What's New in Flood Hazard Mapping
- Revised Draft Version of Data Capture Standards (DCS) Available for Review
- Policy for the Use of Digital Flood Hazard Data
- Updated Map Change Application Forms Now Available
- MHIP Version 3.0 Is Now Available
- Revised Guidance on Levee Notation Now Available
- Mapping Requirements for Levee Construction and Restoration Projects Now Available
- Draft Concept Paper Now Available
- Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS) Web Pages Now Available
Keep up with the latest developments and find out what's new in Flood Hazard Mapping. Follow the links above to view or download important resources pertaining to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Flood Hazard Mapping program, and the Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod) effort. Sign up for e-mail updates on Flood Hazard Mapping Activities.
Revised Draft Version of Data Capture Standards (DCS) Available for Review
July 2008
FEMA has developed a revised draft version of the DCS that are included in the Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners as Appendix N. The revised document is available for public review and comment through September 30, 2008. A Web forum is being used to allow interested parties to post questions and comments. A summary of common questions and answers will also be published periodically on the DCS Public Review Summary page. For information on accessing the Web forum, the revised DCS document, and implementation guidance, please go to the DCS Public Review Summary.
Policy for the Use of Digital Flood Hazard Data
June 2008
The FEMA Mitigation Directorate is implementing a new policy for the use of digital flood hazard data developed for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The purpose of the policy is to clarify the NFIP approach to the implementation of Section 107 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (42 USC 4101).
FEMA's goal is to reduce the reliance on paper products. The policy is structured to allow the continued use of paper maps for those who prefer this method. However, for NFIP stakeholders interested in using the new digital processes and products, this policy will enable them to take full advantage of the new digital maps FEMA is producing through its Map Mod effort. FEMA wishes to transition to digital processes for distributing and reading the flood maps. These new digital capabilities of the flood maps will:
- Enable significant advantages in capability, precision, and cost;
- Reduce costs associated with paper map production, handling and storage;
- Encourage the use of quality local data to make administration of the NFIP more efficient and effective.
For more information, please read the Policy and Fact Sheet located in the FEMA Library. For additional information, contact Paul Huang at paul.huang@dhs.gov.
Updated Map Change Application Forms Now Available
June 2008
The following application forms have been updated and are now available in the FEMA Library.
- MT-EZ Form (Application Form for Single Residential Lot or Structure Amendments to National Flood Insurance Program Maps). This form is used to request that FEMA remove the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) designation from a single structure or a legally recorded parcel of land or portions thereof, described by metes and bounds certified by a Registered Professional Engineer or Licensed Land Surveyor, by issuing a Letter of Map Amendment. The SFHA is the area, shown on an NFIP map, that will be inundated by the flood having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also known as the base, or 100-year, flood). The mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements of the NFIP apply to insurable structures in the SFHA. The MT-EZ application form and instructions can be downloaded from the FEMA Library.
- MT-1 Forms Package (Application Forms for Conditional and Final Letters of Map Amendment and Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill). The forms in this package were designed to assist requesters (community officials, individual property owners, and others) in gathering the information that FEMA needs to determine whether property (i.e., structure(s), parcel(s) of land) is likely to be flooded during the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event.
The forms and instructions in this package are to be used to request multiple-lot/multiple-structure Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs), Conditional Letters of Map Amendment (CLOMAs), Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs), and Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (CLOMR-Fs). The forms in this package may be used for property that has been inadvertently included in a V zone or the regulatory floodway. However, if the property is to be removed from a V zone, it must not be located seaward of the landward toe of the primary frontal dune. The MT-1 application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the FEMA Library.
- MT-2 Forms Package (Application Forms for Conditional Letters of Map Revision and Letters of Map Revision). The forms and instructions included in this package were designed to assist requesters (community officials or individuals via community officials) in gathering the data that the FEMA needs to determine whether the effective NFIP map and Flood Insurance Study report for a community should be revised. These forms also should be used by community officials or individuals via community officials for requesting FEMA comments on a proposed project, which are issued in the form of a Conditional Letter of Map Revision. These forms will provide FEMA with assurance that all pertinent data relating to the revision are included in the submittal. They also will ensure that: (a) the data and methodology are based on current conditions; (b) qualified professionals have assembled the data and performed all necessary computations; and (c) all individuals and organizations affected by proposed changes are aware of the changes and will have an opportunity to comment on them. The MT-2 application forms and instructions can be downloaded from the FEMA Library.
MHIP Version 3.0 Is Now Available
May 2008
FEMA has released the latest version of the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP). Version 3.0 details the FEMA plan for prioritizing and delivering modernized flood maps for areas of the United States with the greatest flood risk. MHIP Version 3.0 amends MHIP Version 2.0, dated September 2006, and MHIP Version 2.5, dated April 2007. MHIP Version 3.0 provides the following:
- Detailed tables of flood map production targets;
- Stakeholder input information;
- Summary of FEMA's progress in meeting the Key Performance Indicators for Map Mod; and
- Appendices that provide a detailed listing by State and county for all map production activities, scheduled and completed.
MHIP Version 3.0, as well as previous versions, is available through the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan pages on the Flood Hazard Mapping Website. Interested parties with questions pertaining to the updated flood map production sequencing in MHIP Version 3.0 are encouraged to contact the appropriate local and State officials, who are working with one of the 10 FEMA Regional Offices.
Revised Guidance on Levee Notation Now Available
May 2008
Levee systems have been identified in over one-quarter of the counties for which modernized FIRMs—Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs)—are being prepared. Therefore, FEMA has been working, and continues to work with Federal, State, and local professionals and technical partners to determine the flood protection and risk-reduction capabilities of the Nation's levee systems and to accurately reflect the flood hazard and risk in "levee-impacted" areas on the DFIRMs.
Although FEMA is not responsible for constructing, maintaining, operating, or certifying levee systems FEMA does develop and enforce the regulatory and procedural requirements that are used to determine whether a levee system should be credited with providing 1-percent-annual-chance flood protection on an NFIP map. Recently, FEMA reviewed its existing guidance regarding the mapping of levee-impacted areas and determined that some guidance was needed to provide clarity and minimize confusion regarding the levee notes that are to appear on NFIP map panels on which accredited levee systems and Provisionally Accredited Levee systems appear. FEMA issued the guidance on May 12, 2008, in the form of Procedure Memorandum No. 45 (PM 45), Revisions to Accredited Levee and Provisionally Accredited Levee Notations. PM 45 and a Fact Sheet developed to explain the new requirements are available from the FEMA Library.
Mapping Requirements for Levee Construction and Restoration Projects Now Available
May 2008
When communities, State agencies, and Federal agencies undertake construction and restoration projects to provide a 1-percent-annual-chance level of flood protection, they likely will want to submit the appropriate data and documentation to FEMA, so that FEMA may present updated, accurate flood hazard and risk information on the affected NFIP maps and related documents. The required data and documentation will vary, depending on the type of determination that the community would like FEMA to make regarding the project and the flood insurance risk zone designation that the community would like FEMA to include on the effective map for that community. Therefore, it is important for communities to know the requirements, responsibilities, and impacts that these options will have on community residents and business owners.
The FEMA requirements for construction and restoration projects are presented in Sections 61.12 and 65.14 of the NFIP regulations, in Appendix H of Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, and in Procedure Memorandums. To clarify the requirements and explain responsibilities and impacts, FEMA has developed some additional guidance, including Web pages, Fact Sheets, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The Fact Sheets and FAQs are available from the FEMA Library and are accessible through the Zone A99 and Zone AR Web pages.
Draft Concept Paper Now Available
September 2007
The Draft Concept Paper "FEMA's Flood Map Modernization-Preparing for FY09 and Beyond: Integrated Flood Data Update, Risk Assessment, and Mitigation Planning" is being provided so that stakeholders who utilize and are impacted by FEMA flood hazard data and maps can provide input. Comments are welcome by e-mail on the Draft Concept Paper. Comments submitted by November 15, 2007, will be considered in FEMA's planning efforts for FY09 and beyond. Because FEMA's planning efforts are in their initial stages, specific replies to comments received will not be provided. However, comments provided on these concepts will be fully considered as FEMA plans for flood mapping efforts progress.
"FEMA's Flood Map Modernization-Preparing for FY09 and Beyond: Integrated Flood Data Update, Risk Assessment, and Mitigation Planning; Draft Concept Paper; June 1, 2007" is available on FEMA's Flood Hazard Mapping Website at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/ffmm.shtm
Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS) Web Pages Now Available
August 2007
The purpose of the MMMS program is to provide, through a Cooperative Agreement, a means to ensure that MMMS partners can support the Map Modernization effort through activities that do not directly result in production of a new or revised flood hazard map. These support activities include administration and management activities. Through these Web pages, users can access guidance, business plans, and other key MMMS information.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Jul-2008 10:42:06 EDT
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