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Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP)

Envelope icon Flood Hazard Mapping e-mail updates

Vision

The vision for Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to action that reduces risk to life and property. Risk MAP builds on flood hazard data and maps produced during the Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod) program.

Graphic: The vision for the Risk MAP life cycle which begins with Identifying Risk, then Assessing Risk, then Communicating Risk, and finally Mitigating Risk.

The graphic above demonstrates the vision for the Risk MAP life cycle which begins with Identifying Risk, then Assessing Risk, then Communicating Risk, and finally Mitigating Risk. 

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Goals

Building on the success of Map Mod, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will collaborate with Federal, State and local stakeholders to achieve goals under Risk MAP:

  1. Flood Hazard Data. Address gaps in flood hazard data to form a solid foundation for risk assessment, floodplain management, and actuarial soundness of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
  2. Public Awareness/Outreach. Ensure that a measurable increase of the public’s awareness and understanding of risk results in a measurable reduction of current and future vulnerability.
  3. Hazard Mitigation Planning. Lead and support States, local, and Tribal communities to effectively engage in risk-based mitigation planning resulting in sustainable actions that reduce or eliminate risks to life and property from natural hazards.
  4. Enhanced Digital Platform. Provide an enhanced digital platform that improves management of Risk MAP, stewards information produced by Risk MAP, and improves communication and sharing of risk data and related products to all levels of government and the public.
  5. Alignment and Synergies. Align Risk Analysis programs and develop synergies to enhance decision-making capabilities through effective risk communication and management.

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The Team

FEMA Headquarters and Regional offices will lead a team of contractors and stakeholder entities to deliver its Risk MAP program. The team is comprised of:

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Risk MAP FY11 Report to Congress

“FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Fiscal Year 2011 Report to Congress,” dated March 15, 2011, provides an update on FEMA’s strategic approach, program budget and measures, and implementation for Risk MAP.  

FEMA utilized Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 and FY 2010 Congressional appropriations to address critical coastal and levee engineering and mapping needs, and to define Risk MAP products and processes. In FY 2011, FEMA will utilize its resources to develop fully integrated Risk MAP projects for selected watersheds across the Nation, continue to address coastal and levee engineering data needs, and acquire topographic data needed for Risk MAP projects. As these integrated Risk MAP projects are rolled out, feedback from State and local officials will be used to:

FEMA encourages feedback from National Flood Insurance Program and other Risk MAP stakeholders on the strategic approach and implementation outlined in this document. Interested parties with questions pertaining to specific Risk MAP projects, including flood mapping updates, are encouraged to contact their local and State officials, who are working with their local FEMA Regional Office.

Comments or questions regarding the Report to Congress can be e-mailed to FEMA-RiskMaps@dhs.gov. FEMA will not provide individual replies to comments, but all feedback will be considered in FEMA’s implementation of Risk MAP.

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Risk MAP Success Stories

FEMA has completed a number of projects to validate new Risk MAP features and products. The majority of these projects were completed in the period leading up to February 28, 2011 throughout the FEMA regions. Included in these projects are experiences helping communities and individuals identify and manage flood risks and raising the awareness of potential flooding and mitigation opportunities.

RiskMAP Success Stories

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Risk MAP Digital Elevation Plan

FEMA has developed the Risk MAP Digital Elevation Plan for acquiring elevation data to support Risk MAP. The Risk MAP elevation approach is a significant, targeted investment to meet the goals laid out in the Risk MAP Multi-Year Plan. The vision for Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to mitigation actions that reduce risk to life and property. To achieve this vision, this plan will address gaps in flood hazard data to form a solid foundation for risk assessment, floodplain management, and provide State, local, and Tribal entities with information needed to mitigate flood related risks.

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FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan

The FY10 Flood Mapping Progress Report and Production Plan details FEMA’s progress in prioritizing and delivering modernized flood maps for areas of the United States with the greatest flood risk. The Report provides an update on performance in the Flood Map Modernization Program and the strategy for prioritizing and initiating coastal, levee, and riverine flood engineering and map data updates for Risk MAP. The Report provides United States Maps depicting map production progress, planned updates, and an appendix that lists by State and county all scheduled and completed flood map production activities. Specific questions regarding flood map production activities may be directed to the appropriate FEMA Regional office.

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Multi-Year Plan

FEMA has developed a Risk MAP multi-year plan spanning FY10-FY14. The plan, which was approved on March 16, 2009, outlines the program’s goals and objectives and summarizes FEMA’s approach to strategic planning and stakeholder roles and responsibilities.

Questions regarding the plan should be directed to FEMA-RiskMaps@dhs.gov.

A Risk MAP fact sheet is available in the FEMA Library.

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Risk MAP FY09 Flood Mapping Production Plan

As part of its activities related to the NFIP, FEMA has begun the transition from Map Mod to Risk MAP in fiscal year (FY) 2009. The vision for Risk MAP is to work collaboratively with State, local, and Tribal entities to deliver quality data that increases public awareness and lead to action that reduces risk to life and property. FEMA has identified a key goal for Risk MAP:

 Map Mod transformed the majority of the flood hazard mapping inventory to 21st century digital technology and restored confidence in the reliability of floodplain boundaries, while making updates to the underlying engineering data. The dynamic nature of floodplains requires updated analysis of flood hazards periodically to maintain a reliable inventory.

Map Mod established a foundation for easier information depiction and distribution of mapped flood hazards. To complete the evolution of the process, it is imperative to maintain the integrity and credibility of the engineering data for reliable risk identification, and ensure the information can be leveraged to improve mitigation activities beyond the minimum Federal requirements for participation in the NFIP.

With FY 2009 Congressional appropriations for Flood Hazard Mapping, FEMA is initiating flood map update projects to address gaps in required engineering and mapping for high flood risk areas impacted by coastal flooding, levees, and other flood hazards (e.g., lakes, rivers, and ponds). The Risk MAP FY09 Flood Mapping Production Plan provides the strategy for selection of FY09 Risk MAP flood map update projects and the planned schedule for their completion. It identifies those counties for which flood map update projects are being initiated in FY 2009 and the type of flood hazards being addressed by the engineering and mapping project (coastal, levee, other riverine flood hazards). Projects were selected in FY 2009 to leverage established Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) relationships. Those counties including CTP maintenance activities are identified in the Risk MAP FY09 Flood Mapping Production Plan.

Interested parties with questions pertaining to the updated strategy and planned schedule for flood mapping projects are encouraged to contact their appropriate local and State officials, who are working with one of FEMA's 10 Regional Offices.

Read the Risk MAP FY09 Flood Mapping Production Plan

Learn more with the Risk MAP FY09 Flood Mapping Production Plan Factsheet

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For More Information

For more information or additional assistance:

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 13-Apr-2011 13:55:05 EDT