The special flood hazard areas are determined by analysis of historical hydrologic data, community input, topographic surveys, hydrologic analysis, and hydraulic analysis. The Flood Insurance Study (FIS) specifically describes the methods for determination for each community.
The President’s budget included funding to update flood maps across the entire United States. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance policy holders do not finance the map modernization effort.
Many of the flood maps in Alabama were outdated due to man-made and natural changes over time and did not reflect the latest flood risks for Communities. A second phase national effort, called RISK MAP will follow the initial flood map update effort called Flood Map Modernization. RISK MAP will produce more accurate flood hazard […]
The preliminary DFIRM and Flood Insurance Study will be issued to community officials in the impacted communities as the county maps are completed. They may be viewed in a central location within each community.
The process includes obtaining new topographic data, base imagery, political boundaries, transportation lines and flood studies. Digital technology allows these individual elements to be combined into a Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) that clearly shows the boundaries of the flood zones.
A FIRM is a flood map created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) used by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance purposes. Digital versions of these maps are called DFIRMs. A FIRM will generally show: • Roads and map land marks • a community’s base flood elevations • […]
It is a tool used to determine the different flooding risks in a community. The map designates special flood hazard areas that are subject to inundation by the base flood (1% annual chance). Local floodplain administrators, insurance agents, lenders, and property owners use the flood zones illustrated on flood maps.
