Check FEMA Flood Maps Before Buying Near Creeks or Rivers

The Red River runs along the northern edge of Lamar County and the North Sulphur River drains the south. Properties near these waterways or their tributaries may fall in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which means flood insurance is typically required if you have a federally backed mortgage.

You can look up any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. The map shows your flood zone designation. Zones starting with 'A' or 'AE' have the highest risk. Even properties outside those zones can flood — those just do so less frequently. If you are building new, confirm the base flood elevation with your local floodplain administrator before you build.