The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains guidelines and standards to support the Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) Program. These guidelines and standards define the specific implementation of the statutory and regulatory requirements for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These also outline the performance of Flood Risk Projects, processing of Letters of Map Change (LOMCs) and related Risk MAP activities. More information is available at: www.fema.gov/guidelines-and-
FEMA has a maintenance plan for the Risk MAP guidelines and standards and issues updates on a semi-annual basis. This notice provides information about the fall semi-annual update, expected to be released in November 2015.
A summary of the proposed changes to standards, guidance and related documents is attached. This update includes ongoing transformation of legacy guidelines and specifications to produce new guidance documents that reflect changes to the FEMA standards policy. These transformation topics are also listed below.
The Policy for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping comprises the standards for practitioners of the Risk MAP program. This policy outlines FEMA’s requirements to produce better overall consistency and more efficient operation of mapping activities. There are 4 proposed changes to the policy included in the summary of changes attached. FEMA published the draft changes to standards for public comment as part of the maintenance process for the Risk MAP standards. The draft change in language for the standards is included after the summary of proposed changes, and instructions for commenting on the draft language is provided.
If you have feedback about FEMA’s guidelines and standards, you may submit comments or suggestions by e-mail to FEMA.GS@riskmapcds.com.