Annual Reports and Recommendations

The Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) delivers reports with recommendations to the FEMA Administrator.

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TMAC 2023 Annual Report

Several of the TMAC’s 2023 recommendations propose fundamental changes to foundational elements of the mapping program and floodplain management functions of the National Flood Insurance Program. We understand that some of these recommendations may be met with controversy, fueling longstanding debates regarding how our Nation manages its shared flood risk and other difficult topics, such as who pays and how much before and after flood disasters strike. Rather than shy away from these difficult issues, the TMAC seized what it saw as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to offer recommendations that help put the Nation on a better path in the face of increasing flood damages and risks.

The forward-leaning recommendations identified within this report will, undoubtably, help reduce future flood losses compared to maintaining the status quo. With that said, these recommendations cannot be effectively implemented without a concurrent effort to directly address the financial challenges that will require all of us to work together to improve the situation for future generations.

TMAC 2023 Final Interim Report

Given a variety of pressing needs, FEMA asked the council to formulate recommendations regarding two specific topics by the end of October. Specifically, those topics are quoted below:

Recommend if/how FEMA should modify the definition of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or modify how the SFHA is currently calculated (without redefining it). Today, the SFHA is currently defined as “the land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in a given year.”
Recommend how FEMA might consider changing procedures for modifying the SFHA through letters of map change and map updates when land is filled or graded to be at or above estimated 1-percent-annual-chance exceedance (1% AEP) flood levels (or Base Flood Elevations [BFEs]).

TMAC is recommending change in both areas. There are six specific recommendations on these topics in the interim report. While changes to these interim recommendations are not likely, they are possible given the council is continuing to prepare a final report on related topics.

TMAC 2022 Annual Report

The focus of the 2022 report was to assess ways in which FEMA might improve program delivery to disadvantaged communities. In summary, the TMAC suggests establishing program performance measures around improving service to disadvantaged communities, increasing investments in disadvantaged community support services, working with Congress to address the unintended consequences associated with the convergence of legal mandates and scientific facts, and to not shy away from preparing and making readily available flood hazard and risk data for these communities. Importantly, the TMAC found that the drivers and degree to which communities are disadvantaged vary widely, and there is not a distinct line between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged communities. Successes learned through applying TMAC’s recommendations to address barriers to understanding risk and taking action or mitigating unintended consequences of the flood mapping program for disadvantaged communities can potentially be broadly applied to address issues that create disadvantages.

TMAC 2021 Annual Report

TMAC’s efforts in 2021 involved continued stakeholder engagement and focused in two areas: 1) review of our 2015 recommendations regarding the development of future conditions flood hazard and risk information; and 2) an exploration of risk management frameworks with a focus on enterprise risk management approaches. In summary, the TMAC continues to promote the development, deployment, and continued enhancement of the Future of Flood Risk Data (FFRD) initiative including supporting existing partnerships to leverage best available climate science and efforts to develop standard approaches in the probabilistic modeling suite and resultant nonregulatory products. Moreover, the TMAC has recommended FIMA use enterprise risk management to accomplish its strategic objectives including its efforts to further promote the use of graduated flood hazard and risk data.

TMAC 2020 Annual Report

The 2020 Annual Report focuses on two areas: 1) identifying the best practices to be incorporated into a future flood hazard and flood risk identification program; and 2) providing a framework for FEMA to transition to the future flood hazard and flood risk identification program. As part of it’s work in 2020, the TMAC conducted a robust stakeholder engagement process and engaged over 780 stakeholders through a survey, webinars, and several focus groups. The feedback from the stakeholders was informative and supports the three recommendations in the 2020 Annual Report.

TMAC 2019 Annual Report

In 2019 FEMA tasked the TMAC with reviewing past recommendations and identifying topics to be further explored by the Council in future years. This tasks refers to the four components the Risk Management Directorate identified as core elements for the future of flood hazard mapping program. Due to time limitations in 2019 for the Council to work on the annual report, FEMA did request a full Annual Report to be published; rather, a request came to the Council to provide topics for future consideration in the form of a memorandum

TMAC 2018 Annual Report

In 2018, FEMA tasked the Council to address the topics of how to communicate uncertainty, prioritize unmapped areas, and increase flood insurance coverage, the 2018 Annual Report is in progress. In September 2018, the Council provided an open comment period for the public to review the insights, concepts and potential recommendations in the 2018 Annual Report for delivery to the FEMA Administrator. The 2018 Annual Report Summary represents the content reviewed by the TMAC subcommittees to date. Based on further discussion by the Council and public input, these concepts and recommendations may be further refined and the final report submitted to the FEMA Administrator may have additional information and/or certain sections reduced or omitted.

TMAC 2018 Annual Report Summary

TMAC 2017 Annual Report

This annual report contains five new recommendations and nine implementation actions that provide further suggestions, clarification, and guidance on floodplain management, residual risk (i.e., structure-specific rating), and future conditions. In addition, three key topics in the evolution of the National Flood Mapping Program and the future of flood mapping for the National Flood Insurance Program are included as well.

TMAC 2016 Annual Report

This report includes two recommendations and 28 follow-on implementation actions for the TMAC 2015 Annual Report. All 28 of the implementation actions help inform FEMA’s planning, sequencing, and prioritization of previously issued TMAC recommendations. The two new recommendations focus on the importance of accurate flood hazard maps to provide relevant information for determining flood risk-rate insurance premiums and communicating the cost of those premiums over time to residents in high-risk areas.

TMAC 2016 National Flood Mapping Program Review

This review provides FEMA with technically credible flood hazard information, information when the Program is implemented as designed and in areas where Flood Insurance Rate Maps are prepared or updated about the National Flood Mapping Program. In addition, recommendations are including, where appropriate, to assist the agency to provide technically credible flood hazard data into the future. As required under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, Section 17, this review informed FEMA’s Administrator for the certification of the National Flood Mapping Program.

TMAC 2015 Annual Report

Highlights of this annual report include recommendations as to how to improve specific elements of the flood mapping program such as the mapping products, program performance metrics, standards, guidelines, map maintenance, delegation and interagency and intergovernmental coordination.

TMAC 2015 Annual Report Summary

Recommendations in this summary to FEMA help provide accurate and comprehensive data, time- and cost-efficient generation and process management of flood risk data. In addition, there were recommendations for effective utilization of efficient technologies, integrated flood risk management framework of hazard identification, strong understanding and awareness of flood hazard and risk data and substantial funding for program support.

TMAC 2015 Future Conditions Risk Assessment and Modeling Report

The recommendations help FEMA ensure Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) incorporate the best available climate science to assess flood risks and ensure that FEMA may use the best available methodology to consider the impact of the rise in sea level and future development on flood risk.

TMAC 2015 Annual Report - Interim

This interim report includes preliminary recommendations as to how to improve specific elements of the flood mapping program such as the mapping products, program performance metrics, standards, guidelines, map maintenance, delegation, and interagency and intergovernmental coordination.

TMAC 2015 Future Conditions Risk Assessment and Modeling Report – Interim

This interim report includes preliminary recommendations to help FEMA ensure Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) incorporate the best available climate science to assess flood risks and ensure that FEMA may use the best available methodology to consider the impact of the rise in sea level and future development on flood risk

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