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):
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