Floodplain Management
Flood Maps, Mapping Information & Forms
Coastal Erosion Assessment for Maine FIRMs
and Map Modernization Plan
Report by Stephen M. Dickson, State Marine Geologist, Department of Conservation. Prepared July 2, 2003 for W. Louis Sidell, Jr. CFM, State Floodplain Management Coordinator, State Planning Office. Coastal Erosion Assessment Publication
FEMA produces Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that show areas subject to flooding.
The flood risk information presented on the FIRMs is based on historic, meteorologic, hydrologic, and hydraulic data, as well as open-space conditions, flood-control works, and development.
To prepare the flood maps that illustrate the extent of flood hazard in a floodprone community, FEMA generally conducts engineering studies referred to as Flood Insurance Studies. Using the information gathered in these studies, FEMA engineers and cartographers delineate Special Flood Hazard Areas on flood maps. Special Flood Hazard Areas are areas subject to inundation by a flood that has a 1-percent or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded during any given year. This type of flood commonly is referred to as the 100-year or base flood. A 100-year flood is not a flood that occurs every 100 years. In fact, the 100-year flood has a 26-percent chance of occurring during a 30-year period…the length of many mortgages. The 100-year flood is a regulatory standard used by Federal agencies, and most states, to administer floodplain management programs. The 100-year flood is used by the National Flood Insurance Program as the basis for insurance requirements nationwide.
If a proposed development is found to cause a change in the flood maps by changing the location of the boundary of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or if the proposed development will cause a change in the base flood elevation or the width or location of the floodway the community’s effective flood map must be changed to account for those changes. Also, from time to time the flood maps may be found to have errors in the flood boundaries due to limitations of scale or on rare occasions the study contractor may have made an error in the flood study that produced an erroneous base flood elevation (bfe) or floodway determination. Procedures for making these changes or corrections are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 65, 44 CFR Part 65 (Microsoft Word 88KB, PDF 64KB). This version of Part 65 has keywords and phrases in bold and underlined. This document was prepared to assist individuals who wish to pursue map changes.
FEMA has embarked on an aggressive initiative to update the Nation’s flood hazard maps. Congress is providing additional mapping funds for FEMA’s new Map Modernization Program, which will transform the way flood maps are created, the way they look and how they are accessed. The updated maps will be a digital product, with an aerial photo base map, improved elevation data, and datasets that will enable users to combine and layer flood hazard data with other digital land use maps.
FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping Links and Information
Visit FEMA's home page for Flood Hazard Mapping
Links to the FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping Forms:
Elevation Certificate
Floodproofing Certificate
MT-EZ LOMA
MT-1 LOMA Form
MT-2 LOMA Form
Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form
Fee information pertaining to LOMA submittals
eLOMA Process
FEMA: Mapping Information Platform: Home
Convert Horizontal and Vertical Datums
The Army Corps of Engineers has a program called Corpscon, Version 6.0, which is a MS-Windows-based program which allows the user to convert coordinates between Geographic, State Plane, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) and US National Grid systems on the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27), the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and High Accuracy Reference Networks (HARNs). Corpscon uses the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) program Nadcon to convert between NAD 27, NAD 83 and HARNs. Corpscon, Version 6.0, performs vertical conversions to and from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Vertical conversions are based on the NGS program Vertcon and can be performed for the continental U.S. only.
State of Maine
Map Modernization Business Plan
Fiscal Year 2005
View the State of Maine Map Modernization Business Plan (PDF 1.11MB)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the past, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) remapping efforts have been limited by technology and funding. In recognition, Congress has committed to a Five-Year Flood Map Modernization Program (FMMP); hereto referred to as Map Modernization. Starting in Fiscal Year 2003 the goal of the Map Modernization is to upgrade flood hazard data and mapping to create a more accurate digital product that will improve floodplain management across the country. By 2009, it is envisioned that digital flood hazard data will be available nationwide. This will be phased in over the course of several years with priority given to areas of greater population, need, and ability to leverage resources.
The purpose of this State Map Modernization Plan; hereto referred to as Business Plan, is to outline the Maine State Planning Office (SPO) strategic approach for partnering with FEMA to participate in Map Modernization through SPO’s existing Maine Floodplain Management Program (MFMP). The Business Plan will describe the MFMP’s current roles and responsibilities related to floodplain management and then outline its future role, design, and execution strategy to meet the data and mapping needs of communities within the State of Maine, while contributing to FEMA’s national goals.
The MFMP currently includes a proactive approach that combines four key elements under one organization: (1) Mapping, (2) NFIP compliance, (3) Technical assistance, and (4) Education and outreach to communities and agencies. Program management of the MFMP will be achieved through the expertise of a diverse, skilled project team complemented by external support from an independent State mapping contractor, and other State and Federal partners. Program management will be centered on the identification of program goals and clear implementation and tracking of these goals during the program execution. Program management will be further enhanced by a data management system such as the Management Information Portal (MIP) provided by FEMA’s National Service Provider (NSP).
In order to ensure future effectiveness of the MFMP, this Business Plan addresses how Map Modernization will integrate with existing program needs over time, such as coastal erosion mapping, comprehensive land use or mitigation planning, and others. This will also include the development of the SPO’s role of how to complement existing initiatives such as the process of Letters of Map Change (LOMCs), quality and technical reviews, and training and outreach. The success of the MFMP and related programs within the SPO is contingent on the receipt of adequate funding from our Federal partners. Approximately $1.8 million per year ($9 million over 5 years) is requested from FEMA, for the MFMP, with an expectation of State and partner funding contributions of approximately $800,000 per year ($3.9 million over 5 years), for a total of $12.9 million over the 5 year period. The partner contribution represents approximately a 31% leverage. A minimum threshold of $150,000 will be critical in establishing a consistent and cohesive level of year to year functionality.
SPO is excited about the opportunity presented by this partnership with FEMA and is committed to the success of the MFMP and Map Modernization as a whole.
