As part of the semi-annual maintenance process, FEMA announces the revision of 18 Risk Map standards.
In August 2013, a set of standards for the Risk MAP (Mapping, Assessment and Planning) program was issued as the FEMA policy Standards for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping. The purpose of the standards is to enable consistent performance of flood risk projects, processing of letters of map change and related Risk MAP activities.
Risk MAP has instituted a semi-annual maintenance process for this policy to address ongoing needs for updated standards and to provide regular updates of the procedures for mapping.
As a part of the regular maintenance, standards changes have been implemented related to levee Zone AR and A99 designations, implementing the changes from the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. There are also changes related to updating maps to show a deaccredited levee through the Letter of Map Revision process, depiction of base flood elevations on flood maps, use of digital flood hazard data and some terminology changes. FEMA conducted a public review of the draft standards earlier this year. No comments were received.
As part of this maintenance cycle, FEMA is also issuing new guidance documents for Risk MAP and updating the related technical reference documents that define specific requirements for flood risk project deliverables. These documents will be published over the next few weeks.
Risk MAP provides high quality flood maps for the National Flood Insurance Program, information and tools to better assess the risk from flooding, plus planning and outreach support to communities to help them take action to reduce (or mitigate) flood risk.
For additional information, please visit the FEMA Guidelines and Standards for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping webpage.