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Looking Toward the NFIP's Future

It is FEMA's goal to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the United States from all hazards by leading and supporting the country in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of protection, response, recovery, mitigation, and now, more than ever, preparedness.

FEMA is achieving this goal by forging stronger partnerships and closer working relationships with its stakeholders. These include other Federal entities; State, Territorial, Tribal, and local governments; property insurance agents and companies; and mortgage lenders. FEMA also is working to expand its partnerships with the building industry and the real estate community. Other emerging opportunities for partnership remain to be explored.


FEMA's Focus

Of course, FEMA will continue to offer the proven protection of flood insurance that consumers can purchase to assist in their own recovery. This year, in addition, FEMA is introducing a more robust focus on preparedness for both natural and man-made disasters. A number of steps are being taken to better prepare the nation for emergencies of all kinds. These measures position FEMA to deliver prompt and effective emergency assistance for communities and individuals impacted by devastating events.

One example of FEMA's increased emphasis on preparedness is the media campaign launched earlier this year to alert the public, citizens and governments alike, about the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially spans June through November. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of steps that should be taken, before the tropical storms start brewing, to protect life and property from Nature's might. The campaign includes press releases, radio spots, and direct mailing.


Map Modernization

NFIP Flood Map Modernization (Map Mod) is a $1-billion collaborative initiative between FEMA and its partners to modernize Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). These flood hazard maps are used to identify and manage flood risk, an important component of risk analysis.

Map Mod's goal is to map the areas where 92 percent of the United States population lives. This is an area covering 65 percent of the land in the nation.

As of March 2007, communities in which more than 50 percent of the U.S. population resides had received preliminary Digital FIRMs (DFIRMs), and approximately 25 percent of the population had received effective DFIRMs.

Flood zone designations may change when the new flood maps are adopted. The high-risk flood areas, also called Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), are zones A and V. The low- to moderate-risk flood areas are zones B, C and X. As maps are updated, uninsured individuals, with the assistance of their property insurance agents, will be able to determine flood insurance costs and options based on the new zone determinations. Although Federally regulated lending institutions are obligated to require the purchase of flood insurance only for buildings in high-risk flood areas, all property owners would be prudent to protect their financial interests with flood insurance. Coverage is available at a substantially lower cost to eligible residential and non-residential property owners and renters in moderate-risk zones. Any area can experience a flooding event; in fact, about 25 percent of all NFIP claims are paid in low- to moderate-risk areas.

Flood insurance and mitigation go hand in hand because participation in the NFIP creates an opportunity for risk reduction through sound floodplain management. Although the impact of floods can be reduced, flood risk cannot be completely eliminated. Fortunately, flood mitigation activities can reduce the cost of flood insurance premiums.

FEMA also has established the Mapping Information Platform (MIP) as a vehicle to support map production, management and tracking of mapping work, and sharing and extracting of flood hazard data, including continued use of digital data for future efforts. It is anticipated that the MIP will be a valuable and beneficial tool for users if it is adopted and fully used across the program.

FEMA recently has created a template outreach toolkit to help communities that are going through the map change process to convey the flood insurance implications of these changes (e.g., insurance, risk level, etc.) to the public. The Insurance Outreach Toolkit for Flood Map Updates is available on the FEMA website.


Keeping Map Data Current

The FEMA Map Mod Program has been a success, laying the groundwork for mapping work to come. FEMA is now looking to the future to ensure that the benefits of the nation's investment in map modernization will be sustained beyond Fiscal Year 2008, when its funding is completed. FEMA recognizes that a post-Map Mod maintenance program will be needed to keep the DFIRMs current and relevant.

Several strategies are under consideration for maintaining map integrity.
  • The integrity of flood hazard data can be assessed by reviewing the flood map inventory every 5 years, as mandated by Congress.
  • The integrity of flood hazard data can be maintained by updating data and maps more regularly, if needed, depending on results of the review and on available funding.
  • Any unmet flood mapping needs can be addressed and the quality and quantity of maps maintained or increased.
  • Finally, risk management can be examined more broadly.


Communities Hold the Key

FEMA's goal is to reach the point at which the flood risk can be quantified at a community level and then linked to maps and mitigation plans. To achieve this will involve more than identifying flood hazards and encouraging communities to meet the minimum standards to participate in the NFIP. This will entail nothing less than active community involvement in mitigating the hazards they face.
 Last updated on August 1, 2007