The rFHL/NFHL:
What’s In It For Me (WIIFM)
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
2
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
3
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.
4
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
5
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
6
Example LOMR
Incorporation
7
NFHL Data Usage
Project
Initiation
Risk MAP
NFHL
Preliminary
Post
Preliminary
Effective
8
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)
9
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
10
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
11
Understanding Risk
12
So… How do we get it?
13
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/NFHL?VERSI
ON=1.1.1&EST=GetFeatureInfo&
 Google Earth – view NFHL on Google Earth images
• https://hazards.fema.gov/femaportal/wps/portal/NFHLWMSkmzdownload
14
Questions?
15
16