USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science
The USGS is working in the following focus areas for flood inundation mapping science:
The USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Program focuses its efforts at state and local levels to help communities understand flood risks and make cost-effective mitigation decisions. We partner with local communities to assist in the development and validation of flood inundation map libraries. Communities use these maps to help protect lives and property.
The USGS works with the National Weather Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to connect communities with available federal resources thereby ensuring the quality and consistency of flood inundation maps across the country.
A flood inundation map library contains a series of sequential maps that help communicate where flooding may occur over a range of river levels. The library can be connected to real-time and forecasted river levels at USGS streamgages to help communities identify immediate risks during a flood.
Learn more about the FIM program with our information sheet!
The USGS Flood Inundation Mapper combines the flood inundation map libraries with real-time USGS river-level data and National Weather Service flood forecasts into a powerful tool that helps communicate when and where it may flood and allows for better tools to inform local responses that can protect lives and property.
Learn more about how to use the Mapper with this information sheet!
The FIM toolbox is designed to provide USGS personnel and their partners with a comprehensive series of resources that have been developed for the Flood Inundation Mapping Initiative.
Resources include FIM program development tools, flood documentation study tools, flood inundation mapping library tools, information on dynamic flood mapping and FIM links to HAZUS-MH and Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS). This toolbox will be updated as new resources become available.
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