other zones indicate lower or different risk levels, so they don’t fit the description as accurately.