FEMA has finalized new flood hazard determinations for Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and unincorporated Sevier County under a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), case number 25-04-1916P, published in the Federal Register on Aug. 6, 2026 under FEMA Docket No. B-2608. The revisions were finalized as of May 21, 2026.
This is the second Sevier County flood map action in the same news cycle, and they are not the same thing. The countywide Flood Insurance Rate Map update takes effect Nov. 13, 2026. This LOMR is already in force.
What does a Letter of Map Revision actually change?
A LOMR revises the existing FIRM, and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study, for specific areas - typically after a channel change, a completed drainage or fill project, or better engineering data. It can add or modify Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries, zone designations, or regulatory floodways. Plain version: the line that decides whether your parcel is in a high-risk flood zone can move onto your property or off of it.
| Key detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Action | Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) |
| Case number | 25-04-1916P |
| FEMA docket | B-2608 |
| Federal Register publication | Aug. 6, 2026 (91 FR 50879) |
| Finalized | May 21, 2026 |
| Communities | Pigeon Forge (475442), Sevierville (475444), unincorporated Sevier County |
| Countywide FIRM update | Effective Nov. 13, 2026 |
| Flood in a standard home policy | Excluded |
| NFIP new-policy waiting period | Typically 30 days |
Does my homeowners policy cover flood?
No. Flood is excluded from standard Tennessee homeowners policies. Coverage comes from a separate NFIP policy or a private flood policy. That surprises people every single time water gets in - and in Sevier County, water gets in from creeks and flash flooding, not just rivers.
What happens if my property moves into a high-risk zone?
- Lenders can require flood insurance on federally backed mortgages once a structure sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
- Buy before the change bites. If you purchase a policy while the property is still mapped low-risk, you may be able to lock in a lower-cost rating and keep it through grandfathering rules.
- The 30-day wait is real. New NFIP policies generally take 30 days to take effect, so buying during a rain event does nothing.
- You can appeal with an Elevation Certificate. A licensed surveyor's certificate is the document that gets a property out of a zone it does not belong in.
What if the map moves my property out of the flood zone?
Then your mandatory-purchase requirement may go away - but the water does not read the map. Roughly a quarter of NFIP claims nationally come from outside high-risk zones. A preferred-risk policy in a low-risk area is one of the cheapest coverages on the market, often well under $400 a year.
Seasons change. So should your coverage.
Own property in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville or Sevier County? Check your flood zone before Nov. 13.
Call All Seasons Insurance Group: 865-263-1400Or request a flood review at asigtn.com/get-a-quote.
Sources
- Federal Register, "Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations," 91 FR 50879, Aug. 6, 2026 (FEMA Docket B-2608; LOMR case 25-04-1916P; Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and unincorporated Sevier County; finalized May 21, 2026)
- Federal Register, "Final Flood Hazard Determinations," 91 FR 50874, Aug. 6, 2026 (Sevier County FIRM effective Nov. 13, 2026)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center and National Flood Insurance Program guidance
This article summarizes public federal notices and is general information only, not a coverage opinion, quote, or legal advice. Verify your specific flood zone with FEMA and your local floodplain administrator.
