The Path to Modernized Maps FLOOD MAP MODERNIZATION APRIL 2007 Flood Map Modernization A PoweRFuL tooL FoR RIsk mAnAgement Map Mod touches a broad stakeholder community who will realize different benefits: •Community planners and local officials will gain a greater understanding of the flood hazards and risks that affect their community. •Builders and developers will have detailed information for making well informed decisions on where to build and how they can affect flood zones. •Insurance agents and lending institutions will clearly understand changes and what they need to do. •Home and business owners will be better informed about their current flood risk. FLood mAPPIng Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod) is based on a solid foundation. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the cornerstone of the Nation’s strategy for reducing the financial and physical impact of community based flood disasters. As part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for administering the NFIP. FEMA and its partners provide flood hazard data and maps in support of the NFIP. Up-to-date flood hazard data and maps are needed to support the purchase and rating of flood insurance, enable wise community-based floodplain management, and increase the Nation’s flood hazard awareness. The benefits oF mAP mod By providing updated maps and data, Map Mod equips communities with important data thereby enhancing local decision making ranging from insurance to construction to disaster planning exercises. Reliable flood data reflecting current conditions enables the end user to more accurately assess the level of flood risk within a community and to take appropriate measures to mitigate their physical and financial vulnerability to flooding. Communities with updated maps and data have the information required to develop a more comprehensive approach to disaster mitigation planning, economic development, and emergency response. Communities will be enabled to manage flood risks, water resources, land use, and other responsibilities more effectively. FLood mAPPIng And the mAPPIng InFoRmAtIon PLAtFoRm A key outcome of Map Mod is to transform the paper inventory to a computer-based digital inventory. Properly developing and managing this data is key to the long term success of the program, and the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) is integral to ensuring success. The MIP enables more efficient flood hazard mapping by providing easy access to the latest flood hazard data and maps via the internet. The MIP stores Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) data in Geographic Information System (GIS) format allowing for a more powerful, analytical application of the hazard data. The MIP infrastructure allows users to view DFIRMs in a web browser or access flood hazard information as a data layer that can be shared using industry standard web services. This allows other Federal agencies and stakeholders who want to leverage Map Mod data to access it on demand. User accessibility and interface with the MIP is imperative to the continued growth and overall success of Map Mod. Since it was established in June 2004, the MIP has expanded to include innovative flood Additional Flood Map Modernization Information: •Read the Multi Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan: http://www.fema. gov/plan/prevent/fhm/dl_mhip.shtm •Access the Mapping Information Platform (MIP): https://hazards.fema. gov/femaportal/wps/portal •For more information on flood hazard mapping: http://www.fema.gov/ plan/prevent/fhm/gs_main.shtm •For information on the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program: www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ctp_main. shtm •To purchase or order current Flood Insurance Rate Maps of Flood Insurance Study reports: http://msc. fema.gov •For Frequently Asked Questions and Answers: http://www.fema.gov/ plan/prevent/fhm/fq_main.shtm Flood Map Modernization A PoweRFuL tooL FoR RIsk mAnAgement Digital Flood Hazard Data hazard mapping applications, resources and tools. Through the availability of facilitated and online training, MIP functions are available to Federal, State and local entities. In November 2005, the Mapping and Engineering Tools (DFIRM and WISE™ Tools) were integrated with Workflow functions on the MIP, granting FEMA and its mapping partners the ability to track and manage projects from start to finish. Additionally, the general public was granted access to Public Reports and the advanced Map Viewer. An application added to the MIP in June 2006 is the eLOMA Determination Tool. eLOMA is a web-based application within the MIP that provides licensed land surveyors and professional engineers (Licensed Professionals) with a system to submit simple Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) requests to FEMA. The initial release of eLOMA enabled Licensed Professionals to make requests for existing single residential structures or properties, provided no fill has been placed to raise the elevations of the structure or property. Approximately half of the LOMAs processed annually (about 10,000 cases) meet the requirements of eLOMA. mAP mod: A teAm eFFoRt Map Mod is a collaborative process and a new way of doing business for government officials, cutting across all layers of government. Officials and other stakeholders will be active in mapping operations (e.g., collecting, updating, and adopting data). Leveraging of partnerships will allow States and communities to choose their level of involvement with Map Mod. Developing and maintaining effective partnerships and leveraging resources are fundamental to the success of Map Mod, and a key element is the Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program. Fostering collaboration with Federal, State, and local partners, Map Mod will help improve and maintain the quality and reliability of flood hazard data. A key element in the success of Map Mod is FEMA’s release of the Multi- Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP). Developed and updated through a collaborative process with local, State, and national participants, the MHIP describes FEMA’s strategy for updating flood maps used for NFIP purposes. It provides a five-year forecast of flood mapping activities, thereby enabling mapping partners and flood map users to better plan map updates and track their progress. The MHIP and Map Mod solidify FEMA’s commitment to high-quality, reliable, and timely products and services. FEMA plans to update the MHIP annually. whAt's new wIth mAP mod? Mid-Course Adjustment Map Mod was initially envisioned as a five-year effort with the goal of converting the Nation’s flood maps to a digital platform. Feedback from stakeholders regarding the scope of this effort resulted in a mid-course adjustment. This adjustment in part was fueled by the recently adopted Floodplain Boundary Standard that ensures consistency in how digitized engineering data is aligned against the best available topographic information. The adjustment provides emphasis on mapping population at risk on a census block group basis, while ensuring that past and future studies are compliant with the Floodplain Boundary Standard, and allocating additional resources for engineering updates. This action will delay FEMA’s goal of mapping flood risk for the entire Nation, but FEMA remains committed to finishing this important effort. This will result in a re-sequencing of studies. Critical dates in the study and adoption process can be tracked in Appendix A of the MHIP and the Letter of Final Determination (LFD) list, posted on FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping Web site. At the conclusion of the five-year effort, Map Mod is anticipated to result in the production of digital flood maps to cover 92 percent of the population of the United States and 65 percent of its land area. Overall, 75 percent of the mapped stream miles will meet the Floodplain Boundary Standard, meaning that the floodplain boundaries on the maps are drawn using the best available topographic data. This covers 80 percent of the population. Of the stream miles mapped, 30 percent will be based on new, updated, or validated engineering analysis, covering 40 percent of the population. As of March 2007 (second quarter FY07), 50% of the population will have received Preliminary DFIRMs and 24% of the population will have received effective DFIRMs.