Flood Map Modernization is a multiyear Presidential initiative supported by Congress that is directed at improving and updating the Nation’s flood hazard identification maps. These flood maps have been produced and used for 35 years under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), originally for the identification and depiction of flood hazard areas in communities and for setting flood insurance rates. However, they have come to be much more widely used for many purposes, including local planning, emergency preparedness and response, and natural resource management.

The modernization of the flood maps, which had been produced, printed, and distributed with traditional paper mapmaking methods, had its origins in the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-325). Funding for Flood Map Modernization was first appropriated in fiscal year (FY) 2003, with additional funding provided in FY2004, FY2005, and FY2006.

The Flood Map Modernization Mid-Course Adjustment
As the Flood Map Modernization initiative reached the halfway point, FEMA performed a mid-program evaluation that considered input from Congress, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General (IG), and other stakeholders. Progress towards initiative goals has been assessed, and FEMA is making changes in its implementation of the initiative that will result in better-targeted and more accurate flood data, while also producing digital flood maps for a significant portion of the Nation. The results of that evaluation are presented in a report entitled: Flood Map Modernization Mid-Course Adjustment.

The NFIP and Levees
The United States has thousands of miles of levees, which are manmade structures, usually earthen embankments, that are designed and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices to contain, control, or divert the flow of water so as to provide protection from temporary flooding. They date back as much as 150 years. Others have been designed to protect urban areas, and were typically built to higher standards used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, no levee provides full protection from flooding.

As part of its Flood Map Modernization efforts, FEMA works with Federal, State, local, professional, and technical partners to identify and map the risk of flooding behind levees. FEMA encourages property owners to understand their flood risk, obtain flood insurance and always adhere to local evacuation procedures.

Please click on one of the links below to find out more about levees:

• Homeowners and the General Public
• State and Community Officials
• Floodplain Managers, Surveyors, Engineers, and Architects
• Real Estate, Insurance, and Lending Industry Professionals
• Map Makers and Cooperating Technical Partners (CTPs)

Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP)
September 2006, Version 2.0
The Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) describes the strategy, schedule, and budget developed by FEMA for producing flood hazard data and maps to administer the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It is a living document that is updated annually through a collaborative process to engage stakeholders.