The Risk Analysis Branch strives to create more resilient communities through identifying, assessing, planning for and communicating about the natural hazard risks in our Region. Through engineering analysis, hazard mitigation planning and technical assistance, targeted risk communications, and advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Risk Analysis works with communities to understand the potential impact of natural hazard events and to develop strategies to manage or reduce the risks associated with these hazards.
Through FEMA’s multi-year, mitigation based, Risk Mapping, Assessing and Planning (Risk MAP) process, Region 6 works with states, tribal, and local entities to deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to mitigation actions that reduce risk to life and property. This process of identifying, assessing, mapping, planning for, and communicating the risk is the framework for federal and local governments to reduce the negative impacts from future disasters on lives, property, and the economy. To assist with mitigation planning, FEMA works with the State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) and Tribal Nations to offer a variety of guidance and training.
Know your risk - visit our Region 6 Risk MAP site for more on the process.
The following program areas are within the Risk Analysis Branch in Region 6: Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP), Cooperative Technical Partners (CTP) Program, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)- Flood Hazard Mapping, National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), Natural Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NDHRP) and HAZUS-MH.
Risk Analysis includes assessing critical information both before and after a disaster strikes. The Hazard Performance and Analysis (HPA) group provides engineering, economic and scientific analysis in support of hazard mitigation programs, and ensures that technical hazard mitigation information is available to all local, State, and Federal recovery partners.
Has Your Flood Risk Changed?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides tools for communities to better understand the natural hazard risks they face. Have new maps identified new flood risks to your home? Is there a new Flood Insurance Rate Map for your area? Residents of FEMA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) can locate their property and determine if they are affected by the map changes through http://maps.riskmap6.com. FEMA’s Flood Information Portal is a tool designed to allow fast, convenient access to flood risk data within those areas affected by a flood map update.
Areas of changed flood risk are easy to identify through the website! Information for areas within the Portal’s dataset can be found through address search, by panel identification, and by standard map navigation methods. Both effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and newly issued preliminary DFIRM layers are made available within the Portal. The default map view starts with a Change Layer that represents the difference between the effective FIRM and Preliminary DFIRM maps in areas of Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) increase or decrease. The user also has the option of generating a summary report for any point of interest which is provided in a standard format for printing.
Three ways to look up your property are available. For ideal viewing, select layers within one map layer group at a time – Change layer, Preliminary DFIRM, or Effective FIRM. Complete the Search by Address form. For best results, include the full street address of your residence. When searching for road intersections, include at a minimum city and state information. Once the form is filled, click on the ‘Search’ button to proceed.
If you know the map panel of your area, you can also search using the ‘FIRM Panel #’ form.
Navigation tools in the toolbar can also be used to locate the area of interest. After locating your area of interest, click on the ‘Identify Feature Property’ to mark the area view the flood information from this area. A detailed flood report of the identified area can be generated from this window.
The map ‘legend’ is found on the right side of the mapping portal page and a ‘help document’ is available in the navigation toolbar.
Now that you know your risk, what do you do next? Has anything changed? Knowing where and when map changes are occurring will help you understand which insurance options will best apply. Flooding can happen anywhere, but certain areas are especially prone to serious flooding. The FIRMs are a tool used by communities to help you understand your flood risk so you can make informed decisions about financially protecting your property. To learn more on flooding and flood risks, visit www.floodsmart.gov.