FOREWORD

This Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) (Version 1.6) amends MHIP (Version 1.5) dated June 2005.  The MHIP describes FEMA’s strategy for updating flood maps used for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) purposes.  MHIP (Version 1.6) adds a new appendix to the MHIP that reports on flood map production actions performed in Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05).  
The NFIP was created to reduce flood damages by identifying flood risks, encourage sound community floodplain management practices, and provide a mechanism to better indemnify individuals for flood losses through insurance.  FEMA and its partners provide flood hazard data and maps to support flood insurance and floodplain management activities.  Flood Map Modernization uses technology and digital mapping standards to deliver reliable digital flood hazard data and maps in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) format.

Digital flood maps provide many benefits.  These maps provide a uniform structure for digital flood data for the Nation, support multi-hazard mapping activities, and provide greater utility for local planning and hazard analyses.  They are easier to use and maintain and less expensive to update than paper maps.

FEMA provided preliminary digital flood data to 39 percent of the Nation’s population by the end of FY05.  Thus far, 16 percent of the Nation’s population has adopted digital GIS flood data.  Although these values fall slightly short of the FY05 targets FEMA set for Flood Map Modernization, this percentage is a significant program accomplishment.  Despite the 2005 catastrophic events in the United States, Flood Map Modernization efforts supplied much needed digital flood data to a substantial portion of the Nation’s population.

The flood map production sequencing in the MHIP will be revised to reflect changes to Map Modernization scope and priorities based on stakeholder feedback.  Local, State, regional, and national participation will be encouraged in FEMA’s collaborative process to develop an updated plan in 2006.  Implementation of this plan relies on the continued support and efforts of flood mapping stakeholders across the country to provide high-quality and timely products.
The MHIP is available on FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping website for all mapping stakeholders to support communities and States in protecting people and property from flood devastation.  FEMA thanks its partners and stakeholders for their continued hard work as Flood Map Modernization moves forward in FY06.


Sincerely,

[Original Signed]

David I. Maurstad
Director
Mitigation Division