Coastal Barrier Resources System Data Definitions

The Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) database contains information relative to CBRS areas shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Information in this database is presented on a FIRM panel basis with each FIRM panel’s data being provided as a separate record. The database is made up of 12 fields that contain specific information as follows:

CID

The Community Identification (CID) number is a unique 6 digit number assigned to each community that has been identified under the National Flood Insurance Program. The CID number is shown on each FIRM panel and is the first 6 digits of all non-countywide format FIRM panel numbers.

FIPS Code

The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Code is the unique 5 digit number that is assigned to each county in the United States. This number is made up of a 2 digit state code followed by a 3 digit county code. The FIPS code is the first 5 digits of all countywide format FIRM panels numbers.

Community

Each record in the database references one FIRM panel or specific area on a map panel that contains one or more CBRS units. The community’s name is presented in the Community field. It is important to note that the data presented in the CBRS Units on FIRM Panel field contains CBRS data for only those areas that fall within the boundaries of the community.

County

This field references the county in which the subject community falls.

State

This field references the state in which the subject community falls.

Panel Number

This field identifies the FIRM panel number for which CBRS data is being referenced. This number is always a 4-digit number corresponding to the number shown on the FIRM title block.

An "N/A" in the Panel Number field indicates that the CBRS unit referenced is located in an unmapped portion of the community. This most often occurs in offshore island areas or open water areas, where there is no existing FIRM panel. There is normally an explanation following the CBRS unit number in the Comments field of this database. These entries show no date in the FIRM Date field and no alpha indicator in the Map Suffix field.

An asterisk "*" in the Panel Number field (immediately after the FIRM panel number) indicates that the panel is not printed. These entries also show no date in the FIRM Date field and no alpha indicator in the Map Suffix field.

Map Suffix

This field identifies the single alpha character that appears immediately after the FIRM panel number on the title block of the subject FIRM panel.

FIRM Date

This field identifies the date of the subject FIRM panel containing CBRS areas. Records that do not contain a date in this field are referencing areas for which no FIRM panel currently exists. This most often occurs when a CBRS unit falls within an open-water area of the community for which a FIRM panel has not been created. The specific reason why a FIRM panel containing a CBRS unit is not printed is listed in the Panel Not Printed Reason field.

If the map date shown in this field is a future date, this indicates that the FIRM is in the process of being revised and although the map has not been printed, the final map date has already been established.

CBRS Units on FIRM Panel

This field contains a list of the CBRS units that are located on the FIRM panel within the subject community. Each individual CBRS unit is identified by a unique alpha-numeric identifier. Otherwise Protected Areas (OPAs) within the CBRS are identified in the database with a "P" (e.g. NC-03P) immediately following the CBRS unit number.

Earliest CBRS Date on Map

Each CBRS unit contains Federal financial prohibitions (including Federal flood insurance) associated with the date that the subject area was added to the Coastal Barrier Resources System. The earliest CBRS prohibition date appearing within the subject FIRM panel of a given jurisdiction is listed in this field.

Panel Not Printed Reason

There are many reasons why a FIRM panel containing a CBRS unit may not be printed. These reasons are listed in this field. Note: All land-based CBRS areas where a flood insurance policy could be written are either mapped or are in the process of being mapped.

Comments

Any unusual comments to assist the user are placed in this field. For example, if a subject community is shown within a countywide format FIRM, this is explained here.

If a CBRS unit falls entirely within the open water portion of an otherwise printed FIRM panel, the FIRM panel may not have been updated to show the CBRS unit. In these cases, the Comments field provides this information.

After a CBRS unit is updated by an act of Congress, there is a standard delay in having the updated CBRS boundaries mapped on the affected FIRM panels. The Comments field identifies the FIRM panels affected by recent legislation that have not yet been revised, and indicates the affected CBRS units. When a revised FIRM date is established for these panels, the date will be reflected in the FIRM Date field of the database.

NOTES TO USER

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Last Modified: Thursday, 13-Apr-2006 12:55:20 EDT