The New FIS Report: What Has Changed and What Does the Future Hold? May 17, 2011 Andy Bonner, PE, CFM – BakerAECOM Scott McAfee, CFM, GISP – FEMA Turgay Dabak, PhD, PE – BakerAECOM

2 Agenda  FEMA’s Long-Term Vision  FIRM & FIRM Database Updates Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) FIRM Database Guidance Updates  Changes to the FIS Report Format & Organization Inclusion of Information Previously Found on the FIRMs Relation to FIRM Database Tables Usability Improvements Guidance Updates  Non-Countywide Regulatory Product Update Scenarios

3 Long-Term Vision  Goals of enhancing Regulatory Products More user friendly maps Geospatially aware datasets Easier to update the products and deliver them via the internet  Steps to achieving vision Map Modernization Risk MAP Future tool development

4 FIRM & FIRM Database Updates

5 Changes to FIRM - Overview  Improve ease of use of FIRM maps  Communicating Flood Insurance Zones more clearly  Update graphic specifications  Simplify map production

6 Changes to FIRM – Map Collar  Simplified Legend: focus on Flood Hazard Information  Condensed Notes to Users: most important notes remains on all maps  New Panel Locator: added for easier navigation and orientation

7 Changes to FIRM – Symbology  Focus on Flood Hazard Information Simplified symbology for water features, transportation, political boundaries and flood hazard boundary lines Relaxed labeling guidelines for base map features Removed benchmarks  New Flood Hazard Symbology  Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)  “Shaded Zone X”  Other Areas FLOODWAY SPECIAL FLOODWAY ZONES A, AE, AH, AO, AR, A99, V, VE PROTECTED BY ACCR. LEVEE FUTURE CONDITIONS “Shaded X” ZONE D ZONE X (NO SCREEN)

8 Changes to FIRM – Symbology  Floodway with Fringe and labeled Cross Sections  Detailed Study, Levee and Area Protected by Accredited Levee  Zone X and Zone D with Political Boundary

9 Changes to FIRM – Display of BFEs  Current FIRM Displayed as wavy lines drawn perpendicular to the stream Labeled with a flood elevation rounded to the nearest foot Accuracy impacted by rounding, interpolation and cartographic restrictions  New FIRM – Riverine channels Primary representation of BFEs are lettered and unlettered Cross Sections from the hydraulic model Labeled with a flood elevation rounded to the nearest 1/10 th of a foot Where the difference between Cross Sections is greater than one foot vertical rise, traditional wavy BFE lines with labels rounded to the nearest foot are added  New FIRM – Two-dimensional models and backwater areas No cross sections exist for these areas BFEs are displayed as traditional wavy BFE lines Labeled with a flood elevation rounded to the nearest foot

10 Changes to FIRM Database - Overview  Store all data needed to create Regulatory Products in FIRM Database Include all elements needed to automate FIRM creation Add tables/fields to store FIS Report elements  Remove elements no longer needed due to FIRM simplification

11 Changes to FIRM Database – Supports FIS report creation  Derivation of Data from Appendix L Most of the data shown in tables in the FIS Report can be derived from tables of the FIRM database as specified in Appendix L. Even complex tables can be created using spatial overlays  Examples of tables created from spatial overlays Flood Zone Designations by Community: spatial overlay of S_Pol_Ar and S_Fld_Haz_Ar Listing of NFIP Jurisdictions: spatial overlay of S_Pol_Ar joined to L_Comm_Info, S_FIRM_Pan, and S_Subbasins Flooding Sources Included in this FIS Report: spatial overlay of S_Pol_Ar, S_Profil_Basln and/or S_Tsct_Basln, S_Fld_Haz_Ar, and S_Submittal_Info

12 FIRM & FIRM Database Guidance Updates  Updates of Appendices (K/L) Clarify/Improve User Guidance  Incorporate Procedural Memorandums  Streamlining text Identify Interdependencies of Appendices  Appendix M (Engineering): stores "raw" mapping data  Appendix L (FIRM DB): stores basemap data, "smoothed" floodplain boundaries and tables needed to create the FIS report  Appendix K: stores map making guidelines Clarify/outline deliverable formats  Personal Geodatabase and SHP will be submitted to MSC  MSC deliverable guidance document  Implementation of changes planned for FY11 funded studies

13 FIRM Database Build-Up

14 Changes to FIS Report - Overview  Reformat FIS Report document  Reorganize/add new sections to FIS Report  Incorporate full FIRM Legend & Notes to Users  Derive FIS Report tables directly from FIRM Database  Improve Usability

15  Reformat FIS Report Document Refresh Branding: Update FIS Report cover Changes to FIS Report

16  No more family on the cover anymore Changes to FIS Report

17  Reformat FIS Report Document Sections Added/Reorganized New Sections for: Coastal Analyses Alluvial Fan Analyses Levees Community Meetings Etc. Study-specific information presented in tabular format as much as possible Changes to FIS Report

18 Changes to FIS Report  Inclusion of FIRM-related Information Integrate FIRM Index into FIS Report  Simplified significantly  FIRM Panel Index, Political Areas, & Watershed Boundaries  Panel dates/Panel-Not-Printed notes kept on Index  11x17 fold-out  Map repositories and community dates are moved into FIS Report tables

19 Changes to FIS Report  Inclusion of FIRM-related Information Notes to Users & Full FIRM Legend moved to FIS Report

20 Changes to FIS Report  FIS Report Tables Derived from FIRM Database Sets the stage for future automation and production efficiencies FIRM Database – FIS Report Derivation Table in Procedure Memo Guidance FIS Report Table

21  Usability Improvements Interactive Table of Contents  Bookmarks link to section headings, tables, and figures Searchable text PDF – not a scan Tabular format  Less narrative and prose  Easier to search for study-specific information Editable (Microsoft Word) format template will be provided to Mapping Partners Changes to FIS Report

22 FIS Report Guidance Updates  FIS Report Procedure Memorandum FIS Report Template in Word Doc format  Editable  Boilerplate vs. Study-specific text highlighted in different colors for quick and easy replacing FIS Report Template in PDF format  Includes Flood Profile examples  Highlights PDF bookmarking guidance FIS Report Guidance document  Specific instructions regarding certain tables and figures  Table outlining derivation of FIS Report tables from Appendix L tables  Identification of sections of Appendix J that are superseded by the new PM  Watershed project considerations

23 Regulatory Products Summary  Simplify map production Alignment with FIRM DB & Set framework for on-demand mapping Clarity, Conciseness, Usability  Empowering tools through the data Move more toward digital products to drive digital consumption  Alignment toward Risk MAP goals Efficiencies through digital production Better risk communication

24 Regulatory Product Considerations: Non-Countywide Update Scenarios  Potential Project Scales for New Studies Watershed Coastal Other PMR  Effective Study Scenarios Countywide Partial Countywide Community-Based (Single Jurisdictions) Not previously mapped  Example: Watershed Study (same rules can be applied for other project scales)

25 Potential Scenarios  One Watershed Study – 5 Counties Affected

26 Potential Scenarios  Effective Studies – FIRM layouts

27 County 1: Update Options  FIRM Panels OPTION A Update only the panels affected by the new studies (following quad- based paneling scheme) and follow guidelines from PM 46 (Partial Countywide Mapping Evaluation) for remaining panels OPTION B Update all the panels in the county to countywide format

28 County 1: Update Options  FIRM Panels Updated FIRM Panels follow countywide format and the new Appendix K

29 County 1: Update Options  FIRM Panels Entire panel is updated based on new Appendix K standards Effective flooding from outside the watershed must be incorporated onto the panel Mappable LOMCs affecting an updated panel should be incorporated onto the FIRM as well

30 County 1: Update Options  FIS Report OPTION A Follow guidelines of PM 46 (Partial Countywide) OPTION B Consolidate all effective community-based FIS Reports into countywide format and update according to FIS Report PM

31 County 1: Update Options  FIRM Database OPTION A Create FIRM Database based on new Appendix L, incorporating all flood hazard data covering extents of FIRM panel updates Note: Extent of data incorporated within FIRM Database should correlate with decisions made on the FIRMs and FIS Report (inclusion of full or partial countywide data)

32 Potential Scenarios  Effective Studies – FIRM layouts

33 County 2: Update Options  FIRM Panels OPTION A Update only the panels affected by the new studies (following quad- based paneling scheme) and follow guidelines from PM 46 (Partial Countywide Mapping Evaluation) for remaining panels OPTION B Update all the panels in the county to countywide format

34 County 2: Update Options  FIRM Panels Updated FIRM Panels follow countywide format and the new Appendix K

35 County 2: Update Options  FIS Report OPTION A Follow guidelines of PM 46 (Partial Countywide) – add-on to previous partial countywide FIS Report OPTION B Consolidate all effective FIS Reports into countywide format and update according to FIS Report PM

36 County 2: Update Options  FIRM Database OPTION A Update existing partial countywide database with new information OPTION B Convert existing database into new Appendix L format and incorporate new data Note: Extent of data incorporated within FIRM Database should correlate with decisions made on the FIRMs and FIS Report (inclusion of full or partial countywide data)

37 Potential Scenarios  Effective Studies – FIRM layouts

38 County 3: Update Options  FIRM Panels OPTION A Update only the panels affected by the new studies to the new FIRM format

39 County 3: Update Options  FIRM Panels Updated FIRM Panels follow countywide format and the new Appendix K

40 County 3: Update Options  FIS Report OPTION A If only a small portion of the county is affected, keep countywide FIS Report in old format OPTION B Update the countywide FIS Report into the new format according to the FIS Report PM Note: Once a countywide FIS Report, always a countywide FIS Report (partial countywide FIS Reports not allowed)

41 County 3: Update Options  FIRM Database OPTION A Convert existing database into new Appendix L format and incorporate new data OPTION B Update existing countywide FIRM database with new information Note: Decision on whether to upgrade to the new FIRM database standard should be tied to decision to upgrade to new FIS Report format

42 Potential Scenarios  Effective Studies – FIRM layouts

43 County 4: Update Options  FIRM Panels, FIS Report, and FIRM Database OPTION A Since no new studies affect this county, no FIRM, FIS Report, or FIRM Database updates are anticipated OPTION B Modernize county (or the portions affected by the watershed) and follow new Appendix K, Appendix L, and FIS Report PM guidelines and PM 46 (Partial Countywide) – NOT COMMON

44 County 5: Update Options  FIRM Panels, FIS Report, and FIRM Database OPTION A Since no new studies affect this county, no FIRM, FIS Report, or FIRM Database updates are anticipated OPTION B Update effective countywide regulatory products based on new Appendix K, Appendix L, and FIS Report PM guidelines – NOT COMMON

45 Question and Answer Questions? Comments? Concerns? Andy Bonner: Scott McAfee: Turgay Dabak: