Hurricane Katrina Flood Recovery Maps (Mississippi)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps?
- What do the maps show?
- Why were the Katrina Recovery Maps developed?
- How can I get a copy of the Katrina Recovery Maps?
- How can I determine which Katrina Recovery Map covers my area?
- Will community officials require me to elevate my house because that map shows that I was flooded by Hurricane Katrina?
- If I am elevating my house, can I use these maps to determine the appropriate height?
- Do these maps mean that my house is now in the 100-year floodplain?
- Will my flood insurance premium increase because of these maps?
- Are new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) being created?
- When will the new FIRMs be approved?
- Who do I contact if I want more information?
What are the Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps?
The Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps (also referred to as “Katrina Recovery Maps”) consist of a series of 228 aerial photographs that show several kinds of coastal flood-related data for areas along the Mississippi coastline. They were developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with other Federal and state agencies. FEMA used pre-existing data combined with information obtained immediately after Hurricane Katrina. The new information includes high water marks left behind by Hurricane Katrina, an estimate of Hurricane Katrina’s coastal flood limits, and advisory 1%-annual-chance (100-year) flood elevations that can be used during reconstruction.
What do the maps show?
The Katrina Recovery Maps provide the following information shown on aerial photographs:
- The limits of the flooding, or surge inundation, caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Katrina Recovery Maps graphically show the approximate maximum extent of coastal floodwaters from Katrina.
- Preliminary storm surge elevations. Based on high water marks that were surveyed soon after Hurricane Katrina, FEMA developed a general schematic showing the height of the storm surge along the coastline. This information is shown as an estimated range of elevations on each map in the title block.
- Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs). These were developed to provide communities with recommendations on building elevations for use in the reconstruction process until more detailed data become available. ABFEs are based on a new flood frequency analysis that takes into account Hurricane Katrina, as well as additional tide and storm data from other events that have occurred during the 25 years since the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) were developed.
- The range of flood elevations from the existing FEMA FIRMs. The FIRMs are the basis for flood insurance risk determinations. All of the coastal communities that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina already have FIRMs that have been adopted for local floodplain management. One of the most important features of these maps are the Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), which reflect the height that the floodwater is expected to reach during a 1%-annual-change (or 100-year) flood. This information is used to determine flood insurance requirements and insurance premiums. The existing range of BFEs and flood zones from each community’s FIRM are provided in the title block of the Katrina Recovery Map panel. These values are generally several feet lower than the ABFEs shown on the maps.
Why were the Katrina Recovery Maps developed?
The maps were developed to provide local governments and citizens with the best and most current information available about coastal flood hazards to assist in the rebuilding process.
How can I get a copy of the Katrina Recovery Maps?
The maps can be found on FEMA’s Katrina Recovery Map Internet Web site at www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_index.shtm. They can be viewed or downloaded from the site in a PDF format.
How can I determine which Katrina Recovery Map covers my area?
The Katrina Recovery Mapping Web site (www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_index.shtm) includes general reference maps that show coastal areas in three counties in Mississippi (Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson). The Katrina Recovery Maps, which cover much smaller areas in greater detail, can be found by first clicking the mouse on the desired county of interest. Then, users can click an individual Katrina Map panel (for example, “B3”), and the map will open in a separate browser window. The Katrina Recovery Maps can then be saved to a personal computer or printed. The individual Katrina Recovery Maps are 34 inches by 22 inches in size (ANSI D); all maps can be scaled to print on smaller sheets of paper using the printing options provided in the Adobe® Acrobat Reader software.
Will community officials require me to elevate my house because that map shows that it was flooded by Hurricane Katrina?
In order to remain in good standing with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), communities must meet established standards for reducing flood risks, including ensuring that certain heavily damaged structures are protected by elevating them or using other protective methods when they are rebuilt. Although the Katrina Recovery Maps are not directly related to such rules, local governments may independently require rebuilding to standards higher than those set by the NFIP in order to better protect their citizens and prevent future flood damages and recovery costs. In these cases, communities may choose to use the Katrina Recovery Maps as one basis for developing rebuilding standards. Citizens should contact their local governments for assistance with this issue.
If I am elevating my house, can I use these maps to determine the appropriate height?
As previously mentioned, Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) were developed to provide communities with recommendations on building elevations for use in the reconstruction process until more detailed data become available. ABFEs are based on a new flood frequency analysis that takes into account Hurricane Katrina, as well as additional tide and storm data from other events that have occurred during the 25 years since the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) were developed. Local governments may independently require rebuilding to standards higher than those set by the NFIP in order to better protect their citizens and prevent future flood damages and recovery costs. In these cases, communities may choose to use the Katrina Recovery Maps as one basis for developing rebuilding standards. Citizens should contact their local governments for assistance with this issue.
Do these maps mean that my house is now in the 100-year floodplain?
No, the effective FIRM for a community is the official document that is used to determine if a particular building or property is in the 100-year floodplain.
Will my flood insurance premium increase because of these maps?
The data that were used to create the Katrina Recovery Maps may eventually be used to update the existing FIRMs, but these updates require a very specific process involving FEMA, citizens of the community, and local governments. It is possible that flood insurance premiums will increase when the FIRMs are updated in the future, but the Katrina Recovery Maps will not change insurance premiums directly.
Are new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) being created?
FEMA anticipates that the FIRMs will be updated based on new information generated by Hurricane Katrina, additional storm and tide data collected since the last FIRMs were developed, and other engineering studies. The timing for these updates will be determined later.
When will the new FIRMs be approved?
At this time it has not been determined when updated FIRMs will be developed and approved. As noted earlier, approval of FIRMs is a public process, and citizens and local government officials will be encouraged to review and comment on updated maps during their development and adoption.
Who do I contact if I want more information?
The “Recovery and Mitigation Resources” page (www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_ms_resources.shtm) of FEMA’s Katrina Recovery Map Web site provides information on how to reach local officials involved with floodplain management. Similar contacts at the state and Federal level are also provided, but your local government will be the best source of information concerning rebuilding requirements in your area. If you have a specific question or comments about the information shown on the Katrina Recovery Maps, there is a link to submit feedback on each county’s mapping homepage (Hancock County, Harrison County, Jackson County).
Last Modified: Friday, 28-Apr-2006 09:59:45 EDT