This page captures success stories and accomplishments in the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program. This page is intended for current CTP Partners or interested parties wanting to learn more about the program.
Introduction
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s CTP Program is an innovative approach to creating partnerships between FEMA and participating National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) communities, regional agencies, state agencies, tribes and universities that have the interest and capability to become more active participants in the FEMA flood hazard mapping program. Several of our partners have made noteworthy achievements. They have developed innovative ideas that have helped them work more efficiently to hit major milestones. FEMA has highlighted these partners' achievements and innovations in what we are calling our CTP “Success Stories.”
The Arizona DEM, the Nevada DPS and the California EMA and Natural Resources Agency
Building on the innovative work of California Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and California Natural Resources Agency, the Nevada Department of Public Safety (NDPS) and the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) became CTPs and are using CTP funding to bring a customized version of the California MyPlan tool to their states. Complete Story
The City of Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the second largest city in Nebraska with a population of approximately 250,000. It receives drainage from the Salt Creek basin with an upstream drainage area of approximately 400 square miles. Over 250 linear miles of detailed base flood mapping have been accomplished through the CTP program in and adjacent to the Lincoln area. This action has resulted in more accurate floodplain mapping for the City of Lincoln and nearby residents. Complete Story
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NDNR) Floodplain Division is responsible for a non-structural program of floodplain management which includes delineating floodplains and providing technical assistance regarding floodplain management to local units of government. With these responsibilities in mind, NDNR partnered with the FEMA to work towards the common goal of providing floodplain mapping information and assistance. A CTP partnership agreement was signed on August 19, 1999. Under the CTP agreement, NDNR aligned the state’s floodplain programs with FEMA’s programs and increased efforts to build and improve the state’s floodplain management capabilities. In doing so, NDNR has developed a knowledgeable floodplain team composed of engineers, floodplain management specialists, flood mitigation planners, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) professionals and an education & outreach specialist. However, this partnership is about more than just mapping. Complete story
Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Arizona (FCDMC)
Maricopa County has experienced recent and rapid development. The FCDMC staff converted Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insuarnce Studies (FIS) into digital format using orthophotos for the base map and incorporated Letters of Map Revision into the map (credited under Community Rating Sysytem (CRS) Activity 440 - Flood Data Maintenance). The District’s proaction has resulted in more accurate mapping of the flood zones in the county and a reduction in flood insurance premiums for some residents in Special Flood Hazard areas. Complete Story
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
The CWCB has partnered with the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD), a regional CTP partner, on floodplain studies in the Denver Metropolitan area. Both partners are participating actively in the preparation of high-quality floodplain mapping and are producing countywide Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). CWCB prepared new and revised maps to show the effects of increased flood hydrology following large-scale wildfire events, development and growth in previously unstudied areas and changes in engineering and mapping technology. Additionally, the CWCB has published a Statewide Floodplain and Stormwater Criteria Manual that provides much needed technical guidance for flood-related studies in Colorado. Complete Story
Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)
The SWFWMD is a CTP working closely with Hernando County and the Board of County Commissioners on a multi-year project to re-examine flood zones throughout the county and develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps to replace the existing outdated maps. Complete Story
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Georgia has one of the highest numbers of counties in the nation and is the largest state east of the Mississippi, so specialized techniques are required to scope flood map production. The State of Georgia has assumed end-to-end responsibility for Flood Map Modernization within the state and has developed a special regionally-based scoping process, calling on the resources of the sixteen Regional Development Centers (RDCs) within the state. Complete Story
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
The Illinois DNR collaborated with the Illinois State Water Survey to not only map Cook County, Illinois, the second most populated county in the U.S. but also to complete this effort only three years after initially signing the Memorandum of Agreement to join the CTP Program. Complete Story
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland has worked closely with the Maryland Department of the Environment, a CTP, to create hydrologic flood models by using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data collected by the university. The university was asked to assess and evaluate how useful the data could be in the creation of the DFIRMs and assigned students to improve data layers in the field by verifying the presence of structures that were obstructing or limiting the data and to obtain other data layers such as State Highway GIS. Benefits of this project included the students’ exposure to both the theory and application of these tools and the opportunity to explore career possibilities. Complete Story
University of New Hampshire Success Story
Universities currently represent approximately 2 percent of CTPs. In 1999, the University of New Hampshire became the first university to become a CTP. The Complex Systems Research Center at the University of New Hampshire is a well-established information resource for government agencies, nonprofit organizations and communities. Complete Story
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
The Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC) has been a CTP since 2003 and has been involved with two CTP Flood Map Modernization projects. The first project involved alleviating flooding and pollution in the Pennypack Creek Watershed. The second project the CSC is undertaking is a 14-month study to model flooding problems in the Sandy Run and Ambler Area Watersheds in order to prepare new floodplain maps for submission to FEMA. Complete Story
King County, Washington
King County has recently completed flood studies for the Green River and the Snoqualmie River and the Skykomish River in King and Snohomish Counties. As the nation’s highest-rated county under the Community Rating System (CRS) program and second-highest-rated community overall, King County has been a long-time supporter and innovator under the CRS program. Complete story
West Virginia University
The West Virginia GIS Technical Center has created new base layers and stream data, has incorporated new high-resolution data and is currently uploading this information into FEMA’s Mapping Information Platform. The Center hopes to produce updated DFIRMs for the entire State by next year. Complete Story
North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
The NCTCOG has put a framework in place for coordinated and focused hazard mitigation actions at both the local and regional levels. NCTCOG has a long history of working with State and Federal agencies, most 
prominently the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to address hydrologic issues along the Trinity River. This program expanded in 2004 to encompass a top ten list of mitigation actions to be carried out over the next 5 years to better understand, stabilize, and reduce hydrologic risks (see NCTCOG.org for more information).
As part of this initiative, NCTCOG officially became a CTP with FEMA in the fall of 2004. The regions four largest counties - Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant are the first to have their current paper flood insurance maps reviewed and converted to digital files, for a cost of $7.6 million in consultant work through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. NCTCOG has provided access to its state-of-the-art digital data including detailed 2001 and 2003 one-foot orthophotography and Airborne Light Detection and Ranging systems for the entire area (as well as new 6-inch orthophotography now being flown for 2005).
Through regular Floodplain Administrator's roundtables and a new Regional Hydrologic Hazard Mitigation Coordinating Council, NCTCOG is proactively reaching out to all key stakeholders throughout the Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (MAP) process.