Our Story

Built by someone who lived it

MyFloodReview wasn't built by a tech company or insurance conglomerate. It was built by a property owner who spent years in the weeds with federal flood maps, government records, and regulatory systems — and came out the other side with expertise most professionals don't have.

John Richardson — MyFloodReview

John Richardson

Licensed Insurance Professional · FEMA/Flood Mapping Specialist · Washington State

NPN21235461 Multi-State Licensed FEMA Specialist WA · CA · OR
The Story Behind the Service

From property owner to flood intelligence specialist

It started with a building permit. When I set out to build on a parcel in Washington State, I discovered the property sat in a FEMA AE flood zone — the highest-risk designation, carrying mandatory flood insurance requirements and a complex set of regulatory obligations most people navigate completely blind.

What I found surprised me. The information existed — FEMA flood maps, public records, regulatory guidance — but it was scattered across government databases, written for engineers and regulators, and almost impossible to interpret without knowing where to look and what questions to ask.

"The information existed. It just wasn't accessible to the people who needed it most."

So I started digging. I submitted Public Records Act requests to county and state agencies. I communicated directly with officials at multiple levels of government. I studied FEMA's mapping methodology, the NFIP's pricing structure, the LOMA/LOMR amendment process, and the regulatory frameworks that govern floodplain development across Washington, California, and Oregon.

Years of research produced something valuable: a deep, primary-source understanding of how flood risk is actually determined, communicated, priced, and regulated. Not how it's supposed to work in the brochures — how it actually works in practice, including where the system falls short of serving property owners.

Eventually I obtained my insurance producer license with a specialization in flood — not to sell policies, but to ensure I could speak to every dimension of flood risk with the authority and legal standing the analysis requires.

MyFloodReview is the service I built to make that expertise accessible. When you order a report, you're getting the benefit of years of firsthand research, regulatory navigation, and professional licensing — translated into plain language that helps you make better decisions about one of your most significant financial assets.

We serve Washington, California, and Oregon with particular depth in West Coast flood patterns, and are expanding to Gulf and Southern coastal states where flood risk is equally complex and equally underserved.

How We Work

Our methodology

Every report follows the same rigorous process — regardless of tier. What changes with each level is the depth and scope of analysis, not the quality of research.

📋 Intake Review

We start with your intake form responses — understanding your specific situation, concerns, and history before touching any data source.

🗺️ Primary Data Pull

We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer, FIRM map database, and USGS watershed data for your specific property address and coordinates.

📜 Amendment Research

We review LOMA and LOMR records affecting your property and surrounding area — changes most owners and agents never check.

💰 Insurance Analysis

We assess your NFIP vs. private market options, Risk Rating 2.0 implications, and any grandfathering or overpayment factors specific to your situation.

⚡ Regulatory Review

We flag applicable floodplain management requirements, pending map revisions, and regulatory changes that may affect your compliance status or costs.

✅ Professional Review

Every report is reviewed by a licensed professional before delivery. We never send an automated output without human verification.

Data Sources

Built on primary sources

Our analysis draws exclusively from authoritative public data — the same sources federal regulators, lenders, and insurance carriers use.

🏛️

FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Official FIRM maps and flood zone determinations

📡

FEMA NFHL API

National Flood Hazard Layer — real-time data

🌊

USGS StreamStats

Watershed data and stream proximity analysis

🗂️

County GIS Records

Parcel data, elevation, and local flood history

📋

LOMA/LOMR Database

Map amendment and revision records

⚖️

FEMA Regulatory Guidance

Current floodplain management requirements

Ready to Get Started?

Independent flood intelligence for your property

Reports start at $49. Reviewed before delivery. Plain language you can act on.

View Report Options → Learn About Flood Risk