The rFHL/NFHL:What’s In It For Me (WIIFM)

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What is the NFHL? National Flood Hazard Layer FEMA’s most up-to-date flood hazard information Database Repository

• Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Feature Classes and Tables submitted as part of the FIRM database

• Letters of Map Revision (LOMR)• Physical Map Revisions (PMR)

Each FIRM Database coded with DFIRM_ID

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What is the rFHL? Regional Flood Hazard

Layer Production & Technical

Service (PTS) Contractor Responsibility• BakerAECOM• Risk Assessment, Mapping and

Planning Partners (RAMPP)• Strategic Alliance for Risk

Reduction (STARR)

Database Repository• FIRM Databases• LOMRs• PMRs

Each Database Coded with DFIRM_ID

rFHL provided to CDS and published as NFHL

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FEMA’s Digital Vision

An initiative to reduce reliance on paper maps in favor of digital mapping data. 

FEMA Policy on Use of Digital Flood Hazard Data Enable significant advantages in capability, precision, and cost for users able to

use digital geospatial products; Reduce costs associated with paper map production, handling and storage; Encourage the use of quality local data to make administration of the NFIP more

efficient and effective Enable stakeholders who have adopted digital technology to use it for NFIP

purposes.

Distribution of FIRM and LOMR data via the NFHL lowers distribution costs and reduces the need for static map images through FEMA’s MSC.  

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How is the NFHL different than the FIRM Database FIRM database on the

MSC is Static NFHL is Updated

Regularly with Letters of Map Revision & PMRs

Removal of overlapping multi-county community data in special cases

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PTS Responsibility

BakerAECOM – Regions IV, VIII, & IX

RAMPP – Regions II, III, & VI

STARR – Regions I, V, VII, & X

Obtain FIRM/PMR database – Process data to NFHL schema

Incorporate LOMRs Perform Quality Review

prior to submission• Topology, Duplicates,

Attributes

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Example LOMR Incorporation

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NFHL Data Usage

NFHL

Project Initiation

Preliminary

Post PreliminaryEffective

Risk MAP

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NFHL Data Usage Project Initiation

• Use effective data from NFHL to initiate PMR, LOMR, or Watershed Study• Use effective data to verify mapping of multi-county communities

Preliminary & Post-Preliminary• Edge Match across FIRM boundaries• Approximate LOMA Locations• Incorporate LOMRs (digital FIRMs)• Status of surrounding communities

Effective• Digital Availability for Analysis• Regulation/Mitigation

Risk MAP• Changes since last FIRM (digital FIRM)

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Submittal & Publication Metrics FIRM / PMR – Published on Effective Date LOMRs

• Effective on Issue (EOI) – within 15 days of effective date

• Effective After Issue (EAI) – 5 days prior to effective date

FIRM Databases in NFHL - 1646

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Benefits One Central Repository Updated Flood Hazard Information within days of

revision effective date Able to understand Risk “seamlessly” – Risks Don’t

STOP at Community Boundaries. Mapping Partners Can Utilize as Base for updating

Countywide Studies, Physical Map Revisions or Edge-matching

Communities and Administrators can access data for determinations/regulation/mitigation

Use with other data for additional analysis and planning

Better Understanding of Risk

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Understanding Risk

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So… How do we get it?

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So… How do we get it?

NFHL GIS datasets (Statewide DVD) - integrate data with local GIS layers to perform queries and analysis• www.msc.fema.gov

Map Viewer – view NFHL data on Mapping Information Platform (MIP) web page• https://hazards.fema.gov/wps/portal/mapviewer

Web Map Service (WMS) – view NFHL data in mapping application such as ArcGIS Desktop and compare to other GIS layers• http://hazards.fema.gov/wmsconnector/wmsconnector/Servlet/N

FHL?VERSION=1.1.1&EST=GetFeatureInfo& Google Earth – view NFHL on Google Earth images

• https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/wps/portal/NFHLWMSkmzdownload

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Questions?

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