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Engineers/Surveyors

As the agency responsible for administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA's Technical Services Division conducts hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to identify flood hazards in communities throughout the United States. Much of those analyses are performed by private engineering firms and Federal and State agencies, under FEMA guidelines. Outlined below are some of the products, services, and publications available to engineers and surveyors through FEMA's Flood Hazard Mapping Technical Services Division.

Hot Topics

• Updated Listing of Numerical Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of NFIP
  The numerical models list has been updated. View the updated listing.
  
  
• Coastal Flood Hazard Technical Resources Page Now Available
  The Coastal Flood Hazard Technical Resources Page is now available as a resource for all coastal flood hazard information pertinent to FEMA and the NFIP. View the new page to access information regarding coastal flood hazard information including technical modeling and mapping applications such as FEMA Guidelines and Specifications, FEMA accepted coastal models, and the Coastal Hazard Analysis Modeling Program (CHAMP). This site will be updated with additional topics in the near future, so check back frequently.
  
  
• Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners
  FEMA has recently published Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, which define technical requirements, product specifications for Flood Hazard Maps and related National Flood Insurance Program products, and associated coordination and documentation activities. These Guidelines combine FEMA technical, programmatic, and administrative procedure publications, guidance documents, and memorandums regarding Flood Hazard Mapping. The Guidelines also reflect recent changes to processes and products associated with the implementation FEMA's Map Modernization Program, including the Cooperating Technical Partners initiative and the new Project Scoping procedures. Unless specifically indicated, the Guidelines supersede previous FEMA guidelines and specifications documents regarding the preparation of Flood Hazard Maps.
  
  
• North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program
  The State of North Carolina, through FEMA's Cooperating Technical Partner initiative, has been designated as the first Cooperating Technical State (CTS). As a CTS, the State will assume primary ownership and responsibility of the NFIP Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for all North Carolina communities. This role has traditionally been fulfilled by FEMA. The North Carolina CTS Flood Mapping Program will include conducting flood hazard analyses and producing updated, digital FIRM panels. For more information, see North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program Web site.
  
  
• Change to placement of fill requirements for Letters of Map Change (LOMC)
  Through a Notice published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2001, FEMA announced a final rule for processing cases impacted by the placement of fill.
  Questions and Answers Regarding the New Rules at 44 CFR Part 65.

Announcements

• FEMA has updated Numerical Models Accepted for NFIP Usage.
  
  
• Download CHAMP Version 1.1, which updates Version 1.0, to incorporate recent technical advances and repair operational errors to date.
  
  
• FEMA has added a new Supporting Technical Documentation for Acceptable Models.
  
  
• New policy for use of HEC-RAS in the NFIP.
  

Key Contacts

• Key Contacts
  Important names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers. If the information in the Key Contacts section does not provide the information you are seeking, you can always contact a Map Specialist by calling the FEMA Map Assistance Center (FMAC) toll-free at 1-877-336-2627 (FEMA MAP).
  
  
• There are 10 FEMA regional offices each servicing a group of surrounding states.
  
  
• An online phone directory is available for FEMA staff nationwide.
  
  
• Call or E-Mail a Map Specialist
  E-mail map-related questions, including how to request map changes and the status of such requests.
  
  

Sponsored Training

• FEMA offers training to engineers in various aspects of emergency management through the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD.

Ordering Maps & Data

• FIS technical and administrative support data are available to the public through written request. Each request involves a fee to cover costs of research and retrieval.

• For more information, see How to Order Technical and Administrative Support Data.

• Information on obtaining copies of FEMA Flood Maps is available through the Map Service Center.

Software

• Download CHAMP Version 1.1, which updates Version 1.0, to incorporate recent technical advances and repair operational errors to date.
  
  

• To ensure uniformity in engineering analyses submitted to FEMA with map change requests, FEMA has developed the Numerical Models Accepted for NFIP Usage.
  
  

• Some of the software most frequently used in the preparation of NFIP products is available for download on the Software main page.

• Other FEMA Software.

Forms

These forms are designed to assist requesters in gathering the information that FEMA requires to make determinations regarding changes to NFIP maps:

• MT-1
  For all LOMA, CLOMA, LOMR-F, and CLOMR-F requests.
  Download the Form.

• MT-2
  For all LOMR, CLOMR, and PMR requests.
  Download the Form.
  

• MT-EZ
  Condensed version of the MT-1 form.
  Download the Form.

• Other FEMA Forms.

Documents

• Regulation and Guidance documents.
  
  
• "Riverine Erosion Hazard Areas" mapping feasibility study.
  
  
• Evaluation of Erosion Hazards Report.
  
  
• The Zone A Manual: Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas.
  
  
• Guidelines and Specifications for Study Contractors (Superseded by the Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners).
  
  
• Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency.
  
  
• Other Documents.