| Map Modernization Update: FEMA Alters Course |
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July 30, 2006 Map Modernization Update: FEMA Alters Course Halfway into the five-year map modernization initiative, FEMA is veering slightly from its original course in order to incorporate higher-quality mapping standards and allocate more resources to areas with the highest flood risk and population. A mid-course adjustment that incorporated feedback from concerned stakeholders-namely Congress, government agencies, states and professional organizations-has led FEMA to delay its goal of creating a comprehensive national digital flood map layer. Instead, the project is now focused on providing reliably accurate digital flood data. The most notable improvements involve: Floodplain Boundary Standards-Paper maps' flood boundaries are matched to current topographical data and merged into a digital result, correcting any floodplain boundary line discrepancies. Stream Mile Measurements-Instead of measuring the program's progress in terms of how many map panels have been updated, FEMA based progress on the number of "stream miles" mapped. (A "stream mile" is a measure of the distance of flowing water.) Risk-based Mapping Priorities-A new ranking process was developed to determine which areas should be given the highest priority in receiving modernized maps. The ranking is based on factors like population and growth, housing units, flood insurance policies and claims, and repetitive flood losses. Census Block Groups-Beginning with FY 2006 funding, the ranking described above will be based on prioritized census block groups rather than counties. This adjustment will allow for additional focus on those areas that comprise 90 percent of the nation's risk and account for 92 percent of the population. In terms of progress, FEMA estimates that the map modernization effort reached these milestones by the end of 2005: - Digital flood map products are available for 39 percent of the nation's population. - 11 percent of the stream miles mapped have been based on new, updated or validated engineering analysis, covering 4 percent of the population. - Digital flood map products cover 15 percent of the land area of the continental U.S. |