NFIP and Flood Mapping
Lowest floor elevation
BFE should be below this for new buildings built in flood hazard areas
Discovery process
The discovery process is the stage in the Risk Map process where FEMA and the subject community identify areas at risk for flooding and determine the types of data available and data that may need to be collected
Hydraulic
- channelization, culverts, levees - development altering the volume and rate of water flowing through the area
Hydrologic
- dams, diversion channels, or retention basins - development altering the flow of water
SFHA
Special Flood Hazard Area
flood insurance study (FIS)
(FEMA 480) A report published by FEMA for a community issued along with the community's FIRM. The study contains such background data as the base flood discharges and water surface elevations that were used to prepare the FIRM.
OPA
- Otherwise Protected Areas (OPAs) are a category of coastal barriers within the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) - identified as diagonal black dashed lines running northwest to southeast
Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 (CBRA)
- Restricts the types of Federal spending and assistance which encourages development of the coastal barriers. - aimed to reduce the loss of human life, wasteful spending of Federal money, and damage to ecosystems, wildlife etc.
Term Insurance
A loan must be covered for its term in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal balance of the loan, the replacement cost of the building, or the maximum limit of coverage available ($250,000), whichever is less
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
A map that shows exact boundaries for special flood hazard areas, the various flood zones, and base flood elevations. (in AE or VE zones only)
Flood hazard boundary map
A temporary map designed to identify flood-prone areas in the community. Replaced by FIRMS
Freeboard
An additional amount of height above the Base Flood Elevation used as a factor of safety (e.g., 2 feet above the Base Flood) in determining the level at which a structure's lowest floor must be elevated or floodproofed to be in accordance with state or community floodplain management regulations.
Community FIRM ID #
Community-wide FIRMs follow a similar format to FIRMS; however, the first six digits are the community identification number, rather than the county identification number.
Actual Cash Value (ACV)
Cost to replace property with new property of like kind and quality less depreciation.
Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form (SFHDF)
FEMA Form 81-93, used by a lender, federal agency or third party to document determination of whether or not a building is located in the SFHA. If the building is found to be located in the SFHA, the borrower is notified of the requirement to buy flood insurance.
Forced Placement
Forced placement occurs when the lender purchases a flood insurance policy for the property owner through the owner's escrow account. The cost of the insurance is then included on monthly mortgage payments
FIRM ID's (FIRM numbers)
Identified by an 11-digit alphanumeric panel number. The first six digits of a countywide FIRM are the county identification number followed by the letter "C." The next four digits identify a specific section of the county and the last letter is the suffix, which identifies the version of the FIRM.
Community Assistance Program (CAP)
Intended to help States identify, prevent, and resolve floodplain management issues in participating communities before a flood event. Under CAP, NFIP funds are available for to help the state coordinating agency provide technical assistance to communities and to monitor/evaluate their work
Coastal Barrier Resources System
On the FIRM, the CBRS is identified by diagonal black lines running northwest to southeast.
NFIP community probation
Probation occurs when it does not comply with the NFIP's floodplain management requirements. Ends when the community remedies all deficiencies. Insurance is available while the community is on probation. FEMA applies a $50 Probation Surcharge to all policies in the community, issued on or after the probation effective date.
Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973
Prohibits federal assistance for buildings in the SFHA of Non-Participating communities Sets Mandatory Purchase Requirement for structures in SFHA offered as collateral for federally backed loan
Community Acknowledgment Form
Required for CLOMR-F and LOMR-F's. Filled out by FPM Section A: Confirms fill is placed correctly, legally and the community is aware of it Section B: Specific cases that involve building in a designated floodway, statement no fill is placed in the floodway.
FIRM ID # Suffix
Suffix - Indicates what series of publication the FIRMs are. For example, a FIRM panel number which ends in the suffix 'D', will become suffix 'E' the next time the FIRM is published
Index map
The Index is a map of an entire community or county which shows how its panels are arranged and displayed Community delineations Map panel numbers Effective dates of panel numbers (all panels within a community may not have the same effective date) Prominent features, such as major highways, railroads, and streams A listing of communities A list of community map repositories The Title Block of an Index map will specify which panels have been printed within a community
base flood
The NFIP flood level used for regulatory purposes. A flood with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. Also known as the "100 Year Flood".
Community Rating System (CRS)
When a community adopts and enforces floodplain management criteria which exceed FEMA's minimum standards, they may be eligible for participation in the Community Rating System (CRS), which can result in high-risk flood insurance premium reductions of 5 - 45%.
Lender review
Whenever a loan against a property is originated, modified, or sometimes during an audit, the lender reviews the effective FIRM to determine the structures location in relation to the published SFHA.
NFIP Structure Definition
a building with 2 or more rigid walls with an attatched roof and in a single place
NFIP Flood definition
a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: 1) The overflow of inland or tidal waters 2) The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source
Mandatory Purchase Requirement
homeowners WITH Federally backed loans/mortgages in SFHA to purchase flood insurance
Community responsibilities
issuing or denying permits; inspecting development; maintaining records; assisting in the preparation and revision of floodplain maps; and assisting residents with obtaining information relevant to floodplain mapping and managements.
Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBIA)
- A tripled the size of the system established by the CBRA. - The CBIA also does not allow the issuance of new Federal flood insurance within "otherwise protected areas" on buildings constructed after November 16, 1991, unless the building is used in a manner related to the reason the area is protected
Zone D
- An area where there are possible but undetermined flood hazards because no analysis of flood hazards has been conducted. - The designation of Zone D is also used when a community incorporates portions of another community's area where no map has been prepared. - Flood insurance is available in Zone D and property owners should be encouraged to purchase it. (?) - Flood insurance is not federally required by lenders for loans on properties in these zones.
Zone C and X (unshaded)
- Areas which represent a low flood risk. - These are areas of minimal flood hazard, which are the areas outside the SFHA and higher than the elevation of the 0.2-percent annual chance flood (500-year flood). - - Zone X (unshaded) is used on new and revised maps in place of Zone C.
Zone B and X (shaded)
- Areas which represent a moderate flood risk. Moderate flood hazard areas are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent annual chance flood (500-year flood). - Zone X (shaded) is used on new and revised maps in place of Zone B.
Panel Number
- Identifies a certain section of a municipality or county
Community ID (CID)
- Identifies the unique number given to a community/ municipality by the NFIP
County ID Number
- Identifies the unique number given to a county-wide FIRM. The letter 'C' indicates a county-wide format.
Structure Requirement
- The Mandatory Purchase Requirement applies only to structures on the property. - The NFIP does not provide insurance coverage for land, only for buildings. - Thus, the location of a building in relation to the SFHA determines the applicability of the flood insurance requirement. - If any portion of the building sits in the SFHA the mandatory purchase requirement applies to the entire structure.
Floodway Data Tables
provide the BFE at a cross section on a FIRM to the nearest tenth of a foot. It will also include the width of the floodway and the distance of the cross section from a defined point.
Regulatory Floodway
the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height.
Floodplain
The area subject to flooding during a given number of years according to historical trends.
Base Flood Elevation
The computed elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during the base flood. They are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and on the flood profiles. It is a the regulatory requirement for the elevation or floodproofing of structures.
replacement cost value
The cost to replace the property on the same premises with other property of comparable material and quality used for the same purpose
Emergency phase
offers limited flood insurance coverage amounts for property owners. -After a Flood Insurance Study is conducted and a FIRM is produced with more detailed flood hazard data, the community may adopt the new data in a more comprehensive ordinance and join the Regular Phase of the Program.