Risk MAPIncreasing Resilience Together October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP Technical Support For technical support related to FEMA’s digital flood hazard data products and tools, please contact the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX). E-mail: FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com Telephone: 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336- 2627) Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Moving to Digital Flood Hazard Information General Distribution of Paper Products Ended on October 1, 2009 Self-service options available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Since the 1970s, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has provided flood hazard maps and reports to help more than 20,000 participating communities manage and reduce flood risk. The primary flood hazard data products are: . The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) which displays flood hazard zones and projected flood elevations, and . The Flood Insurance Study (FIS) which provides background information on the analysis performed and more precise data on flood elevations. These products are now all digital and available online. Table 1 provides additional information on FEMA’s digital flood hazard products. A paper FIRM and FIS are provided to each mapped community whenever there is an update or change to the map. All other distributions of effective and historic flood maps and FIS reports are provided in a digital format. FEMA provides a suite of free, user- friendly tools that support the needs of NFIP stakeholders for viewing, analyzing, and printing flood hazard maps. Please see Table 2 for more information about these tools. Use Digital Maps and Data for Official Purposes FEMA’s policy on the “Use of Digital Flood Hazard Data” states that paper and digital maps are equivalent and provides guidelines for using the maps and data. The policy and related information is available at: http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3235. The policy implements section 107 of Public Law 108-264, 118 Stat. 724 (2004). FEMA will convert all current Map Service Center (MSC) paper orders to requests for FIRM Scan products on CD. Orders for paper FIS reports will be filled with digital files. Government organizations will continue to be exempt from fees for such products. If you have questions or comments concerning this change, please e- mail FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com. October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP Table 1. FEMA’s Digital Flood Hazard Products Digital Flood Hazard Products What is it? What does it do? What do I need to have in order to use it ? Suitable for… Additional Information Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Scan Image data that provides a picture of an entire FIRM or Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM). Software, such as FIRMette – Desktop, that lets you view and print TIFF or PDF-formatted image files. Viewing flood hazard maps and printing your own flood maps for an area of interest. Current FEMA Issued Flood Maps: http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&categoryId=12001&langId=- 1&userType=G&type=1&future=false FIRMette Full-scale section of a FIRM Scan that provides an image of a portion of flood hazard zones. Software, such as FIRMette – Desktop or FIRMette – Web, that lets you view and print TIFF or PDF-formatted image files. Viewing flood hazard maps and printing them to a standard office printer or saving them to your computer. FIRMette Tutorial: http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/info?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=- 1&content=firmetteHelp_0&title=FIRMette%20Tutorial Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Database Digital version of a FIRM that provides more powerful mapping and analysis than traditional paper products. FEMA’s MapViewer – Web or MapViewer – Desktop or Geographic Information System (GIS) software from commercial vendors. Creating custom maps, viewing attribute data and incorporating flood hazard data into custom software applications. DFIRM Database Information: http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&categoryId=12001&langId=- 1&userType=G&parent_category_rn=12009&dfirmCatId=12009&type=1 National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) Digital flood hazard map database that provides DFIRM information, including Letters of Map Change (LOMCs). FEMA’s MapViewer – Web, Google Earth™ .kmz files, Web Map Service (WMS) or GIS datasets. Viewing NFHL flood hazard data from all DFIRM databases created for the U.S. NFHL Fact Sheet http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3286&fromSearch=fromsearch Stay Dry (version 2.0) http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3293&fromSearch=fromsearch NFHL WMS http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3292&fromSearch=fromsearch NFHL GIS Data http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3291&fromSearch=fromsearch October 2012 www.fema.gov/rm-main · 1–877–FEMA MAP Table 2. FEMA’s Digital Flood Hazard Tools Digital Flood Hazard Tools What is it? What does it do? What do I need to have in order to use it? Suitable for… Additional Information FIRMette – Desktop User-friendly desktop software for viewing and creating a map from a portion of a FIRM Scan. FIRM Scan data copied to your desktop and the ability to view and print TIFF or PDF-formatted image files. Viewing flood hazard maps and printing an area of interest from a FIRM Scan. FIRMette – Desktop software and tutorial http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/mapstore/docs/ FirmetteDesktopInstalltion.pdf FIRMette – Web User-friendly Internet software for viewing and creating a map from a portion of a FIRM Scan. Internet connection, web browser software and the ability to view and print TIFF or PDF-formatted image files. Viewing flood hazard maps using a computer with a reliable internet connection. FIRMette Tutorial http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/info?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=- 1&content=firmetteHelp_0&title=FIRMette%20Tutorial MapViewer – Desktop Desktop software that uses DFIRM Databases or NFHL GIS data to view flood hazard data. MapViewer – Desktop software and DFIRM Databases or NFHL GIS data on a CD or your computer. Creating and viewing custom flood hazard maps and making comments on preliminary DFIRMs. MapViewer – Desktop Software http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/info?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=- 1&content=mapviewerResources&title=MapViewer%20Resources MapViewer – Web Internet software used to view maps, look up attribute information and create custom maps and reports. Internet connection, web browser software and the ability to view and print PDF files. Users who have GIS capability who want to view and print maps from the NFHL. MapViewer – Web Fact Sheet http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3290&fromSearch=fromsearch NFHL and Google Earth™ GIS Database that contains flood hazard information and allows the viewing of NFHL WMS in Google Earth™. Internet connection, web browser software, .kmz files and the Google Earth™ viewer software. Viewing custom combinations of flood hazard information from FEMA’s NFHL. FEMA NFHL (version 2.3) http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3289&fromSearch=fromsearch Using NFHL WMS https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/wps/portal/NFHLWMSkmzdownload Express Document Delivery (EDDie) Online tool that allows MSC digital products to be downloaded easier by bypassing the payment process. Log in from the MSC. Only available to expert customers, including Federal, State and local government officials and FEMA contractors. Viewing FIRMs, DFIRM Databases, LOMCs and other flood hazard data in Joint Field Offices during a disaster operation. EDDie http://edd.msc.fema.gov/edd/