FEMA's Flood Map Modernization Video
FEMA 599-DVD

In the United States, 80% of all natural disasters are flood related.  Almost every 
American faces some risk of flooding while nearly 30 million live in floodplains 
where the chance of flooding is about 1 in 4 over the course of a 30-year 
mortgage.  Some in these areas face even worse odds.

In light of these pervasive and costly disasters, intensive partnerships have been 
forged between federal, state, and local authorities.  Between businesses, 
associations, and community leaders.  

One of these collaborations, being led by the Department of Homeland Security's 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, is improving our nation's ability to 
mitigate the damage and loss caused by floods.

The Federal government has been identifying flood hazards under the National 
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since 1968, and began exploring the benefits of 
digital mapping several years ago.  In 2004, FEMA embarked on an aggressive 
multi-year Congressionally supported Presidential initiative to update the Nation's 
flood maps.  Today, Flood Map Modernization, (or Map Mod) is transforming the 
way flood maps are created, viewed and used.

In addition to their floodplain management, flood insurance, and risk mitigation 
uses, flood maps are accessed more than 30 million times each year for planning 
and design activities and for lending and real estate transactions.

Up-to-date information about flood hazards is the first step in preventing and 
reducing losses.  Map Mod provides stakeholders and communities with maps 
and data that are more reliable, easier to use and maintain, and more readily 
available.  This updated information is also an important planning tool for the 
more than 20,000 communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance 
Program.

Modernizing the maps that serve over 90% of the U.S. population is an immense 
undertaking.  To make it possible, FEMA has taken advantage of technological 
advances and developed a number of tools.

One of these tools is the Mapping Information Platform, or MIP, a web-based 
technology that facilitates the management, production, extraction, and sharing 
of Map Mod data.  The MIP enables mapping partners and FEMA to maintain all 
flood map data in a central location, while providing access to maps and data, 
and offering authenticated users the ability to create and maintain that data. 

FEMA's Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (or DFIRM) production tools, deployed 
through the MIP,  promote an efficient, quality driven approach to database 
production, reduce production time, ensure data integrity, and make digital 
mapping technology more readily available.

In addition to being a production and data storage tool, the MIP also aids in 
project management and accountability, by providing FEMA and its partners with 
mapping project status using earned value management techniques.

Another important tool of Map Mod is the Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification 
Plan, or MHIP, a flood map production schedule.

By planning flood hazard mapping projects over several years, FEMA provides a 
venue for tracking progress, as flood hazard information is updated for the areas 
at greatest flood risk in the Nation.  Updates to the MHIP keep stakeholders and 
the public informed of FEMA's progress in Map Mod, and provide a collaborative 
venue to collect stakeholder feedback.

FEMA's Map Service Center is the official government distribution center for 
digital and paper flood hazard mapping products, Flood Insurance Study reports, 
and Letters of Map Change.

Map Mod also integrates with other FEMA products and initiatives, such as 
HAZUS-MH, a dynamic multi-hazard risk assessment methodology.  It is a 
powerful tool for analyzing and displaying potential losses from floods, as well as 
other natural hazards. 

The combined use of digital flood mapping data being produced by Map Mod and 
the use of HAZUS-MH allows communities and other stakeholders to ensure that 
better hazard mitigation and disaster response plans are in place contributing to 
improved safety.

Collaboration is a crucial aspect of Map Mod, and the alliance of associations, 
private entities, and all levels of government play an important role in realizing 
the program vision.  

By developing and maintaining effective partnerships, leveraging resources, and 
using proven technologies, FEMA is well on its way to completing a solid 
framework to sustain the mapping component of the NFIP  

Through these partnerships and framework, Map Mod is delivering updated 
quality-driven digital flood hazard data; opening doors to a world where flood risk 
is objectively quantified, tracked, and systematically reduced.

Since floodplains are dynamic, your awareness of flood risk through modernized 
map data is essential to protecting your property.  By taking action yourself and 
supporting your community's floodplain management efforts, you can reduce 
long-term risk significantly.
FEMA's digital flood maps provide communities with a valuable resource.  
Communities can use map mod data to plan for and mitigate risk.

Training, outreach, and education provided at the local level promotes better 
understanding of flood hazards and how to use the information for sound 
floodplain management decisions.   Only by working together can we reduce the 
Nation's vulnerability to flooding.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MAP MOD, GO TO:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIP, GO TO:

https://hazards.fema.gov.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NFIP, GO TO:

http://www.floodsmart.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MSC, GO TO:

http://msc.fema.gov

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HAZUS-MH, GO TO:

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus

May 2007	FEMA 599-DVD