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<br />administering the NFIP and other FEMA programs affecting the management of the Nation's <br />floodplains. <br /> <br />The complex issues surrounding the NFIP equally involve the three intricately connected <br />components of the program: flood hazard identification, floodplain management, and insurance. <br />To develop a future strategy for the NFIP, we must examine these three components as a whole. <br />To capture some of the issues and guide discussion at the Forum, we have developed a brief <br />description of the three components of the NFIP followed by a list of policy questions. These <br />policy questions are intended to highlight some of the issues; however, please do not limit <br />yourself to these policy issues alone. <br /> <br />Flood Hazard Identification <br /> <br />Flood hazard identification is the backbone of the NFIP and is critical to managing development <br />of the floodplain. FEMA produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that delineate the <br />floodplain and regulatory floodway boundaries, base flood elevations, and insurance risk zones. <br />FIRMs are an essential tool by which States and communities evaluate their flood risks to <br />manage development in the floodplain, insurance agents properly rate flood insurance policies, <br />and lending institutions and Federal agencies determine flood insurance requirements. For a <br />community to make wise land use decisions, flood risk must be accurately identified. However, <br />flood maps in many communities are inaccurate and outdated; some communities have never <br />been mapped. <br /> <br />In 1997 FEMA developed a Map Modernization Plan to provide communities with more <br />accurate and extensive flood hazard maps. This aggressive 7-year plan is designed to update and <br />digitize the 100,000-panel flood map inventory. Unfortunately, lack of funding has hi!ldered the <br />implementation of the Map Modernization Plan. <br /> <br />Accurate flood hazard identification is essential for sound floodplain management and prudent <br />flood insurance decisions. It is important that we better assess the flood hazard risk and provide <br />communities with the most accurate and usable data. The following questions are intended to <br />capture some of the policy issues surrounding flood hazard identification: <br /> <br />· Should the mapping of floodplains be based on a higher standard, such as the 500-year <br />standard? <br /> <br />. How can the uncertainty in hydrology be addressed in the flood maps? <br /> <br />. Should mapping be based on future conditions, accounting for urbanization and coastal <br />erosion? <br /> <br />. Does the current policy that recognizes levees or removes properties from the floodplain <br />adequately reflect the flood risk? <br /> <br />. Are hazards such as coastal erosion, alluvial fans, coastal flooding, high-velocity flooding, <br />and similar hazards adequately addressed in the hazard identification and mapping? <br /> <br />Floodplain Management Forum <br /> <br />3 <br />