Samples of FEMA’s New DFIRM Database Product

The Flood Hazard Mapping Program, in the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate (FEMA), has created a new flood hazard information product. The Standard DFIRM Database is a digital version of the FEMA flood insurance rate map that is designed for use with digital mapping and analysis software. DFIRM Databases have been completed for a number of communities and counties. You can download samples of these products below. This sample data is free. In the future, the DFIRM Database will be available through the FEMA Flood Map Store and there will be a fee to download the product.

FEMA designed the DFIRM Database product to be used with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. This type of software allows users to access, view and analyze mapping information using specialized data. For more information on GIS, see the GIS tutorials on the FEMA web site at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ot_main.shtm. GIS software is available from commercial software vendors and some government agencies.

The Standard DFIRM Database is designed to provide the user with the ability to determine the flood zone, base flood elevation and the floodway status for a particular location. It also has NFIP community information, map panel information, cross section and hydraulic structure information, Coastal Barrier Resource System information (if applicable), and base map information like road, stream, and public land survey data. More details on the DFIRM Database and a detailed database specification for the product are available at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/dfm_dfdb.shtm.

Note that some of FEMA’s new DFIRMs use digital orthophotos (aerial photographs with the accuracy characteristics of a map) as the base map instead of more compact vector lines representing roads and streams. In most cases, the orthophotos are too large to offer for download. Where the base map data are too large, the remainder of the database (flood zones, flood elevations, community information, etc.) is still available for download. Users combining the DFIRM Database with base map information from other sources should refer to the FEMA base map standards for more information: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/frm_bsmp.shtm. These DFIRM Database will be available for purchase from the FEMA Map Service Center on CD-ROM with the base map included.

Sample DFIRMs for download (ZIP files):