Flood Map Modernization Funding PDF Download

Congress appropriated $5 million in FY2000 for a Flood Map Modernization Fund (FMMF), the eventual source of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) long-term effort to modernize the nation's flood map program. As part of the Flood Map Modernization Initiative (FMMI), FEMA has been converting paper flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) to digital electronic format, or DFIRMs. DFIRMs contain more accurate spatial measurements and digital data associated with flood risk and are developed with a geographic information system (GIS). The GIS also facilitates periodic updating of flood maps, as required by Congress, and helps determine flood insurance rates. Many DFIRMs are now available over the Internet from FEMA. Initial FMMI funding was requested in the Veterans Administration Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and independent Agencies Appropriations Act of FY2002 (P.L. 107-73). However, regular annual appropriations did not begin until FY2003. Since FY2004, Department of Homeland Security appropriations for FEMA have funded FMMI. To date, more than $800 million has been provided. Congress has also provided supplemental spending authority for the FMMI that is offset by internally collected flood-map-related service fees. This report will be updated as events warrant.