Overview of Flood Program April Doug Bellomo, Director Risk Analyses Division Mitigation Directorate, FEMA

Flood Map Modernization Overview  National Flood Insurance Background  Why make maps then keep making them  The Map Making Process (General)  Some Maps and Stats

Flood Map Modernization Overview  National Flood Insurance Background  Why make maps then keep making them  The Map Making Process (General)  Some Maps and Stats

Flood Map Modernization The Beginning  Before 1968, Federal Government responded with only disaster relief after flood events  The private sector was not covering flood under standard home owners policies  Congress created the program for two primary reasons: To proactively reduce future flood risk by encouraging sound land use practices To make flood insurance available to the public

Flood Map Modernization National Flood Insurance How it Works  Federal Government makes flood insurance available  Local government agrees to adopt building standards and floodplain management practices that reduce future flood risk  Federal Government and Local government work together to identify flood hazards – make maps

Flood Map Modernization Overview  National Flood Insurance Background  Why make maps then keep making them  The Map Making Process (General)  Some Maps and Stats

Flood Map Modernization Why make maps?  If you don’t know the size and shape of what you’re up against you can’t manage it  Flood maps bring the hazard out into the open so it can be faced  They are the foundation on which the insurance and floodplain management components (statutory and regulatory) are based

Flood Map Modernization Why keep making maps?  Because the threat and our understanding change with time  Physical changes (natural and man-made)  Statistical Impacts (rainfall records, floods, gage data)  Methodology (models and understanding of water flow)  Because they make people think and the process leads to action

Flood Map Modernization Overview  National Flood Insurance Background  Why make maps then keep making them  The Map Making Process (General)  Some Maps and Stats

Flood Map Modernization Map Making Process  Starts with a Plan a Budget and acronym Multiyear Flood Hazard Identification Plan – MHIP Risk informed Collaborative process with states, locals, and other partners  Moves next to Execution Scoping map work  Meeting with local governments Preliminary map released  Draft map issued to community Due Process – providing opportunity to improve  Appeals  Compliance Period Effective – Used for floodplain management and insurance  Final production/Gov’t Printing

Flood Map Modernization Map Production Process

Flood Map Modernization Tremendous Value in the Process  The maps have a lot of value, but the map making process has just as much  Identifying flood risks and going through process focuses and begins important dialog Right Conversations – about reducing flood risk Right People – local officials, individuals, other federal agencies Right Time – before disaster strikes

Flood Map Modernization 1 1 IdentifyRisk 2 2 AssessRisk 3 3 CommunicateRisk 4 4 MitigateRisk Risk MAP: REDUCE LOSS OF LIFE & PROPERTY AT LOCAL LEVELS Transfer Risk Reduce Risk Map Risk Data Goal – Measure Quantifiable Risk Reduction Assess Present & Future Risks Plan for Risk  Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Life Cycle  Good flood hazard data is the key to Identify Risk

Flood Map Modernization Overview  National Flood Insurance Background  Why make maps then keep making them  The Map Making Process (General)  Some Maps and Stats

Flood Map Modernization NFIP Status  Over 20,000 communities participate in the program (about 98% of US Population)  Over 100,000 individual map panel  Over 5 million flood insurance policies in force  Over $1 trillion in insurance coverage (exposure)

Flood Map Modernization Where is Flood Risk the Greatest?

Flood Map Modernization Progress of Mapping Activities Effective Map Availability DFIRM & FIRM (February 2008)

Flood Map Modernization KPI 1 Progress and Targets UPDATE???

Flood Map Modernization KPI 2 Progress and Targets UPDATE???

Flood Map Modernization Your Data on Paper

Flood Map Modernization Your Data On Digits