CRS Manual September 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013

National Flood Insurance Program
Community Rating System

Coordinator’s
Manual
FIA-15/2013

The photograph on the cover represents the ultimate floodplain, from a community’s perspective:
Nature follows its course with no threat to life or property. The waterfront is a community asset
where people can relax and enjoy the view.
Cover photo courtesy of John Kinley

Burden Disclosure
Public reporting burden for this application is estimated to average 45 hours per response
for the application process, 1.6 hours for the environmental and historic preservation
certifications, and 8 hours for annual recertification. The burden estimate includes the time
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the
data needed, and completing and submitting the application. You are not required to
respond to this collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed in
the upper right corner of the application. Send comments regarding the accuracy of the
burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Information Collections
Management, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
500 C Street., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472, Paperwork Reduction Project (1660-0022).
NOTE: Do not send your completed form to this address.

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FOREWORD
The Community Rating System (CRS) is a national program developed by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The CRS Coordinator’s Manual spells out the
credits and credit criteria of the CRS for community activities and programs that go above
and beyond the minimum requirements for participation in FEMA’s National Flood
Insurance Program. The 2013 Coordinator’s Manual contains many changes from previous
editions. These changes stem from the recommendations of the 2008 CRS Strategic Plan,
which was the first complete evaluation of the CRS since it began in 1990. The 2013
Coordinator’s Manual also is presented in a new format to better illustrate the credit
criteria and the required documentation. The Coordinator’s Manual is available in Adobe
pdf format at www.CRSresources.org.

Using the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
The Coordinator’s Manual is the guidebook for the CRS. It explains how the program
operates, what is credited, and how credits are calculated. Although it is primarily a
reference for CRS activities and credits, it can also help guide communities that want to
design or improve their floodplain management programs.
If you want to know how the CRS works and how your community can benefit from
participating in the program and reduce flood insurance premiums,
 Start with Section 110 for an overview of the program.
 Section 200 describes the procedures for applying, required activities, calculating
credits, and advancing in the program. Be sure to review the prerequisites for
participation in Section 211.
If you want to develop a comprehensive community floodplain management program,
 Start with the CRS Community Self Assessment, Section 240, to help evaluate your
existing flood problems and identify potential future flood problems, and to identify
appropriate measures to address them.
 Use the results of the CRS Community Self Assessment to determine what additional
data you need about your flood problem areas. Developing new data can be credited
under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping).
 Review how to prepare a floodplain management plan, following the 10-step process
described in Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning). If you have developed
a multi-hazard mitigation plan, Activity 510 can still assist you in developing a more
comprehensive plan for flood damage reduction.
 To develop an overall public information program, see the section on the Program for
Public Information in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

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If you want to improve a specific aspect of your existing floodplain management
efforts, the CRS has 19 credited activities and additional sections and appendices that
provide supplementary guidance and references. Here is a guide to what they cover.
 Assessing your community’s flood problem: Section 240
 Mapping and flood data
o Developing new maps and data: Activity 410
o Maintaining and providing maps and data: Activity 440 and Activity 320
o Providing the data to people: Activity 320
o Mapping special flood-related hazards (e.g., tsunamis, migrating stream
channels, coastal erosion) are in separate CRS publications (see Appendix C
or www.CRSresources.org).
 Managing new development to minimize future damage
o Preserving open space: Activity 420
o Protecting natural floodplain functions: Activity 420 and Activity 510
o Regulating development in the floodplain: Activity 430 and Activity 310
o Regulating development in the watershed: Activity 450
o Managing special flood-related hazards (e.g., tsunamis, migrating stream
channels, coastal erosion) are in separate CRS publications (see Appendix C
or www.CRSresources.org).
 Developing a floodplain management plan for your community: Activity 510
 Reducing flood losses to existing development
o Acquiring or relocating flood-prone buildings out of harm’s way:
Section 501, Activity 520, and Activity 530
o Protecting flood-prone buildings in place: Activity 530
o Improving your drainage system maintenance efforts: Activity 540
o Addressing repetitively flooded properties: Activity 520 and Activity 530
 Improving emergency preparedness and response
o Flood warning and response planning: Activity 610
o Warning and response for areas protected by a levee: Activity 620
o Warning and response for areas downstream of a dam: Activity 630
 Implementing public information activities
o Developing a master public information program: Activity 330
o Reaching out to people about floods and flood protection: Activity 330

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o Providing detailed information on the potential for flooding and protecting
against flood damage: Activity 320, Activity 350, and Activity 360
o Libraries: Activity 350
o Websites: Activity 350
o Disseminating information on flood insurance: Activity 370 and Activity 330
o Assisting with real estate disclosure: Activity 340.

More about the Coordinator’s Manual
This document uses some technical terms and acronyms. The terms are defined in
the Glossary, Section 120. The acronyms are listed in Appendix A. The most common
acronyms are
NFIP

National Flood Insurance Program.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of
Homeland Security. Most of the NFIP field work and community
coordination is done by the 10 Regional Offices of FEMA.

CRS

Community Rating System.

FIRM

Flood Insurance Rate Map; published by FEMA and provided to
communities.

SFHA

Special Flood Hazard Area; the floodplain delineated on the FIRM as
A Zones and V Zones.

Communities and other floodplain management professionals are encouraged to make
suggestions on both the content and the form of the CRS. Send them to
NFIP/CRS
P.O. Box 501016
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1016
(317) 848-2898
Fax: (201) 748-1936
[email protected]

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CONTENTS
Section

Page

Foreword .................................................................................................... iii
100 Introduction.................................................................................. 100-1
110 Program Overview ............................................................... 110-1
120 Glossary ............................................................................... 120-1
200 Procedures ................................................................................... 200-1
210 Requesting CRS Credit ........................................................ 210-1
220 Credit Calculation ................................................................ 220-1
230 Verification .......................................................................... 230-1
240 CRS Community Self Assessment....................................... 240-1
300 Public Information Activities....................................................... 300-1
310 Elevation Certificates........................................................... 310-1
320 Map Information Service ..................................................... 320-1
330 Outreach Projects ................................................................. 330-1
340 Hazard Disclosure................................................................ 340-1
350 Flood Protection Information............................................... 350-1
360 Flood Protection Assistance................................................. 360-1
370 Flood Insurance Promotion.................................................. 370-1
400 Mapping and Regulations ............................................................ 400-1
410 Floodplain Mapping............................................................. 410-1
420 Open Space Preservation ..................................................... 420-1
430 Higher Regulatory Standards............................................... 430-1
440 Flood Data Maintenance ...................................................... 440-1
450 Stormwater Management ..................................................... 450-1
500 Flood Damage Reduction Activities............................................ 500-1
510 Floodplain Management Planning ....................................... 510-1
520 Acquisition and Relocation ................................................. 520-1
530 Flood Protection................................................................... 530-1
540 Drainage System Maintenance ............................................ 540-1
600 Warning and Response ................................................................ 600-1
610 Flood Warning and Response .............................................. 610-1
620 Levees .................................................................................. 620-1
630 Dams .................................................................................... 630-1

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700 Community Classification Calculations ..................................... 700-1
710 County Growth Adjustment................................................. 710-1
720 Community Total Points ...................................................... 720-1
Appendices
A Acronyms .................................................................................... A-1
B Comparison of the Minimum NFIP Requirements
and the CRS ................................................................................ B-1
C CRS Publications .........................................................................C-1
D A History of Changes to CRS Credits ........................................ D-1
E CRS Community Certifications ...................................................E-1
F Community Certifications for Environmental and
Historic Preservation.................................................................... F-1
Index ........................................................................................................ i-1

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100 INTRODUCTION
This series presents an overview of the purpose, goals, and contextual background of the
Community Rating System (CRS), the benefits of the program, and the community’s role
and responsibilities. The activities that are credited under the CRS are listed here, along
with the points that may be obtained for each activity, and a description of how those points
are translated into CRS classifications and premium reductions. The last part of this series
(Section 120) is a glossary of terms used throughout the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.

Contents of Series 100
Section

Page

110 Program Overview........................................................................110-1
111 Background .......................................................................110-1
112 Goals .................................................................................110-1
113 Credit Points and Credited Activities .................................110-3
114 The Community’s Role ......................................................110-8
115 Costs and Benefits ...........................................................110-10
116 Other Program Priorities ..................................................110-12
120 Glossary

120-1

List of Figures
110-1. The “What If” Table ...............................................................110-11

List of Tables
110-1. CRS classes, credit points, and premium discounts ...................110-3
110-2. Credit points awarded for CRS activities ..................................110-6

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110 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
111 Background
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides federally backed flood insurance
within communities that enact and enforce floodplain regulations. Since its inception in
1968, the NFIP has been very successful in helping flood victims get back on their feet. As
of December 2011, there were nearly 5.6 million residential and commercial policies in
force, with over $1.26 trillion in written coverage with annual premiums of almost $3.5
billion. From 1978 through 2011, over 1.4 million losses were paid, totaling over $38
billion.
To be covered by a flood insurance policy (for the structure and/or its contents), a property
must be in a community that participates in the NFIP. To qualify for the NFIP, a
community adopts and enforces a floodplain management ordinance to regulate
development in flood hazard areas. The objective of the ordinance is to minimize the
potential for flood damage to future development. Today, over 21,600 communities in 56
states and territories participate in the NFIP.
The NFIP has been effective in requiring new buildings to be protected from damage by a
1% chance flood, also known as the 100-year or base flood. However, flood damage still
results from floods that exceed the base flood, from flooding in unmapped areas, and from
flooding that affects buildings constructed before the community joined the NFIP.
Under the Community Rating System (CRS), communities can be rewarded for doing more
than simply regulating construction of new buildings to the minimum national standards.
Under the CRS, the flood insurance premiums of a community’s residents and businesses
are discounted to reflect that community’s work to reduce flood damage to existing
buildings, manage development in areas not mapped by the NFIP, protect new buildings
beyond the minimum NFIP protection level, preserve and/or restore natural functions of
floodplains, help insurance agents obtain flood data, and help people obtain flood
insurance.

112 Goals
The goals of the NFIP are to provide flood insurance to property owners, to encourage
flood loss reduction activities by communities, and to save taxpayers’ money. As a part of
the NFIP, the CRS provides both incentives and tools to further these goals.
The CRS recognizes, encourages, and rewards—by the use of flood insurance premium
adjustments—community and state activities that go beyond the minimum required by the
NFIP to
 Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property,
 Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
 Foster comprehensive floodplain management.

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The purpose of the CRS is to support the NFIP. To do this, the CRS provides flood
insurance premium rate reductions to policyholders in recognition of the fact that their
communities implement activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements and that
work toward the three goals of the CRS. Included in this support are measures that credit
protection to life and property during a flood. A closer look at how communities can
implement these three goals follows.
Goal 1. Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property.
The CRS supports the NFIP by working to minimize flood losses nationwide, both inside
and outside of mapped floodplains. Communities are encouraged to reduce the exposure of
existing buildings (and their contents) to flood damage, especially properties that are
subject to repetitive flood losses. New buildings and their contents should be protected
from known and future local flood hazards. Standards higher than those set out in the
minimum criteria of the NFIP may be needed to accomplish these tasks. The CRS
encourages communities to map and provide regulatory flood data for all their flood
hazards. The data should be used in their regulatory programs and shared with all users and
inquirers.
Goal 2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP.
The CRS recognizes communities whose activities generate and contribute data that enable
accurate actuarial rating of flood insurance. Communities are encouraged to implement
mapping and information programs that help assess individual property risk and reduce
repetitive flood losses. To help expand the policy base, communities should make their
residents aware of their flood risk so that they purchase and maintain flood insurance
policies.
Goal 3. Foster comprehensive floodplain management.
The CRS encourages communities to use all available tools to implement comprehensive
local floodplain management programs, which ordinarily have concerns beyond the
protection of insurable property. The CRS recognizes local efforts that protect lives; further
public health, safety, and welfare; minimize damage and disruption to infrastructure and
critical facilities; preserve and restore the natural functions and resources of floodplains
and coastal areas; and ensure that new development does not cause adverse impacts
elsewhere in the watershed or on other properties.
A community’s staff should understand the physical and biological processes that form and
alter floodplains and watersheds and take steps to deal with flooding, erosion, habitat loss,
water quality, and special flood-related hazards. A comprehensive approach includes
planning, public information, regulations, financial support, open space protection, public
works activities, emergency management, and other appropriate techniques.

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113 Credit Points and Credited Activities
To be recognized in the insurance rating system, local floodplain management activities
must be described, measured, and evaluated by the CRS. The basic document detailing the
program is the Coordinator’s Manual. It sets forth the procedures, creditable activities, and
the credit points assigned to each activity, and gives examples of activities and how their
credit is calculated.

113.a. Credit Points and Classification
A community receives a CRS classification based upon the total credit for its activities.
There are 10 CRS classes. Class 1 requires the most credit points and gives the greatest
premium reduction or discount. A community that does not apply for the CRS, or does not
obtain the minimum number of credit points, is a Class 10 community and receives no
discount on premiums. The qualifying community total points, CRS classes, and
flood insurance premium discounts are shown in Table 110-1.

Table 110-1. CRS classes, credit points,
and premium discounts.
CRS Class

Premium Reduction

Credit Points (cT)

In SFHA

Outside SFHA

1

4,500+

45%

10%

2

4,000–4,499

40%

10%

3

3,500–3,999

35%

10%

4

3,000–3,499

30%

10%

5

2,500–2,999

25%

10%

6

2,000–2,499

20%

10%

7

1,500–1,999

15%

5%

8

1,000–1,499

10%

5%

9

500–999

5%

5%

10

0–499

0

0

SFHA: Zones A, AE, A1–A30, V, V1–V30, AO, and AH
Outside the SFHA: Zones X, B, C, A99, AR, and D
Preferred Risk Policies are not eligible for CRS premium discounts because
they already have premiums lower than other policies. Preferred Risk
Policies are available only in B, C, and X Zones for properties that are shown
to have a minimal risk of flood damage.
Some minus-rated policies may not be eligible for CRS premium discounts.
Premium discounts are subject to change.

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The flood insurance premium discount is based on whether a property is in or out of the
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), i.e., the zones beginning with the letter A and V as
shown on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The premium discount for
properties in the SFHA increases according to the community’s CRS class. A community’s
classification is based on the community total points (symbolized as cT in the CRS
calculations).
The discount for properties outside the SFHA is lower for Class 1–8 communities because
premiums in these areas are already relatively low and can be lowered further through the
Preferred Risk Policy. Also, most activities undertaken to qualify for those classes are
implemented only in the floodplain. Because areas designated as A99 and AR Zones
already receive an insurance premium reduction, these zones get the same premium
reduction as non-SFHA areas.

113.b. Credited Activities
There are 19 creditable activities, organized under four categories, which are presented in
the 300–600 series of the Coordinator’s Manual. The Coordinator’s Manual assigns credit
points based upon the extent to which an activity advances the three goals of the CRS.
Public Information Activities (300 Series)
This series credits programs that advise people about the flood hazard, encourage the
purchase of flood insurance, and provide information about ways to reduce flood damage.
These activities also generate data needed by insurance agents for accurate flood insurance
rating. They generally serve all members of the community.
Mapping and Regulations (400 Series)
This series credits programs that provide increased protection to new development. These
activities include mapping areas not shown on the FIRM, preserving open space, protecting
natural floodplain functions, enforcing higher regulatory standards, and managing
stormwater. The credit is increased for growing communities.
Flood Damage Reduction Activities (500 Series)
This series credits programs for areas in which existing development is at risk. Credit is
provided for a comprehensive floodplain management plan, relocating or retrofitting floodprone structures, and maintaining drainage systems.
Warning and Response (600 Series)
This series provides credit for measures that protect life and property during a flood,
through flood warning and response programs. There is credit for the maintenance of levees
and dams and also for programs that prepare for their potential failure.

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Some CRS activities may be implemented by the state or a regional agency rather than at
the community level. For example, some states have hazard disclosure laws that are
creditable under Activity 340 (Flood Hazard Disclosure). A community in those states will
receive those credit points when it applies for CRS credit and demonstrates that the law is
effectively implemented within its jurisdiction. See also Section 231.c on uniform
minimum credit.

113.c. Activity Credit Points
The 19 activities and their credit points are shown in Table 110-2. Each activity has one or
more elements. Elements are the basic credit level for the CRS. The element and activity
scoring process is covered in Activity 220 (Credit Calculation).
The maximum credit points for each activity are shown in the second column. The
maximum credit can be earned when all elements within an activity are being implemented
and all credit criteria are met. In some activities, maximum credit cannot be provided
unless credit has been earned in other activities. For example, additional credit is provided
in some activities if the community received credit for a Program for Public Information
under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
The third column and fourth columns in Table 110-2 show the estimated maximum credit
and average credit points using a conservative model to convert the points received under
the 2007 Coordinator’s Manual to the new scoring in the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual. The
maximums and averages are based upon the number of applicants for each activity, not the
total number of applicants for the CRS. The fifth column shows the percentage of all CRS
communities that received credit for each activity as of October 1, 2011.
Communities should note the average credits for these activities. They provide a better
indication of what an applicant can expect for an activity than do the maximum points
available.
A community must have at least 500 verified credit points to become a Class 9 or better. It
must also meet the prerequisites for certain classes, as described in Section 211. As
explained in Activity 230 (Verification), the final, or verified, credit is calculated by the
ISO/CRS Specialist after a review of the documentation provided by the community and the
community’s implementation of its activities at the verification visit (explained in
Section 232).
The best way to determine whether a community is likely to qualify for a Class 9 credit
(500 credit points) is the CRS “Quick Check.” By using the Quick Check a community can
estimate its potential CRS credit. The Quick Check uses average credits at the element
level. It can be found at www.CRSresources.org/200.
The Quick Check can only estimate credit for a community. By reviewing each element and
going through the steps explained in Section 220, a community can generate a

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Table 110-2. Credit points awarded for CRS activities.
Maximum
Possible
Points 1

Maximum
Points
Earned 2

Average
Points
Earned 3

Percentage of
Communities
Credited 4

116

116

46

100%

90

70

63

93%

330 Outreach Projects

350

175

63

90%

340 Hazard Disclosure

80

57

14

68%

350 Flood Protection Information

125

98

33

92%

360 Flood Protection Assistance

110

65

49

41%

110

0

0

0%

802

585

65

50%

420 Open Space Preservation

2,020

1,548

474

68%

430 Higher Regulatory Standards

2,042

784

214

98%

440 Flood Data Maintenance

222

171

54

87%

450 Stormwater Management

755

540

119

83%

510 Floodplain Mgmt. Planning

622

273

123

43%

520 Acquisition and Relocation

1,900

1,701

136

23%

530 Flood Protection

1,600

632

52

11%

570

449

214

78%

395

353

144

37%

235

0

0

0%

160

0

0

0%

Activity
300 Public Information Activities
310 Elevation Certificates
320 Map Information Service

370 Flood Insurance Promotion

5

400 Mapping and Regulations
410 Floodplain Mapping

500 Flood Damage Reduction Activities

540 Drainage System Maintenance
600 Warning and Response
610 Flood Warning and Response
620 Levees
630 Dams

6

6

1 The maximum possible points are based on the 2013 Coordinator's Manual.
2 The maximum points earned are converted to the 2013 Coordinator's Manual from the highest credits
attained by a community as of October 1, 2011. Growth adjustments and new credits for 2013 are not
included.
3 The average points earned are converted to the 2013 Coordinator's Manual, based on communities’
credits as of October 1, 2011. Growth adjustments and new credits for 2013 are not included.
4 The percentage of communities credited is as of October 1, 2011.
5 Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion) is a new activity in 2013. No community has earned these
points.
6 Activities 620 and 630 were so extensively revised that the old credits cannot be converted to the
2013 Coordinator’s Manual.

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more detailed estimate of credit points. There is free software that can help with the
calculations at www.CRSresources.org/200.
There are two important things to note when estimating credit:
1. Moving to a Class 6, 4, or 1 depends on both having adequate points
class prerequisites, as explained in Section 211.

AND

meeting

2. Only the final, verified credit calculated by the ISO/CRS Specialist after the
verification visit determines a community’s total points. It is important that the
community provide correct and complete materials to document its activities. Only
through a review of the community’s documentation can the ISO/CRS Specialist
determine the credit points that should be provided.
A community should apply only for those activities it is actively undertaking and those it
knows it can implement in accordance with the Coordinator’s Manual. For example, no
credit is provided for draft ordinances – regulations must have been enacted and enforced.
Also, a community should not be overly ambitious in undertaking new activities for CRS
credit at the risk of losing the credit later (at annual recertification or cycle verification
visits) for activities it is unable to implement or continue.

113.d. Activities not Listed
The CRS activities are not design standards for local floodplain management. The
Coordinator’s Manual is an insurance tool that describes methods of calculating credit
points for various community activities. The fact that the Coordinator’s Manual does not
list a specific credit for some activities does not mean that they should not be implemented
by communities that need them.
An activity may deserve credit even if the Coordinator’s Manual does not include it. The
Coordinator’s Manual cannot predict or list everything that can be done to support the
goals of the CRS. Communities are always welcome to request credit for alternate
approaches or innovations that are not included in the Coordinator’s Manual. Similarly,
communities can submit alternative approaches to the class prerequisites listed in
Section 211.
Requests should be submitted to the ISO/CRS Specialist and should include documentation
to support how the alternative approach or innovation meets the intent of, or is equivalent
to, the prerequisite or the element and/or activity credited in the Coordinator’s Manual.
Note that some activities are not directly recognized by the CRS for one of three reasons:
1. They do not directly affect buildings that can be insured under the NFIP (e.g.,
uninsurable items such as streets and land value);
2. They are recognized by other aspects of the flood insurance rating program (e.g.,
flood control projects that result in revised FIRMs reduce flood insurance premiums
in protected areas); or

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3. The impact of an activity cannot be measured for CRS credit (e.g., preserving
floodplains for aesthetic reasons).
Credit criteria will change over time as experience is gained in implementing, observing,
and measuring the activities and as new concepts in floodplain management come into
common practice. As innovations arise, they will be considered for recognition under the
CRS.

114 The Community’s Role
114.a. Community Participation
Community participation in the CRS is voluntary. Any community in full compliance with
the rules and regulations of the NFIP may apply for a CRS classification better than Class
10. A community may apply to participate in the CRS at any time.
The application procedures are simple: the community submits a letter of interest and
shows that it is implementing activities that would receive at least 500 credit points. The
documents go to the ISO/CRS Specialist for that state. The FEMA Regional Office must
approve the submittal to ensure that the community is in full compliance with the minimum
floodplain management criteria of the NFIP. See also Section 212.
Upon receiving FEMA approval, a community verification visit is scheduled by the
ISO/CRS Specialist. At this verification visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist reviews all of the
community’s activities that may deserve credit, even those not in the community’s
submittal. All CRS credit is verified according to the credit criteria in the Coordinator’s
Manual in effect at the time of the visit. The verification process is discussed in Activity
230.
The ISO/CRS Specialist is an employee of Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), FEMA’s
CRS management contractor. ISO has many years of experience collecting and processing
data for more than 1,000 insurance companies. Among other services, ISO develops and
provides advisory classifications for community fire protection and building code
programs. ISO reviews CRS submittals, verifies communities’ credit points, and performs
program improvement tasks for FEMA.
After the verification visit, ISO submits its findings to FEMA. FEMA sets the CRS credit
to be granted and notifies the community, the state, insurance companies, and other
appropriate parties. The classification is effective on either May 1 or October 1, whichever
comes first, after the community’s activities are verified.
Each year the community must recertify that it is continuing to perform the activities for
which it is receiving CRS credit. Recertification is an annual activity that includes progress
reports for certain activities (see Section 213). A “cycle verification visit” takes place
every few years and is conducted in the form of another verification visit to the community
(see Section 232).

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If a community is not properly or fully implementing the credited activities, its credit
points, and possibly its CRS classification, will be revised. A community may add credited
activities in order to improve its CRS classification. This is called a modification and is
explained in Section 214.
Communities are encouraged to call on their ISO/CRS Specialist for assistance at any time.
This can be especially helpful when they are considering a change to a credited activity or
implementing a new program.
A week-long CRS course for local officials is offered free at FEMA’s Emergency
Management Institute and has been field deployed to many states. The ISO/CRS Specialist,
NFIP State Coordinator, and FEMA Regional Office have more information on this course,
state workshops, and other CRS training opportunities.

114.b. Community Responsibilities
Once a community receives its initial classification in the CRS, it must continue to
implement its credited activities to keep its classification. Specifically, a community is
responsible for
 Designating a community CRS Coordinator—someone who is familiar with the
community offices that implement CRS activities;
 Cooperating with the ISO/CRS Specialist and the verification procedures
(Section 230);
 Recertifying each year that it is continuing to implement its activities (Section 213);
 Advising FEMA and its ISO/CRS Specialist of modifications to its activities
(Section 214);
 Keeping elevation certificates, old FIRMs, and old Flood Insurance Studies for as
long as the community is in the CRS;
 Keeping the records iterated in the activities’ documentation sections until they are
reviewed at the verification visit;
 Ensuring that flood protection projects and drainage system maintenance activities
are compliant with federal environmental and historic preservation requirements
(Section 507); and
 Participating in the cycle verification process (Section 232).
Communities will receive periodic updates to the Coordinator’s Manual and other CRS
materials. They are encouraged to order the background publications (see Appendix C),
attend CRS workshops, and ask their ISO/CRS Specialists for help understanding the CRS
credit criteria for their current and planned activities.

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115 Costs and Benefits
Communities should prepare and implement those activities which best deal with their local
problems, whether or not they are creditable under the CRS. Few, if any, of the CRS activities will produce premium reductions equal to or greater than the cost of their implementation. In considering whether to undertake a new floodplain management activity, a
community must consider all of the benefits the activity will provide (not just insurance
premium reductions) in order to determine whether it is worth implementing.

115.a. Costs
No fee is charged for a community to apply for participation in the CRS. The only costs the
community incurs are those of implementing creditable floodplain management activities
and the staff time needed to document those activities and prepare for and participate in the
recertification process and verification visits.

115.b. Benefits
There are many benefits to participating in the CRS. Most of them cannot be measured in
direct dollar terms, so it is impossible to conduct a strict numerical comparison of the
benefits with the costs of implementing the credited activities. Listed here are the benefits
more commonly mentioned by community officials.
(1) The benefit that attracts people to the CRS the most is the reduction in flood
insurance premiums for their residents and businesses. The dollar savings varies
according to the CRS class, the number of policies, and the amount of coverage. A
community can obtain the current and potential dollar savings for all 10 classes from
its ISO/CRS Specialist. These are known as the “what if” tables (see Figure 110-1).
(2) Although the premium reduction attracts interest in the CRS, the most important
benefits are the enhanced public safety, reduction in damage to property and public
infrastructure, avoidance of economic disruption and losses, reduction in human
suffering, and protection of the environment provided by the credited activities.
Community officials agree that these programs are improved when changes are made
to meet the CRS credit criteria.
(3) Through the CRS a community can evaluate the effectiveness of its flood program
against state and nationally recognized benchmarks.
(4) Training and technical assistance in designing and implementing credited flood
protection activities are available through the CRS at no charge.

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Figure 110-1. The “what if” table.
The table shows the community’s current and current and potential dollar savings in flood
insurance premium reductions for various CRS classes. As a Class 7 community, Watsonville
officials are saving their flood insurance policy holders nearly $200 each year.
“PIF” means “policies in force”

(5) Many communities initiate new public information activities when they join the
CRS. These build a knowledgeable constituency within the community—people who
become more interested in protecting themselves from flooding and in supporting
the community’s floodplain management efforts.
(6) Keeping its CRS credits has proven to be an effective motivator to continue
implementing flood protection programs during the “dry years.” The fact that the
community’s CRS status could be affected by the elimination of a flood-related
activity or a weakening of the regulatory requirements for new development has
been taken into account by many governing boards when considering such actions.
(7) There is mutual support among CRS participants. Communities that participate in
the CRS are joining the ranks of localities that have demonstrated a serious
commitment to the health, safety, and welfare of their residents—and their
floodplain and coastal resources. Across the nation, “CRS users groups” of
representatives of counties, communities, and regional entities have formed to share
their experiences, support each other in advancing their floodplain management
programs, and encourage other communities to participate in the program.

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116 Other Program Priorities
116.a. Natural Floodplain Functions
Floodplains in riverine and coastal areas perform natural functions that cannot be replicated
elsewhere. The CRS provides special credit for community activities that protect and/or
restore natural floodplain functions, even though some of the activities may not directly
reduce flood losses to insurable buildings. There are many reasons to protect floodplains in
their natural state.
When kept open and free of
development, floodplains provide
the necessary flood water
conveyance and flood water storage
needed by a river or coastal system.
When the floodplain is allowed to
perform its natural function, flood
velocities and peak flows are
reduced downstream. Natural
floodplains reduce wind and wave
impacts and their vegetation
stabilizes soils during flooding.
Floodplains in their natural state
provide many beneficial functions
beyond flood reduction. Water
quality is improved in areas where
natural cover acts as a filter for
runoff and overbank flows;
sediment loads and impurities are
also minimized. Natural floodplains
moderate water temperature,
reducing the possibility of adverse
impacts on aquatic plants and
animals.

Some Natural Functions of Floodplains
WATER RESOURCES
Natural Flood and Erosion Control
- Provide flood storage and conveyance
- Reduce flood velocities
- Reduce peak flows
- Reduce sedimentation

Water Quality Maintenance
- Filter nutrients and impurities from runoff
- Process organic wastes
- Moderate temperature fluctuations

Groundwater Recharge
- Promote infiltration and aquifer recharge
- Reduce frequency and duration of low surface flows

BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Biological Productivity
- Rich alluvial soils promote vegetative growth
- Maintain biodiversity
- Maintain integrity of ecosystems

Fish and Wildlife Habitats
- Provide breeding and feeding grounds
- Create and enhance waterfowl habitat
- Protect habitats for rare and endangered species
− A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management
FEMA-248 (1994)

Floodplains can act as recharge areas for groundwater and reduce the frequency and
duration of low flows of surface water. They provide habitat for diverse species of flora and
fauna, some of which cannot live anywhere else. They are particularly important as
breeding and feeding areas.
The CRS encourages state, local and private programs and projects that preserve or restore
the natural state of floodplains and protect these functions. The CRS also encourages
communities to coordinate their flood loss reduction programs with other public and private
activities that preserve and protect natural and beneficial floodplain functions. Credits for
doing this are found in the following activities:

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 Activity 320 (Map Information Service)—Credits advising people about areas that
should be protected because of their natural floodplain functions.
 Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)—Credit is provided for outreach projects that
include descriptions of the natural functions of the community’s floodplains.
 Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information)—Credit points are available for a
website that provides detailed information about local areas that should be protected
for their natural floodplain functions and how they can be protected.
 Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation)—Extra credit is provided for open space
areas that are preserved in their natural state; have been restored to a condition
approximating their pre-development natural state; or have been designated as
worthy of preservation for their natural benefits, such as being designated in a habitat
conservation plan.
 Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)—Regulations that protect natural areas
during development or that protect water quality are credited.
 Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance)—Adding layers to the community’s
geographic information system (GIS) with natural floodplain functions (e.g.,
wetlands, designated riparian habitat, flood water storage areas) is credited.
 Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)—Erosion and sediment control, water
quality, and low-impact development techniques minimize the impacts of new
development. These measures are credited, along with regulations that require the
maintenance of natural flow regimes.
 Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning)—Extra credit is provided for plans
that address the natural resources of floodplains and recommend ways to protect
them.
 Activities 520 (Acquisition and Relocation), 530 (Flood Protection), and 540
(Drainage System Maintenance) credit flood loss reduction measures such as capital
improvement programs and drainage improvement projects. No such programs or
projects can be credited unless a thorough environmental review is conducted and
documented.

116.b. All-Hazards Mitigation
All communities are threatened by a variety of natural and technological hazards. The staff
and programs that address flooding may also be responsible for protecting the community
from damage due to earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, drought, hazardous materials
incidents, and terrorism. Similarly, the staff members that work in programs related to other
hazards may be implementing activities that could support floodplain management
programs. Floodplain management programs are synonymous with flood mitigation
programs.
FEMA supports an all-hazards approach to mitigation, as does the CRS. It makes economic
sense that mitigation programs address as many hazards as are appropriate. An all-hazards

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approach also ensures that staff, programs, construction standards, and public information
messages are consistent and mutually supportive.
The CRS has become an important tool for mitigation as well as a mechanism for
integrating mitigation with flood insurance. This is consistent not only with grading
systems that have been successfully employed for many years in the insurance industry, but
also with industry initiatives for relating insurance premiums to local efforts to reduce
losses due to natural hazards. For example, adoption and enforcement of strong building
codes as measured by the insurance industry’s Building Code Effectiveness Grading
Schedule integrates building code enforcement into the industry’s premium rates.
The CRS has served as a model for all-hazards, pre-disaster mitigation. Local officials have
reported that the CRS was the blueprint for organizing their program to build a more
disaster-resistant community.
The 2013 edition of the Coordinator’s Manual highlights many opportunities for expanding
a flood-only orientation to address other hazards.
 The 300 series of public information activities credits advising people about the risk
of flooding and other hazards and the mitigation measures they can take to protect
their property;
 Under Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure), disclosure of other hazards (DOH) credits
advising potential purchasers of property that there may be other hazards that could
affect the property, such as erosion, subsidence, or flooding from a dam failure
(Section 342.d);
 Section 401 has an overview of the additional credits that are provided for mapping
and managing seven special flood-related hazards:
o Uncertain flow paths (alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, and other
floodplains within which the channel moves during a flood);
o Closed-basin lakes;
o Ice jams;
o Land subsidence;
o Mudflow hazards;
o Coastal erosion; and
o Tsunamis.
 Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation) encourages communities to keep hazardous
areas open and undeveloped;
 Credit is provided for the International Series of building codes (which have
improved protection standards for flooding, wind, and other hazards over previous
model codes) in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards), Section 432.h;

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 Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) also credits extending V-Zone standards
for coastal storm surge and wind protection farther inland to include coastal A Zones
(Section 432.k);
 In Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance), additional credit is provided for showing
areas subject to other natural hazards, such as landslides and stream migration in the
GIS or data base management program;
 Under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management), management of runoff, erosion and
sediment control, and water quality and low impact development requirements to
minimize the impacts of new development are credited.
 More credit is available for including other hazards in a mitigation plan that qualifies
for a floodplain management plan under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning); and
 Local warning and public information activities directed toward storms and tsunamis
are credited under the StormReady and TsunamiReady elements in Activity 610
(Flood Warning and Response).

116.c. Future Conditions and Impacts of Climate Change
The CRS recognizes that floodplains change over time, driven by many natural and
manmade changes. Good floodplain management acknowledges this, and includes thinking
about how floodplains might look in the future under different scenarios. Increased
impervious surfaces in developing watersheds, beach nourishment projects, new fill in
floodways, rising sea levels, changes in natural functions, and many other factors
contribute to the character of the future with which floodplain managers must cope.
The 2013 Coordinator’s Manual incorporates additional acknowledgement of—and credit
for—community efforts to anticipate the future insofar as it relates to flood risk and natural
floodplain functions, and to take actions that can mitigate any adverse impacts that could
materialize.
 Credit is provided under Section 322.c for communities that provide information
about areas (not mapped on the FIRM) that are predicted to be susceptible to
flooding in the future because of climate change or sea level rise.
 To become a Class 4 or better community, a community must (among other criteria)
demonstrate that it has programs that minimize increases in future flooding.
 To achieve CRS Class 1, a community must receive credit for using regulatory flood
elevations in the V and coastal A Zones that reflect future conditions, including sea
level rise.
 Credit is provided under Section 342.d when prospective buyers of a property are
advised of the potential for flooding due to climate changes and/or sea level rise.
 Credit is provided under Section 412.d when the community’s regulatory map is
based on future-conditions hydrology, including sea level rise.

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 Credit is provided under Section 452.a if a community’s stormwater program
regulates runoff from future development.
 Credit is provided under Section 452.b for a community whose watershed master plan
manages future peak flows so that they do not exceed present values.
 Credit is provided under Section 512.a, Steps 4 and 5, for flood hazard assessment
and problem analysis that address areas likely to flood and flood problems that are
likely to get worse in the future, including (1) changes in floodplain development and
demographics, (2) development in the watershed, and (3) climate change or sea level
rise.

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120 GLOSSARY
Unless otherwise noted, all terms used by the Community Rating System (CRS) are the
same as those defined in the National Flood Insurance Program Rules and Regulations
(44 Code of Federal Regulations §59.1).
A Zone: See “Zone A.”
Activity: A floodplain management activity for which Community Rating System credit
has been established.
Allowable surcharge: The acceptable limit of increased flood elevation in the floodway
due to obstruction of the floodway fringe.
Alluvial fan: An area at the base of a valley where the slope flattens out, allowing the
flood water to decrease in speed and spread out, dropping sediment over a fan-shaped area.
The Community Rating System credits alluvial fan flooding under the “uncertain flow
paths” hazard in the Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s
Manual.
B Zone: See “Zone B.”
Base flood: The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year,
also known as the “100-year” or “1% chance” flood. The base flood is a statistical concept
used to ensure that all properties subject to the National Flood Insurance Program are
protected to the same degree against flooding.
BFE: Base flood elevation. The elevation of the crest of the base or 1% annual chance
flood (also known as the 100-year flood).
Building: For CRS purposes, the definition of what constitutes a building is based on
whether the structure is insurable. It must meet the following criteria, which are taken from
the definition in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Flood Insurance Manual for
insurance agents. A “building” is
A structure with two or more outside rigid walls and a fully secured roof, that is affixed
to a permanent site; or
A manufactured home (a “manufactured home,” also known as a mobile home, is a
structure built on a permanent chassis, transported to its site in one or more sections,
and affixed to a permanent foundation); or
A travel trailer without wheels, built on a chassis and affixed to a permanent
foundation, that is regulated under the community’s floodplain management and
building ordinances or laws.
“Building” does not mean a gas or liquid storage tank or a recreational vehicle, a park
trailer, or other similar vehicle, except as described above.

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C Zone: See “Zone C.”
CBRA: The Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 (pronounced “cobra”).
CEO: The Chief Executive Officer of a community, i.e., the official who is charged with
the authority to implement and administer laws, ordinances, and regulations for the
community. The CEO may be a mayor, city or county manager, county executive, chair or
president of a county council, etc. The head of a department is not considered a CEO.
Coastal: Relating to the coastlines and bays of the tidal waters of the United States or the
shorelines of the Great Lakes. Under the Community Rating System, there are five coastal
areas eligible for creditable coastal activities: the coastlines and bays of the Atlantic
Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Bering Sea, and Great Lakes. The term does not
include riverine areas.
Coastal A Zone: Those parts of a community’s coastal floodplain, inland from the mapped
V Zone (or shoreline if there is no mapped V Zone), that are subject to the damaging
effects of waves, velocity flows, erosion, scour, or combinations of these forces. The exact
boundary of a coastal A Zone is determined by the community, as described in
Section 432.k, although the Federal Emergency Management Agency may provide a
proposed boundary or “limit of moderate wave action” on Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Coastal Barrier Resources System: A set of “undeveloped coastal barriers” and
“otherwise protected areas” along the U.S. coast (including the Great Lakes) designated by
Congress under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 (CBRA). Most expenditures of
federal funds are prohibited within the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
Coastal erosion: Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land masses caused primarily by
waves on the two oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bering Sea, or the Great Lakes, and
major embayments to these bodies of water.
Coastal erosion-prone area: The coastal areas within which waves are anticipated to
cause significant erosion and shoreline retreat within the next 60 years.
Coastal high hazard flooding: A condition of flooding subject to high velocity waters,
including, but not limited to, hurricane wave wash or tsunamis. Coastal high hazard
flooding is mapped as a Zone V or “limit of moderate wave action” on a Flood Insurance
Rate Map. Coastal flooding without the high velocity hazard is mapped as a Zone A.
Community: A city, village, town, county, township, parish, borough, Indian tribe or
authorized tribal organization, Alaska Native village or authorized native organization, or
other local government with the statutory authority to enact floodplain regulations and
participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Contour: A line of equal elevation on a topographic (contour) map.

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Conveyance system: For purposes of the CRS, the conveyance system includes the
channels that need to be maintained in order to prevent damage to buildings or roads and
other infrastructure from smaller, more frequent storms. Components of the conveyance
system include the structures and the channel segments throughout the system (e.g.,
bridges, culverts, and segments of open channel) through which water flows.
Critical facility: A structure or other improvement that, because of its function, size,
service area, or uniqueness, has the potential to cause serious bodily harm, extensive
property damage, or disruption of vital socioeconomic activities if it is destroyed or
damaged or if its functionality is impaired . Critical facilities include health and safety
facilities, utilities, government facilities, and hazardous materials facilities. For the
purposes of a local regulation, a community may also use the International Codes’
definition for Category III and IV buildings.
CRS: Community Rating System.
CRS classification: A rating of a community’s floodplain management program according
to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual. The premium rate credits for each class are listed in
Table 110-1. A community that has not applied for Community Rating System
classification is a Class 10 community.
CRS Coordinator: A local official designated by the community’s Chief Executive
Officer to coordinate the community’s Community Rating System activities and work with
FEMA and the Insurance Services Office, Inc. to document and verify the community’s
program.
CRS Coordinator’s Manual: A publication for local officials that describes the
procedures, credit criteria, and activities credited by the Community Rating System. It is
available from FEMA or Insurance Services Office, Inc.
Cycle: A periodic review, scoring, and verification of a community’s Community Rating
System activities, normally done on a 3- or 5-year cycle.
D Zone: See “Zone D.”
Datum: A reference surface used to ensure that all elevation records are properly related.
Many communities have their own datum, developed before there was a national standard.
The National Flood Insurance Program previously used the National Geodetic Vertical
Datum (NGVD) of 1929, but all recent Flood Insurance Rate Maps have used the North
American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988. Both datum planes express elevations in
relation to sea level. The Flood Insurance Rate Map indicates the datum that applies to the
community.
Debris: Trash, junk, litter, discarded remains of something destroyed, landscape waste, or
vegetation that may reduce the conveyance capacity of a channel or the storage or
infiltration capacity of a basin.

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Development: Any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but
not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving,
excavation, drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials.
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM): All new FIRMs are prepared as a GISbased map of a community’s flood hazards. All new maps are based upon this digital
platform and communities may use these maps instead of paper maps for regulatory
purposes. See FIRM.
Discharge: The amount of water that passes a point in a given period of time. Rate of
discharge is usually measured in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Drainage system: For the purposes of the CRS, a community’s drainage system consists
of all natural and manmade watercourses, conduits, and storage basins that must be
maintained in order to prevent flood damage to buildings from smaller, more frequent
storms.
Element: A discrete piece of a floodplain management program that is credited as part of a
Community Rating System activity.
FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency. Most of the National Flood
Insurance Program field work and community coordination is done by the 10 FEMA
Regional Offices, which are listed at www.fema.gov/about/structure.shtm.
FIRM: Flood Insurance Rate Map. An official map of a community, on which FEMA has
delineated both the Special Flood Hazard Areas and the risk premium zones applicable to
the community. Most FIRMs include detailed floodplain mapping for some or all of a
community’s floodplains. In most cases, the date of the first FIRM issued to a community is
the date the community entered the Regular Program of the National Flood Insurance
Program.
Flood Insurance Study: A report published by FEMA for a community in conjunction
with the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map. The study contains such background data
as the base flood discharges and water surface elevations that were used to prepare the
FIRM. In most cases, a community FIRM with detailed mapping will have a corresponding
flood insurance study.
Floodplain: Any land area susceptible to being inundated by flood waters from any
source. A Flood Insurance Rate Map identifies most, but not necessarily all, of a
community’s floodplain as the Special Flood Hazard Area.
Floodproofing: Protective measures added to or incorporated in a building that is not
elevated above the base flood elevation to prevent or minimize flood damage. “Dry
floodproofing” measures are designed to keep water from entering a building. “Wet
floodproofing” measures minimize damage to a structure and its contents from water that is
allowed into a building.

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Floodway: The channel of a river and the portion of the overbank floodplain that must be
reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water
surface elevation by a designated height. The National Flood Insurance Program
regulations allow construction in the floodway provided that it does not obstruct flood
flows or increase flood heights.
Floodway fringe: The portion of the Special Flood Hazard Area lying outside of the
floodway.
Freeboard: A margin of safety added to the base flood elevation to account for waves,
debris, miscalculations, lack of data, or changes in climate.
Green infrastructure: Because of the wide interpretation given to this term, the CRS does
not use the words “green infrastructure” in its credit criteria. However, the CRS does
provide credit for designated open space corridors or connected networks of wetlands,
woodlands, wildlife habitats, wilderness, and other areas that support native species,
maintain natural ecological processes, and sustain air and water resources. In some areas,
these features are called “green infrastructure.”
High-hazard-potential dam: Dams assigned the high-hazard-potential classification are
those whose failure or mismanagement will probably cause loss of human life.
Hydrology: The science dealing with the waters of the earth. A flood discharge is
developed by a hydrologic study.
I-Codes: The series of building codes published by the International Code Council.
ICC: Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, a flood insurance claim provision that helps
fund the cost of bringing a flood-damaged building into compliance with floodplain
management standards.
ISO: The Insurance Services Office, Inc., a corporation that conducts verification of
community CRS credit and program improvement tasks for FEMA.
ISO/CRS Specialist: An Insurance Services Office, Inc. technician responsible for
reviewing community requests for Community Rating System classification and verifying
implementation of activities credited by the CRS. The name and telephone number of the
ISO/CRS Specialist for a state can be found at www.CRSresources.org/100.
ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer: An Insurance Services Office, Inc. technician or
contractor responsible for reviewing community requests for Community Rating System
credit for select activities. The reviews conducted by the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer are
provided to the ISO/CRS Specialist.
Levee: A manmade structure, usually an earthen embankment, designed and constructed
using sound engineering practices to contain, control, or divert flood waters in accordance
with a designated risk reduction level.
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Levee system: The levee structure itself, plus all appurtenant facilities, such as pump
stations, closure devices, etc., that are needed to contain, control, or divert flood waters in
accordance with a designated risk reduction level. For CRS purposes, credit is based on
local activities related to the entire levee system, not just to the levee structure.
Limit of moderate wave action: The inland limit of the area affected by waves greater
than 1.5 feet (also known as “LiMWA”). The LiMWA is determined based on the landward
limit of the 1% annual chance coastal flood that can support a 1.5-foot wave. New coastal
FIRMs will show the LiMWA as an informational layer on the FIRM. The area between
this inland limit and the V-Zone boundary is also known as the coastal A Zone. It is
typically those parts of a community’s coastal floodplain, inland from the mapped V Zone
(or shoreline if there is no mapped V Zone), that are subject to the damaging effects of
waves, velocity flows, erosion, scour, or combinations of these forces. The area may be
delineated on a Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Low-impact development (LID): According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, “an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature to
manage stormwater as close to its source as possible and treat stormwater as a resource
rather than a waste product. LID practices include bioretention facilities, rain gardens,
vegetated rooftops, rain barrels, and permeable pavements. Applied on a broad scale, LID
can maintain or restore a watershed's hydrologic and ecological functions.”
(www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/)
NAVD: North American Vertical Datum of 1988. The national datum that is replacing
NGVD to set flood and ground elevations for the Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Natural floodplain functions:
a. The functions associated with the natural or relatively undisturbed floodplain that
moderate flooding, retain flood waters, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and
mitigate the effects of waves and storm surges from storms; and
b. Other significant beneficial functions, which include maintenance of water quality,
recharge of groundwater, and provision of fish and wildlife habitat.
NFIP: National Flood Insurance Program.
NGVD: National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, the national datum previously used by
the National Flood Insurance Program. It was known formerly as the “Mean Sea Level
Datum of 1929 (MSL).”
Ponding: A flooding condition in low-lying areas caused when runoff drains to a location
that has no ready outlet. Ponded water usually remains until it evaporates, seeps into the
ground, or is pumped out.
Post-FIRM building: For insurance rating purposes, a post-FIRM building is one that was
constructed or substantially improved after December 31, 1974, or after the effective date
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of the initial Flood Insurance Rate Map of a community, whichever is later. A post-FIRM
building is required to meet the National Flood Insurance Program’s minimum Regular
Program flood protection standards.
Pre-FIRM building: For insurance rating purposes, a pre-FIRM building is one that was
constructed or substantially improved on or before December 31, 1974, or before the
effective date of the initial Flood Insurance Rate Map of the community, whichever is later.
Most pre-FIRM buildings were constructed without taking the flood hazard into account.
Registered design professional: An individual who is registered or licensed to practice
his or her respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the
professional registration laws of the state or jurisdiction in which the project is to be
constructed. The CRS considers “registered design professionals” to include licensed
professional engineers, structural engineers and architects, and registered land surveyors.
Regular Program: Also called the Regular Phase. The phase of community participation
in the National Flood Insurance Program that begins on the effective date of the
community’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map or when the community adopts an ordinance
that meets the minimum requirements of the NFIP and adopts the technical data provided
with the FIRM, whichever is earlier. Nearly all communities participating in the NFIP are
in the Regular Program.
Regulatory floodplain: For purposes of the Community Rating System, the regulatory
floodplain is the flood-prone land area that is subject to a community’s floodplain
development or floodplain management regulations. The regulatory floodplain includes, at
a minimum, the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) (see definition), but may also
incorporate other areas outside the SFHA that are also subject to a community’s floodplain
development or floodplain management regulations.
Repetitive loss community: For purposes of the Community Rating System, a community
with one or more repetitive loss properties.
Repetitive loss property: A property for which two or more National Flood Insurance
Program losses of at least $1,000 each have been paid within any 10-year rolling period
since 1978.
Retrofitting: Modifications made to an existing building or nearby grounds to protect it
from flood damage. Retrofitting techniques include elevation, dry and wet floodproofing,
and protection from sewer backup.
Riparian ecosystem: A distinct association of flora, fauna, and soil occurring along a
river, stream, lake, ocean, or other body of water and dependent upon high water tables and
occasional flooding to maintain its viability. These areas often exhibit high biological
productivity and species diversity. Although riparian ecosystems are closely associated
with a body of water, they may extend beyond the Special Flood Hazard Area.

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Riverine: Of or produced by a river or stream. Riverine floodplains have readily
identifiable channels. Floodway maps can only be prepared for riverine floodplains.
Sand dunes: Naturally occurring accumulations of sand that form ridges or mounds
landward of a beach.
Sensitive area: An area defined by state or local regulations as deserving special
protection because of its unique natural features or its value as habitat. A sensitive area is
subject to more restrictive development regulations than other floodplains or wetlands.
Although sensitive areas are often closely associated with a body of water, they may extend
beyond the Special Flood Hazard Area.
Severe Repetitive Loss property: As defined in the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004,
those 1–4 family properties that have had four or more claims of more than $5,000 or two
to three claims that cumulatively exceed the building’s value. For the purposes of the CRS,
non-residential buildings that meet the same criteria as for 1–4 family properties are
considered Severe Repetitive Loss properties.
SFHA: Special Flood Hazard Area (see definition).
Sheet flow: A condition of flooding where there is moving water but no identifiable
channel. Flooding depths are usually shallow (less than 3 feet). Sheet flow may have a high
velocity, as on alluvial fans.
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA): The base floodplain delineated on a Flood Insurance
Rate Map that a community must regulate under the requirements of the National Flood
Insurance Program. The SFHA is mapped as a Zone A (see definition). In coastal situations,
Zone V (see definition) is also a part of the SFHA. The SFHA is included in a community’s
regulatory floodplain (see definition).
Special flood-related hazards: For the purposes of the Community Rating System, the
term includes terrain features or special hazards that accompany or aggravate flooding, as
listed in Section 401.
Stakeholders: Floodplain residents, business leaders, insurance agents, civic groups,
academia, non-profit organizations, major employers, managers of critical facilities,
farmers, landowners, developers, and others who are affected by flooding or whose actions
can help prevent or reduce flood losses.
Storage basins: For the purposes of the CRS, storage basins include all constructed stormwater runoff detention or retention facilities located on public or private property. These
include onsite detention, retention, or infiltration facilities that are required for new
development.
Substantial damage: Damage of any origin sustained by a building whereby the cost of
restoring the building to its before-damage condition would equal or exceed 50% of the
market value of the building before the damage occurred.
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Substantial improvement: Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other
improvement to a building, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of
the building before the start of construction of the improvement.
Surcharge: An increase in flood elevation due to obstruction of the floodplain that reduces
its conveyance capacity.
Tsunami: A wave caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcano that can raise
water levels on the ocean shore to levels higher than the base flood elevation. Tsunamis are
discussed in more detail in the Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS
Coordinator’s Manual.
Uncertain flow paths: Channels that move during a flood, including alluvial fans and
moveable bed streams. They are discussed in more detail in the Special Flood-related
Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
V Zone: See “Zone V.”
Variable: A term used in the formulae for calculating Community Rating System credit.
For each element, there are one or more variables, which often include the acronym for the
element.
X Zone: See “Zone X.”
Zone A: The Special Flood Hazard Area (except coastal V Zones) shown on a community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map. There are seven types of A Zones:
A: SFHA where no base flood elevation is provided.
A#: Numbered A Zones (e.g., A7 or A14), SFHA where an older FIRM shows a base
flood elevation in relation to a national datum.
AE: SFHA where base flood elevations are provided. AE-Zone delineations are used
on newer FIRMs instead of A# Zones.
AO: SFHA with sheet flow, ponding, or shallow flooding. Base flood depths (feet
above grade) are provided.
AH: Shallow flooding SFHA. Base flood elevations in relation to a national datum are
provided.
AR: A temporary designation for an area where a flood control system that no longer
provides protection from the base flood is expected to be improved so it will provide
protection to the base flood again in the future. This zone is considered part of the
Special Flood Hazard Area or “regulatory floodplain,” but properties in this zone do not
receive the “in SFHA” CRS premium discount (see Table 110-1).

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A99: A mapped floodplain that will be protected by a federal flood protection system
where construction has reached specified statutory milestones. This zone is considered
part of the Special Flood Hazard Area or “regulatory floodplain,” but properties in this
zone do not receive the “in SFHA” CRS premium discount (see Table 110-1).
Zone B: Area of moderate flood hazard, usually depicted on older Flood Insurance Rate
Maps as between the limits of the base and 500-year floods of the primary source of
flooding. B Zones may have local, shallow flooding problems. B Zones are also used to
designate areas protected by levees and base floodplains of little hazard, such as those with
average depths of less than 1 foot.
Zone C: Area of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on older Flood Insurance Rate
Maps as above the 500-year flood level of the primary source of flooding. C Zones may
have local, shallow flooding problems that do not meet the criteria to be mapped as a
Special Flood Hazard Area, especially ponding and local drainage problems.
Zone D: Area of undetermined but possible flood hazard.
Zone V: The Special Flood Hazard Area subject to coastal high hazard flooding. There are
three types of V Zones: V, V#, and VE, and they correspond to the A-Zone designations.
Zone X: Newer Flood Insurance Rate Maps show Zones B and C (see above) as Zone X.
The shaded Zone X corresponds to a Zone B and the unshaded Zone X corresponds to a
Zone C.

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200 PROCEDURES
This series covers the procedures for applying for a Community Rating System (CRS)
classification and the steps for calculating and verifying a community’s CRS credit. It also
covers annual recertification, modifications to the community’s CRS credit, and cycle
verification.

Contents of Series 200
Section

Page

210 Requesting CRS Credit .................................................................210-1
211 Program Prerequisites ........................................................210-2
212 Application Procedures ......................................................210-8
213 Recertification .................................................................210-11
214 Modifications...................................................................210-12
215 Changes in CRS Credit ....................................................210-14
220 Credit
221
222
223
224
225

Calculation ........................................................................220-1
Step 1. Element Credit Points ........................................... 220-5
Step 2. Impact Adjustment ................................................ 220-6
Step 3. Credit Calculation ................................................. 220-8
Step 4. Community Growth .............................................. 220-9
Step 5. Community Classification ..................................... 220-9

230 Verification ................................................................................. 230-1
231 Documentation Provided by the Community ..................... 230-2
232 Verification Visit .............................................................. 230-6
233 Post-visit Actions ........................................................... 230-12
240 CRS Community Self Assessment.................................................240-1

List of Figures
210-1. The CRS flood insurance prerequisite.......................................210-3
210-2. The CRS Program Data Table.................................................210-13
230-1. An example of a completed verification cover page ................230-10
240-1. An example of a flood problem area map..................................240-1

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210  REQUESTING CRS CREDIT—Summary 
211  Program Prerequisites 
A community must meet the current prerequisites at each verification visit. 
a.  Class 9 Prerequisites:  There are six prerequisites to become and stay a 
Class 9 or better community. They include being in full compliance with 
the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program 
(NFIP), receiving credit for maintaining FEMA Elevation Certificates, and 
meeting repetitive loss criteria.  
b.  Class 6 Prerequisite:  To become a Class 6 or better community, a 
community must have received a classification of 5/5 or better under 
the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule. 
c.  Class 4 Prerequisites:  To become a Class 4 or better community, a 
community must demonstrate that it has programs that minimize flood 
losses, minimize increases in future flooding, protect natural floodplain 
functions, and protect people from the dangers of flooding. 
d.  Class 1 Prerequisites:  To become a Class 1 community, a community 
must have had a successful Community Assistance Visit conducted by 
FEMA within the previous 12 months and demonstrate that it has a “no 
adverse impact” program by receiving a certain number of points for 
designated activities. 

212  Application Procedures 
The documentation and procedures for joining the Community Rating System 
(CRS) are listed. Most of what is needed is collected at the initial verification 
visit. 

213  Recertification 
Each year, the community’s chief executive officer must recertify that the 
community is continuing to implement the activities for which credit has been 
provided.  

214  Modifications 
A community may modify its CRS classification by applying for credit for new 
elements or activities, dropping one or more elements or activities, or 
submitting revised versions of materials.  

215  Changes in CRS Credit 
A community’s credit points can change when it changes its activities, when the 
CRS Coordinator’s Manual is revised, when its floodplain map is revised, and/or 
if it allows more development in the floodplain.  

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210 REQUESTING CRS CREDIT
211 Program Prerequisites
A community must meet the current CRS Coordinator’s Manual’s prerequisites at the time
of each verification visit. An initial verification visit is conducted in response to a
community’s request to join the Community Rating System (CRS). Subsequent visits are
conducted every few years on a set schedule and are called “cycle verification visits.”
Verification visits are explained in Section 230.
No new requirements, including annual recertification requirements, affect a participating
CRS community until the ISO/CRS Specialist reviews them at the cycle verification visit
conducted with the community after the new criteria take effect.

211.a. Class 9 Prerequisites
In order to become and continue to be a Class 9 or better, a community must demonstrate
that it has enough points to warrant the class AND meet the following six prerequisites.
(1) The community must have been in the Regular Phase of the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) for at least one year.
(2) The community must be in full compliance with the minimum requirements of the
NFIP. There must be correspondence from the Regional Office of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stating that the community is in full
compliance with the NFIP. The correspondence must have been sent within six months
of the initial CRS verification visit. The FEMA Regional Office or State NFIP
Coordinator may need to conduct a Community Assistance Visit if neither has been in
the community recently. If a community is determined at any time to be in less-thenfull compliance, it will retrograde to a CRS Class 10.
(3) The community must maintain FEMA Elevation Certificates on all new buildings and
substantial improvements constructed in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SHFA) after
the community applies for CRS credit. This is explained in Activity 310 (Elevation
Certificates).
(4) If there are one or more repetitive loss properties in the community, the community
must take certain actions as specified in Sections 501–504. These include reviewing
and updating the list of repetitive loss properties, mapping repetitive loss areas,
describing the causes of the losses, and sending an outreach project to those areas each
year. A community with 10 or more repetitive loss properties (a “Category C”
community) must also prepare a plan for addressing its repetitive flood problem.
(5) The community must maintain all flood insurance policies that it has been required to
carry on properties owned by the community. The community’s chief executive officer
(CEO) signs the verification visit cover sheet, which includes a statement that the

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signer certifies that the community has all the flood insurance policies that it has been
required to maintain on properties owned by the community. This is discussed further
in Figure 210-1.
(6) If a coastal community receives a draft Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that
delineates the Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA), the community must agree
to show the LiMWA on its final published FIRM. Although showing a LiMWA on a
FIRM is voluntary for non-CRS communities, it is a prerequisite for CRS participation. The LiMWA delineation is for informational purposes only. There is no CRS
requirement to regulate the area differently, but the series of International Codes has
special construction requirements in areas subject to breaking waves of 1.5 feet or
higher. Communities are encouraged to meet the criteria for coastal A Zone credit
(CAZ) in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards).

As part of the verification documentation, the community’s chief executive officer
must certify that the community has all the flood insurance policies it has been
required to have. The CRS is not concerned with past lapses in flood insurance
coverage. Flood insurance must be in effect at the time of the verification visit and
must be kept in the future. The CRS Coordinator should make every effort to
determine the community’s legal requirement to purchase flood insurance.
Congress has taken steps to encourage public agencies and private property
owners to purchase flood insurance instead of relying exclusively on disaster
assistance for help after a flood. Therefore, disaster assistance for a communityowned building will be reduced by the amount of NFIP flood insurance coverage
(structure and contents) the community should be carrying on the building—
regardless of whether the community is actually carrying a policy.
In effect, disaster assistance for a public agency has a very large deductible equal
to the flood insurance policy the agency should carry. The law expects public
agencies to be appropriately insured as a condition of receiving federal disaster
assistance.
There have also been recent cases in which communities were underinsured.
Some communities have purchased only the required amount of coverage (e.g.,
coverage equal to the amount of a previous federal grant). The disaster assistance
rule requires that a flood-damaged community fund all repairs up to the amount of
flood insurance that it could have purchased.
Whether there was a requirement to purchase and maintain flood insurance as a
condition of a previous federal grant or not, the community’s risk manager or other
appropriate official should ensure that all community-owned buildings exposed to
flooding are insured for flood damage. Some communities have found out too late
that their all-risk insurance policies did not cover flooding.
Figure 210-1. The CRS flood insurance prerequisite.

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211.b. Class 6 Prerequisites
In order to be a Class 6 or better, a community must demonstrate that it has enough points
to warrant the class AND meet the following two prerequisites.
(1) The community must meet all the Class 9 prerequisites.
(2) The community must have received and continue to maintain a classification of 5/5 or
better under the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS). Both
BCEGS classifications (residential/ personal and commercial) must be a class 5 or
better. When communities submit a modification or undergo a cycle verification, they
must meet the BCEGS prerequisite in order to achieve or remain a CRS Class 6 or
better.
The BCEGS program measures a community’s building code adoption and enforcement as they relate to natural hazards mitigation. More information on the program can
be found at www.isomitigation.com/bcegs/0000/bcegs0001. Credit is also provided for
BCEGS classifications of 5/5 or better under the building code credit (BC) in
Section 432.h.
In accordance with Section 113.d, communities may propose alternative approaches to
meet the objectives of a prerequisite. For example, communities that are prohibited by
state law from adopting and enforcing building codes may submit comprehensive building
construction regulations and administration and inspection procedures for review to
determine the equivalent BCEGS classification. Such regulations must be enforced
throughout the community, not just in the floodplain.

211.c. Class 4 Prerequisites
A Class 4 or better community must demonstrate that it has programs that minimize flood
losses, minimize increases in future flooding, protect natural floodplain functions, and
protect people from the dangers of flooding. Even though it may have enough points, a
community that cleared most of the buildings from its floodplain with disaster assistance
funds after a flood cannot be a Class 4 or better if it does not have an effective regulatory
program to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
In order to be a Class 4 or better, a community must demonstrate that it has enough points
to warrant the class AND meet the following prerequisites.
(1) The community must meet all the Class 6 prerequisites.
(2) The community must have received and continue to maintain a classification of 4/4 or
better under the BCEGS.
(3) The community must demonstrate that it has taken appropriate steps to eliminate or
minimize future flood losses. To do this, a Class 4 or better community must receive
credit for the following CRS activities.

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(a) Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)—The community must show that it
enforces higher regulatory standards to manage new development in the floodplain.
(i) The community must adopt and enforce a freeboard requirement that receives at
least 100 points for FRB in Section 432.b. For this prerequisite, the value for
FRB is the value before factoring in the impact adjustment.
(ii) The community must receive at least 700 points under the other elements of
Activity 430 and under Sections 422.a, e, and f under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation). For this prerequisite, the points are calculated after factoring in
the impact adjustment.
(b) Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)—The community must receive the
following credits for its watershed management plan(s) (WMP) under
Section 451.b:
(i) 90 points (before the impact adjustment) for meeting all of the credit criteria for
WMP,
(ii) 30 points (before the impact adjustment) for managing the runoff from all
storms up to and including the 100-year event, and
(iii) An impact adjustment value of rWMP = 0.5 or more. As an alternative, the
community may show that at least 50% of the watershed area where future
growth is expected is covered by one or more credited watershed management
plans.
(c) Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning)—The community must have
adopted and be implementing a floodplain management plan that receives at least
50% of the maximum credit under Activity 510, calculated after the impact
adjustment. This 50% of the maximum credit must include at least 50% of the
available points in each of planning steps 2, 5, and 8.
(4) Obtain a minimum total credit of 100 points (after the impact adjustment) from one or
a combination of the following elements that credit protecting natural floodplain
functions:
o 420—Natural functions open space (NFOS),
o 420—Natural shoreline protection (NSP),
o 430—Prohibition of fill (DL1),
o 440—Additional map data (AMD12) natural functions layer,
o 450—Managing the volume of stormwater runoff (SMR, DS),
o 450—Low impact development (LID),
o 450—Watershed management plan (WMP), credit point items 3, 5, 6, and 7,
o 450—Erosion and sediment control (ESC),
o 450—Water quality (WQ), and
o 510—Natural floodplain functions plan (NFP).

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(5) Document the following life safety measures:
(a) Obtain some credit under Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response).
(b) Have a map of all levees and all areas protected by levees, and an inventory of the
buildings and critical facilities that would be flooded if the levees were
overtopped. This is the same as activity credit criterion (3) under Activity 620
(Levees), Section 621.b.
(c) Have a description of the dam failure threat, including a map of all areas that
would be flooded by the failure of each high-hazard-potential dam that affects the
community, and an inventory of the buildings and critical facilities that would be
flooded. This is the same as activity credit criteria (2) under Activity 630 (Dams),
Section 631.b.
In accordance with Section 113.d, the community may propose alternative approaches to
these prerequisites that are more appropriate for local conditions.

211.d. Class 1 Prerequisites
In order to be a Class 1, a community must demonstrate that it has enough points to
warrant the class, AND meet the following prerequisites.
(1) Meet all the Class 4 prerequisites.
(2) Meet the minimum standards of the NFIP as determined by a Community Assistance
Visit conducted by FEMA within the previous 12 months.
(3) Promote flood insurance as a vital way to protect residents and businesses from the
financial impact of a flood. This is demonstrated by having at least 50% of the
buildings in the community’s SFHA covered by a flood insurance policy or obtaining
at least 50% of the maximum points under Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion).
(4) Demonstrate that it has a “no adverse impact” approach to floodplain management. A
no adverse impact approach is one in which the action of one property owner or
community does not adversely affect the flood risks for other properties or
communities. “Adverse impact” is measured by increased flood stages, increased flood
velocity, increased flows, or the increased potential for erosion and sedimentation. The
“no adverse impact” concept is explained in more detail in papers published by the
Association of State Floodplain Managers, which can be accessed at www.floods.org.

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This prerequisite is demonstrated by receiving credit under the following:
(a) For all of the floodplains in the community:
(i)

The community must be enforcing regulations that discourage development in
the floodplain. This is demonstrated by receiving a combined total of at least
150 points under open space incentives (OSI) in Section 422.e and
development limitations (DL) in Section 432.a.

(ii) All new critical facilities must be protected to the 500-year flood level. This
is demonstrated by receiving credit under protecting critical facilities (PCF)
in Section 432.f in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) and by
enforcing the regulations throughout the 500-year floodplain.
(iii) The community must have mapped and be enforcing regulations appropriate
for all flood-related hazards within its jurisdiction. This is demonstrated by
receiving credit under Activities 410 and 430 for all special flood-related
hazards that are identified in the community’s floodplain management or
hazard mitigation plan credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning).
(b) In the community’s riverine floodplains:
(i) Regulatory flood elevations must be provided for all SFHAs in the community.
This is demonstrated by receiving at least 80 points for new studies (NS) in all
approximate A Zones under Section 412.a in Activity 410 (Additional Flood
Data). For this prerequisite, the value for NS is the value before factoring in the
impact adjustment.
(ii) The community’s program must address potential increases in riverine flood
elevations caused by new development. This is demonstrated by receiving the
following credits:
((1)) Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)—an impact adjustment value of
rWMP = 0.75 or more. As an alternative, the community may show that
at least 75% of the watershed area where future growth is expected is
covered by one or more credited watershed management plans; AND
((2)) All riverine floodplains must be mapped using future conditions
hydrology as credited under the higher study standard credit (HSS) in
Section 412.d.
(c) In the community’s coastal floodplains:
(i)

The community must receive credit for regulating new development in coastal
A Zones under CAZ in Section 432.k.

(ii) The community must receive credit for using regulatory flood elevations in
the V Zones and coastal A Zones that reflect future conditions, including sea
level rise. This is demonstrated by receiving credit for future-conditions
hydrology under the higher study standard credit (HSS) in Section 412.d.

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(iii) The community must receive credit for regulating new development in areas
subject to erosion under CER in Section 432CE.a in CRS Credit for
Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards (or demonstrate that it does not
have a coastal erosion problem).
(5) Have a commitment to mitigate its repetitive loss problem as well as problems caused
by other natural hazards.
(a) Section 501 (Repetitive Loss List): The community must demonstrate that at least
25% of the properties on its current FEMA repetitive loss list have been protected
from damage from repetitive flooding through acquisition, retrofitting, or structural
flood control projects.
(b) Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning): The community must have a
multi-hazard mitigation plan that has been approved by FEMA as meeting all of the
requirements outlined under 44 CFR §201.6.
(6) Protect natural floodplain functions. This is demonstrated by having a total credit of at
least 150 points (after the impact adjustment) from one or a combination of the
elements listed under the Class 4 prerequisite in Section 211.c(4).
(7) Have a program to address the threat to life safety that flooding poses to the residents
of the community. This is demonstrated by receiving the following credits:
(a) The community must obtain some credit under all the elements in Activity 620
(Levees) for all levees mapped and identified in the inventory prepared for the
Class 4 prerequisite in Section 211.c(5)(b).
(b) The community must obtain some credit under all the local elements in Activity
630 (Dams) for all areas mapped and identified as subject to dam failure flooding
in the inventory prepared for the Class 4 prerequisite in Section 211.c(5)(c). The
credit for the state’s program (SDS) is not counted toward this prerequisite.
In accordance with Section 113.d, the community may propose alternative approaches to
these prerequisites that are more appropriate for local conditions.

212 Application Procedures
212.a. Application Request
Application for a CRS classification is voluntary. A community can request a CRS classification at any time.
A community can request a CRS classification for any activities and elements, provided
that
 The credit points add up to at least 500 points, enough to become a Class 9; and
 The community can meet all of the Class 9 prerequisites (Section 211.a).

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The following documentation is needed to request a
CRS classification. Both items can be submitted
digitally to [email protected] (letters needing
signatures should be scanned and sent as PDF files).
(1) A letter of interest sent to the FEMA Regional
Office that
 States that the community is interested in
joining the CRS,
 Designates the community’s CRS
Coordinator,
 States that the community will cooperate with
the verification process, and
 States that the community understands that
approval from the FEMA Regional Office is
needed for the ISO/CRS Specialist to visit the
community and verify the creditable
activities.

CRS People
Chief executive officer (CEO)—The
official who is charged with the authority
to implement and administer laws,
ordinances, and regulations for the
community. The CEO may be a mayor,
city or county manager, or chair of a
county board.
CRS Coordinator—The local official
designated by the CEO to coordinate the
community’s CRS activities. The CRS
Coordinator is the community’s point of
contact for verification and recertification.
ISO/CRS Specialist—An employee
of Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO).
ISO is under contract with FEMA to
conduct field work for the Community
Rating System. The ISO/CRS Specialist
is the community’s main contact with the
program. The names and territories of
the Specialists can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/100.

The letter is signed by the community’s CEO and is
sent to the FEMA Regional Office. Copies of the
letter are also sent to the State NFIP Coordinator
and the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO).
Example language can be obtained from the ISO/CRS Specialist for the community’s area.
An example letter is included in the “Community Rating System (CRS) Application Letter
of Interest and CRS Quick Check,” available at www.CRSresources.org/200.
(2) Documentation showing that the community is implementing activities that warrant at
least 500 points. This can be done by using the CRS Quick Check, available at
www.CRSresources.org/200, a state-specific equivalent recommended by the ISO/CRS
Specialist, or another method that itemizes each creditable element and the expected
credit points based on the Coordinator’s Manual in effect at the time.

If the community’s submittal is complete and shows that 500 or more credit points are
likely, the ISO/CRS Specialist will contact the FEMA Regional Office for approval to
conduct an initial verification visit with the community. This is only approval for Insurance
Services Office, Inc., (ISO) to commence the application process. As described in Section
211.a (2), communities must meet the minimum standards of the NFIP as determined by a
Community Assistance Visit conducted by FEMA within six months of the verification
visit. Therefore, the Regional Office (or State NFIP Coordinator) may opt to conduct the
Community Assistance Visit before giving approval for the verification visit.
When approval is received, the ISO/CRS Specialist will contact the community to
schedule the initial verification visit. At the visit, the CRS is explained and each activity

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likely to receive credit is reviewed. The conduct of the verification visit is explained in
Section 230.

212.b. Application Documentation
The ISO/CRS Specialist schedules the initial verification visit to review the community’s
programs and activities. The ISO/CRS Specialist collects the needed materials from
community staff. Before the materials can be processed, the ISO/CRS Specialist must
have the following five items. Some of the documentation can be provided digitally.
(1) Correspondence from the FEMA Regional Office stating that the community is in full
compliance with the minimum requirements of the NFIP (see Section 211.a(2)).
(2) The CRS Program Data Table, with lines 7 and 14 completed (see Figure 210-2). The
CRS Program Data Table is the second page of the “CC-213 Recertification” form.
The CRS Community Certifications are included in Appendix E and also are available
at www.CRSresources.org. For a community’s initial application to the CRS, only the
second page of the CC-213 Recertification is required (page CC-213-2).
(3) Documentation for each element for which credit is desired. Sections 310–630 have
documentation sections that itemize what is needed. The ISO/CRS Specialist reviews
these with the community during the visit and collects what is needed. Section 231
reviews how documentation should be provided by the community.
(4) A certification signed by the community’s CEO that says
I hereby certify that ___________________________ [community name] is
implementing the following activities (check the ones that apply). We will continue to
implement these activities and will advise FEMA if any of them are not being
conducted in accordance with this certification. We will cooperate with the ISO/CRS
Specialist’s verification visit and will submit the documentation and annual
recertification needed to validate our program.

The certification is included in the “CC-230 Verification Certification” form, which is
the verification cover page provided by the ISO/CRS Specialist. The CRS Community
Certifications are included in Appendix E and are available at www.CRSresources.org.
Figure 230-1 shows a sample CC-231. The community may propose alternative language.
(5) A certification signed by the community’s CEO that says
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief, we are maintaining in force
all flood insurance policies that have been required of us as a condition of federal
financial assistance for insurable buildings owned by us and located in the Special Flood
Hazard Area shown on our Flood Insurance Rate Map. I further understand that disaster
assistance for any community-owned building located in the Special Flood Hazard Area
is reduced by the amount of NFIP flood insurance coverage (structural and contents)
that a community should be carrying on the building, regardless of whether the
community is carrying a policy.

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The flood insurance prerequisite is explained in more detail in Figure 210-1. The
certification is included in a cover sheet provided by the ISO/CRS Specialist. This
certification is also included in the “CC-230 Verification Certification” form. The
community may propose alternative language.

212.c. Verification Processing
After the verification visit is done and all needed documentation has been received, the
ISO/CRS Specialist produces a verification report. FEMA and ISO need several months to
review, double check, and confirm the ISO/CRS Specialist’s verification report. FEMA
makes the final decision on the community’s credit and classification.
Once FEMA confirms the community’s classification, it must give the insurance
companies a four-month advance notice, so they can advise their agents of the rating
change before policies are renewed. Therefore, a community’s classification will take
effect on the May 1 or October 1 about 8–12 months after the verification visit.

212.d. Reinstating Previous CRS Communities
If a CRS community retrograded to a Class 10 for whatever reason, it may apply to be
reclassified as a Class 9 or better community. Such a community must submit a complete
new application according to the Coordinator’s Manual currently in effect. It may not
submit a modification or documentation just to correct the problem activities.

213 Recertification
Each year, a community must recertify that it is continuing to meet the prerequisites for
its class and to implement the activities for which it has earned credit. Each August, the
ISO/CRS Specialist sends the community a list of its credited activities. The community
must note whether it is still implementing each item on the list. The community’s
recertification package can be submitted digitally to the ISO/CRS Specialist (documents
needing signatures, such as CC-213 Recertification, should be scanned and sent as PDF
files).
As noted in their credit documentation sections, some activities have additional requirements that must be submitted with the annual recertification. These are also noted on the
list that is sent to the community. Examples of additional documentation are a copy of an
annual report or a copy of an outreach project sent out during the previous year.

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A COMMUNITY THAT FAILS TO RECERTIFY WILL RETROGRADE

TO A

CLASS 10.

 Failure to submit the listed items or to certify that all prerequisites are being met
will result in loss of credit for those activities. It is possible that a community could
lose enough points to cause a change in its CRS classification.
 A repetitive loss community that fails to submit a copy of its annual outreach
project or a Category C repetitive loss community that fails to submit its annual
progress report as required by Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) will
retrograde to a Class 10.

213.a. Program Data Table
A Program Data Table is included with the annual recertification materials sent by the
ISO/CRS Specialist. The table is the second page of the CC-213 Recertification form
(page CC-213-2), and is shown in Figure 210-2. Communities must include updated data
with every annual recertification. The Program Data Table is also required at cycle
verification visits.
The data help both FEMA and the community track floodplain development and mapping
changes. The table is used by FEMA to help schedule assistance activities and set
mapping priorities. The numbers are also used to determine the impact adjustments
needed to calculate activity credit.

214 Modifications
A community may modify its CRS classification by applying for credit for new elements
or activities, dropping one or more elements or activities, or submitting revised versions
of materials.

214.a. Modification Criteria
Modifications are processed and verified in the same manner as cycle verification visits,
although a visit may not be necessary if everything can be verified remotely.
The following provisions apply to modifications.
(1) A cover letter and the documentation needed for the credit are submitted to the
ISO/CRS Specialist.
(2) The community must use the credit criteria of the Coordinator’s Manual in effect at
the time the modification is submitted.
(3) A community’s CRS classification cannot change more than once a year. Therefore,
only one modification can be processed over a 12-month period.

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A.
In the
SFHA

CRS Program Data

B.
In a
regulated
floodplain
outside the
SFHA

C.
In the rest
of the
community

1. Last report’s number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF) (line 6, last report)
2. Number of new buildings constructed since last report

+

3. Number of buildings removed/demolished since last report

–

4. Number of buildings affected by map revisions since last report (+ or –)
5. Number of buildings affected by corporate limits changes (+ or –)
6. Current total number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF) (total lines 1–5)
7. Number of substantial improvement/damage projects since last report
8. Number of repetitive loss properties mitigated since last report
9. Number of LOMRs and map revisions (not LOMAs) since last report
10. Acreage of area(s) (aSFHA) as of the last report (line 13, last report)
11. Acreage of area(s) affected by map revisions since last report (+ or –)
12. Acreage of area(s) affected by corporate limits changes (+ or –)
13. Current acreage of the SFHA (aSFHA) (total lines 10−12)
14. Primary source for building data:
15. Primary source for area data:
Period
covered:

Current FIRM date:

If available, the following data would be useful:
Number of new manufactured homes installed since last report
Number of other new 1 - 4 family buildings constructed since last report
Number of all other buildings constructed/installed since last report
Notes: Lines 1–8 deal with “buildings.” Section 301 has more information about what qualifies as “buildings”
and how they are counted for CRS purposes. Numbers in column A are for the Special Flood Hazard Area. If
the community also regulates floodplain development outside the SFHA, Column B is completed (and the
community may deserve credit under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping)). The data in Column C help relate
what happens in the floodplain to what is happening in the rest of the community.

Figure 210-2. The CRS Program Data Table (CC-213 Recertification).

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(4) If a community is modifying an activity previously applied for, its submittal must
include documentation for both the new elements of the activity and those that were
previously credited, if they are still being implemented.
(5) The ISO/CRS Specialist verifies only the activity(ies) being modified and reviews the
rest at the next cycle verification visit. There are two exceptions to this, as noted under
(6) and (7), below.
(6) The ISO/CRS Specialist will automatically update the community’s credit points for
(a) The community’s BCEGS classification (a Class 6 and Class 4 prerequisite and
credited in Section 432(h));
(b) The community’s credit for the state dam safety credit (Section 632.a); and
(c) The county growth adjustment (Section 710). If the growth adjustment is changed,
the total points for all affected activities in the 400 series will reflect the new
factor.
(7) The community’s entire program is verified with a verification visit under the
following circumstances:
(a) If the modification will result in a two-class improvement, or
(b) If the Coordinator’s Manual has substantially changed most of the rest of the
community’s credits.
In these situations, the verification visit counts as a cycle verification visit and the
community’s cycle schedule starts over.

214.b. Courtesy Reviews
Communities are encouraged to submit materials at any time for the ISO/CRS Specialist
to review. A courtesy review advises the community about the impact of new programs or
revisions to existing activities on its CRS credit.
Courtesy review materials are returned to the community with comments. They are not
credited to the community’s program. The only way a community’s credit points may be
changed is by submitting a modification with enough points to result in a class change.
If the community submits a modification that does not have sufficient credit points to
result in a class change, it is treated as material for a courtesy review.

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215 Changes in CRS Credit
215.a. Changes Initiated by the Community
A community’s credit points can change due to the following actions initiated by the
community:
(1) The community may request a modification to improve a class at any time
(Section 214).
(2) The community may gain or lose points during the cycle verification visit, if it adds or
drops activities, or if it cannot submit the materials needed to document the credit.
(3) The community will lose points if it fails to recertify that it is continuing to meet the
prerequisites and implement all the activities for which it was receiving credit
(Section 213).
(4) If credit points are uniform minimum credits (see Section 231.c) or otherwise
dependent upon another agency or organization, the community may gain or lose
points based on the other agency’s or organization’s actions. An example of this is the
credit for the state’s dam safety program (SDS) under Activity 630 (Dams).

215.b. Changes in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
From time to time, the Coordinator’s Manual is revised. Revisions are made with an eye
toward minimizing loss of credit for communities already participating in the CRS.
Revisions are normally limited to once every three years.
Communities keep their credit points by continuing to meet the specifications of the
Coordinator’s Manual that was in effect at their last verification visit, including the
requirements for the annual recertification. At a community’s first cycle verification visit
AFTER the new Coordinator’s Manual goes into effect, local program credits are recalculated according to the new Coordinator’s Manual.

215.c. Changes in the Floodplain Map
A community’s credit points can be affected by annexations or flood control projects that
change the floodplain boundaries. These changes can affect the areas or buildings credited
under several activities and the impact adjustment calculations. If a project or annexation
is contemplated, the CRS Coordinator should contact the ISO/CRS Specialist to review its
impact on the community’s credit points.

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Example 215.c-1.
A flood control project results in a map revision that removes 100
buildings from the SFHA. Twelve of the buildings had been retrofitted
and were credited under Activity 530 (Flood Protection). Those
buildings are no longer eligible for retrofitting credit because Activity
530 only credits retrofitted buildings that are in the regulatory
floodplain.

Example 215.c-2.
A community annexes an area that includes a large amount of floodplain. The result doubles the size of the community’s SFHA. The
community will lose credit points under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation) if the open space now makes up a smaller portion of
the SFHA.
Conversely, if the annexed area includes a large amount of
preserved open space, the community’s credit under Activity 420
could increase.

215.d. New Development
A community’s credit points can be affected by new development. Several activities’
credits are modified by an impact adjustment based on the number of buildings in the
SFHA. An example is Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation), which adjusts the credit
based on the ratio of the number of buildings cleared out of the regulatory floodplain to
the number of buildings remaining in the SFHA. If the community permits more new
buildings in the floodplain, the number of buildings in the SFHA increases and the total
credit for Activity 520 would decrease.
New development in the county will also affect the county growth adjustment (CGA,
explained in Section 710). A growing county will mean an increase in points in the 400
series. If the growth rate declines over time, the total points could decrease.

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220  CREDIT CALCULATION—Summary 
Calculating the Community Rating System (CRS) classification for a community is 
done in five steps as explained in Sections 221–225. Four terms are used here 
and throughout the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.  

•  The CRS is divided into four SERIES of activities: “Public Information

Activities,” “Mapping and Regulation,” “Flood Damage Reduction

Activities,” and “Warning and Response.”

•  Within each series, there are three to seven ACTIVITIES.  

•  Within each activity, there are one or more ELEMENTS. 

•  For each element, there are one or more VARIABLES. These variables often 
include the acronym for the element. The variables are needed for the 
formulae that are used to calculate the credit points for each element. 

221  Step 1.  Element Credit Points 
Each activity has a section entitled “Credit Criteria” and/or “Credit Points.” Each 
element has a maximum number of credit points, which can be earned if the 
element meets the listed credit criteria.  

222  Step 2.  Impact Adjustment 
The credit points earned in Step 1 need to be adjusted to reflect the impact of 
the community’s activity on floodplain development and on the community’s 
flood insurance premium base.  

223  Step 3.  Credit Calculation 
The last step listed for each element is to compute its credit by multiplying the 
element’s credit points by the impact adjustment. The credits for each element 
are totaled to compute the activity’s credit points. 

224  Step 4.  County Growth Adjustment 
The points for the five mapping and regulatory activities in the 400 series are 
adjusted to reflect the county’s growth rate. 

225  Step 5.  Community Classification 
The points for all the activities are totaled to calculate the community’s CRS 
classification. 

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220 CREDIT CALCULATION
Calculating the Community Rating System (CRS) credit points and determining the CRS
classification for a community is done in five steps:
• Step 1. Element Credit Points,
• Step 2. Impact Adjustment,
• Step 3. Credit Calculation,
• Step 4. County Growth Adjustment, and
• Step 5. Community Classification.
The steps are explained in Sections 221–225. The ISO/CRS Specialist calculates the
community’s credit points after each verification visit. A community may calculate its own
credit points by hand or using the CRS calculation software (see Appendix C). A
community may also use the Quick Check to estimate its credits, and work with the
ISO/CRS Specialist to more accurately calculate credit points.
All credit points calculated by a community are unofficial and are verified by the ISO/CRS
Specialist. The final, verified, points are determined by the ISO/CRS Specialist.
Four terms are used throughout the Coordinator’s Manual: (1) series, (2) activity,
(3) element, and (4) variable. These divisions direct communities to the credits for which
they qualify, and divide the program logically into easily understood pieces.
Series
The CRS activities are divided into four series:
• 300 Series—Public Information Activities,
• 400 Series—Mapping and Regulations,
• 500 Series—Flood Damage Reduction Activities, and
• 600 Series—Warning and Response.
These series are the subject of the four main sections of the Coordinator’s Manual. They
incorporate recognition for community efforts to inform the public, prevent future flood
damage, address existing flood problems, and prepare for flood emergencies.

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Activities
Each series has from three to seven activities. Within the four series, there are 19 CRS
activities. Each activity has a title, such as “Floodplain Mapping” or “Acquisition and
Relocation.” The titles are mostly self-explanatory, but they may include components that
are not specifically named in the title. A summary page at the beginning of each activity
lists that activity’s elements.
A community may select the activities for which it wants credit, with four exceptions:
(1) Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates) is a prerequisite for all communities for

participation in the program (see Section 211.a).

(2) Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) is a prerequisite for Category C
repetitive loss communities (see Section 503).
(3) If a community wants to become a Class 6 community, it must have received and
continue to maintain a classification of 5/5 or better under the Building Code
Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS).
(4) If a community wants to become a Class 1–4 community, it must have credit from
certain activities to show that it has a program that addresses all the goals of the
CRS (see Section 211.c and d), and it must have received and continue to maintain a
classification of 4/4 or better under the BCEGS.
At the end of the credit calculation process, the credits for all activities are added together
to get the community’s total credit (see Section 225).
Elements
Within each activity, there are one or more elements. These are discrete pieces of a
community’s floodplain management program, and each receives a certain number of credit
points.
Each element has an acronym that is used in the calculation formulae. Some elements have
sub-elements that are numbered.

Example 220.c-1.
The elements and their acronyms in Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates) are
• EC, credit for Elevation Certificates since CRS application;
• ECPO, credit for post-FIRM Elevation Certificates (after the date
of the Flood Insurance Rate Map); and
• ECPR, credit for pre-FIRM Elevation Certificates.

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The elements and their acronyms in Activity 320 (Map Information
Service) are
• MI1, credit for providing basic FIRM information;
• MI2, credit for providing additional FIRM information;
• MI3, credit for showing problems not shown on the FIRM;
• MI4, credit for providing flood depth data;
• MI5, credit for advising inquirers about special flood-related
hazards;
• MI6, credit for providing historical flood information; and
• MI7, credit for advising inquirers about natural floodplain
functions.

A community need not apply for all of the elements in an activity in order to receive credit
points for the activity. However, in some cases, one element may be required in order to
obtain any credit. For example, EC is a prerequisite for any credit for Activity 310 and MI1
is a prerequisite for any Activity 320 credit. These requirements are shown in the “Credit
Criteria” section of the activity or element.
Variables
Each element’s acronyms are used in the formulae to calculate the credit points. These
acronyms are listed alphabetically in Appendix A. The acronyms or variables for basic
scoring elements are capitalized, as in “ECPO,” the variable that represents Elevation
Certificates for post-FIRM buildings.
For each element, there are one or more additional variables used in the calculation
formulae. Most of these have a lower-case letter preceding the acronym for the element.

Example 220.d-1.
The variables associated with post-FIRM Elevation Certificates are
• ECPO, the initial points for the element;
• bECPO, the number of post-FIRM buildings with Elevation
Certificates;
• rECPO, the impact adjustment ratio for the element; and
• cECPO, the credit for the element, after the impact adjustment.

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221 Step 1. Element Credit Points
The first step is to determine the credit points for each element for which the community
requests credit. Under each activity is a section entitled “Credit Criteria.” For some
activities there is a single “Activity Credit Criteria” and for other activities there is a
separate credit criteria section under each element. These sections need to be reviewed to
ensure that the community’s program qualifies for credit.
Each activity also has a “Credit Points” section. Each element has a maximum number of
credit points that can be earned if the element is being implemented in accordance with the
credit criteria. A community will receive less than the maximum points if its program does
not include all the items listed in the credit points section.

Example 221-1.
Freeboard (FRB) is an element in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory
Standards). Freeboard can receive up to 500 points, depending on
how high it is and whether fill is regulated. The points for FRB are
listed in a table. The value for a freeboard not listed, such as 1.5 feet,
can be interpolated from the table.

For this series of examples, a community has a freeboard requirement
of one foot above the base flood elevation and it requires
compensatory storage if filling is used to elevate the building.
FRB = 110

Credit for Activities not listed in the Coordinator’s Manual
The CRS cannot prescribe credit criteria for every possible scenario of effective floodplain
management in the country. The community may make reasonable interpretations that its
program is in line with the intent of the element credit. However, it is recommended that
whenever a community has trouble fitting its program into the credit criteria, it contact the

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ISO/CRS Specialist. It may be that the Coordinator’s Manual is being misunderstood or
misinterpreted and that things are simpler than they first appear.
In accordance with Section 113.d, a community may submit alternative approaches to the
listed elements. They will be considered by Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) and
FEMA. In instances in which the approach is difficult to apply to the existing formula, the
applicant should demonstrate its impact on the objective of the activity. Where a state or
regional approach is different, it would be appropriate for the state or regional agency to
demonstrate the impact on behalf of its communities and have the approach credited as
uniform minimum credit (see Section 231.d).
Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) provides an example for this. Because there are
so many ways to exceed the regulatory standards of the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP), one of the elements is “other higher standards” (OHS). OHS allows for higher local
regulatory standards not listed in Activity 430 to be considered for credit.

222 Step 2. Impact Adjustment
The credit points need to be adjusted to reflect the activity’s impact on the community’s
flood insurance premium base, which can include more policies than are actually in the area
affected by the activity. For example, 100% of the buildings in the Special Flood Hazard
Area (SFHA) will benefit from the CRS’s insurance premium credit even if only 50% of the
SFHA is subject to higher regulatory standards or other activities. Therefore, this Step 2
adjustment also serves to adjust credits so that the dollar impact of any discounts are spread
over the community’s entire premium base.
A community that has preserved most of its floodplain as open space should receive more
credit under Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation) than one that has only a small area
preserved. Therefore, the element credit points determined in Step 1 need to be adjusted to
reflect the impact of the community’s program on the objective of the activity.
There are two bases for most impact adjustments.
(1) The number of BUILDINGS that are affected compared to the number of buildings in the
SFHA. For example, if a community wants credit for having Elevation Certificates on
25 post-FIRM buildings and it has 100 post-FIRM buildings in its SFHA, then it gets 25
÷ 100 = 0.25 (or 25%) of the maximum credit. Impact adjustments based on buildings
are covered in more detail in Sections 301–302.
(2) The AREA of the floodplain that is affected compared to the area of the SFHA. If a
community has 1,000 acres of SFHA and 200 acres are preserved as open space, it gets
200 ÷ 1,000 = 0.2 (or 20%) of the maximum credit. Area is used to adjust credits in the
400 series of mapping and regulatory activities, because the impact is on new
development, not existing buildings. Impact adjustments based on area are covered in
more detail in Sections 402–404.

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Some elements do not lend themselves to building or area measurements. For natural
shoreline protection (NSP) under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards), for example,
the length of shoreline is used.
Most of the activities have a section entitled “Impact Adjustment.” The impact adjustment
sections describe one or more “r” variables. The impact adjustment ratios (“r” variables)
usually have a range of 0 to 1. They are the result of a formula that divides the number of
buildings or area affected by the total number of buildings or area of interest. In most cases
the area of interest is the SFHA, but in the stormwater management elements, for example,
the area of interest is the watershed that drains into the community.
In all CRS calculation formulae, numbers are rounded to two decimal points at each step.
Numbers of 0.005 or higher are rounded up to the next 100th and numbers below 0.005 are
rounded down. Final credit points for each activity are rounded to the nearest whole
number.

Example 222-1.
The impact adjustment ratios for the elements in Activity 430 are
established in an “Impact Adjustment” section for each element. For
freeboard, the formula is
rFRB = aFRB , where

aSFHA

aFRB = the size of the area(s) that qualify for FRB credit, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA
The community in Example 221-1 does not require freeboard
throughout its SFHA. It only enforces its freeboard requirement where
there is a base flood elevation. Therefore, this higher regulatory
standard has no impact in approximate A Zones, where there are no
base flood elevations shown on the FIRM.
The area where freeboard has an impact (aFRB) is the area of all the
SFHA with base flood elevations, i.e., AE and VE Zones. In this
community’s case, that is 744 acres. The SFHA is 932 acres.
aFRB = 754
aSFHA = 932
rFRB = aFRB = 754 = 0.809012875 = 0.81 (rounded to two decimal points)
aSFHA
932

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Some activities and elements have no impact adjustment section because they must cover
the entire floodplain or the entire community for credit. For example, most of the public
information programs benefit all residents in the community, so they do not have an impact
adjustment step.

223 Step 3. Credit Calculation
223.a. Element Calculation
The next step for each element is to multiply the element’s credit points by its impact
adjustment. The result is shown in the formulae with a lower case “c” before the element
acronym. These formulae appear in the Credit Calculation sections of the elements or in a
single credit calculation section for the activity.

Example 223.a-1.
For the community with 1 foot of freeboard enforced only in AE and VE
Zones, the formula is
cFRB = FRB x rFRB = 110 x 0.81 = 89.1

If there is more than one iteration of an element, the formulae are repeated. For example, a
community may have a two-foot freeboard requirement in V Zones and a one-foot
freeboard requirement in riverine areas. Such situations are represented with a “#1” for the
first iteration, a “#2” for the second one, etc., as in FRB#1, FRB#2, etc. cFRB = cFRB#1 +
cFRB#2 + etc.
Where more than one iteration of an element is the norm, the formula will show the
summation of the total with the mathematical symbol sigma, “∑.”

Example 223.a-2.
Credit for low-density zoning (LZ) under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation) assumes that the community has several zoning
districts, each with a different allowed density (represented by “s” for
lot size). The credit calculation formula for low-density zoning is
cLZ = ∑ (LZ#s x rLZ#s)

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223.b. Activity Calculation
Each activity has a “Credit Calculation” section, in which the element credits are totaled.
This is done by means of a formula that uses the prefix “c” to represent the total credit
points for the activity. The total is rounded off to the nearest whole number.

Example 223.b-1.
The total credit for Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards):
c430 = cDL + cFRB + cFDN + . . .
= 0 + 89.1 + 30.6 + . . . = 119.7, rounded to 120

This is the last step for activities in the 300, 500, and 600 series.

224 Step 4. County Growth Adjustment
The credit points for the five activities in the 400 Series (Mapping and Regulations) are
adjusted to reflect the county’s growth rate. The faster an area grows, the more important it
is to regulate development to prevent flood losses. The county growth adjustment multiplier
is included in the final calculations of the community’s credit in Section 720. The value to
enter is determined in Section 710 (County Growth Adjustment).

Example 224-1.
The county growth adjustment (CGA) for the community in the earlier
examples is 1.18, i.e., it has an average annual growth rate of 1.8%. In
Section 720, Community Total Points, CGA is multiplied by the value
for each of the 400 series activities.
c430 = c430 x CGA = 120 x 1.18 = 141.6
The credit for Activity 430 is increased by 18%, or 21.6 points.

Note that the credit required for program prerequisites (Section 211) is considered before
the calculation for the county growth adjustment.

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225 Step 5. Community Classification
At Step 5, the points for all the activities are totaled to obtain the community’s total points
(cT). The total points determine the community CRS classification, assuming all
prerequisites have been met. The conversion of total points to a CRS class is shown in
Table 110-1. An example of Step 5 is shown in Section 720.

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230  VERIFICATION—Summary 
231  Documentation Provided by the Community  

a.   Certifications and Checklists:  Communities must certify that they have or 
are conducting certain credited activities and that they have complied with 
environmental and historic preservation requirements. Checklists are 
available to assist in carrying out and documenting activities. 

b.   Digital Documentation:  Communities are encouraged to provide the needed 
documentation in digital form. 

c.   Ordinances:  This section explains the criteria for submitting regulatory 
language. 

d.   Uniform Minimum Credit:  A community may receive credit for an activity 
that is implemented by a state or regional agency. 

e.   Maps:  Several activities require a map as documentation and many activities 
need impact adjustment maps. 

232  Verification Visit 

a.   Visit Scheduling:  The ISO/CRS Specialist schedules a verification visit with 
the community. 

b.   Cycle Scheduling:  Cycle verifications are conducted periodically after the 
original application date for most Community Rating System communities   

c.   Conduct:  A verification visit usually takes one or two days, depending on the 
number of activities for which the community is requesting credit. 

d.   Verification Thresholds:  If the visit reveals that any credited activities are 
not being fully implemented, then the credit points are adjusted.  

233  Post‐visit Actions 
The materials collected during the visit are reviewed by the ISO/CRS Specialist, 
ISO/CRS Technical Reviewers, and the ISO Program Coordinator before they are 
submitted to FEMA for approval. 

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230 VERIFICATION
The Community Rating System (CRS) application process is discussed in Section 212.
Calculating the credit points is covered in Section 220. This section summarizes the other
parts of the verification process. In order to receive credit points for its activities, a
community’s program must be verified. This work is done by the ISO/CRS Specialist, who
• Reviews the community’s submitted documentation;
• Visits the community to review files, permit records, etc.;
• Visits field sites to review implementation on the ground;
• Determines if the class and activity prerequisites are met;
• Calculates the appropriate credit points; and
• Ensures that the community file is processed for FEMA’s decision.
The names and territories of the ISO/CRS Specialists can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/100.

231 Documentation Provided by the Community
The verification of applications, recertifications, and modifications requires documentation.
The ISO/CRS Specialist must collect materials on the credited activities. The materials are
used to prepare a file that is available for internal review and for FEMA.
Each activity or element has a section titled “Documentation Provided by the Community,”
which itemizes what is needed for verification or recertification. This section covers some
standard documentation protocols.

231.a. Certifications, Checklists, and Examples
Most documents that are needed to verify CRS credits are copies of the ordinances, permit
files, and records maintained by the community during its normal course of business. The
CRS is designed to credit what the community is doing, so to the extent possible, locally
developed documentation is preferred. However, there are a few documents that usually are
not kept by a community, but are needed for the CRS or have proven useful in obtaining
CRS credit.
Certifications
Certifications are statements signed by a community official, attesting that a certain thing
was or will be done. An example is the Chief Executive Officer’s assurance that the
community will continue to implement the activities for which it has requested credit. To

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facilitate local documentation and to obtain national standardization, four “Community
Certifications” are provided in Appendix E:
• CC-213 Recertification
• CC-230 Verification
• CC-RL The Repetitive Loss List
• CC-530 Retrofitted Buildings.
Other certification forms document that a community’s programs comply with local, state,
and federal environmental laws and regulations. They are provided in Appendix F. These
environmental and historic preservation (EHP) certifications are needed if the community
applies for credit under the activities listed below. These are activities that could have an
adverse effect on the environment or on historic properties or areas.
• Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation)
• Activity 530 (Flood Protection)
• Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance)
• Activity 620 (Levees).
All Community Certifications have been reviewed and approved by the Office of
Management and Budget, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Their use is
required, although a community may prepare alternative language, subject to approval by
FEMA.
Checklists
The CRS has developed checklists to help the CRS Coordinator or other local official
assemble all documentation needed for CRS credit. Use of these is voluntary, but they do
help both the local official and the ISO reviewers ensure that all needed materials are being
provided.
Checklists are not official FEMA publications and they may change over time. They are
noted in the “Documentation Provided by the Community” sections and can be downloaded
from the CRS website, www.CRSresources.org.
Examples
Many communities use the CRS to identify new floodplain management activities that they
could be doing. These communities request guidance on how to implement the new
programs. Accordingly, there are many examples provided in the CRS Coordinator’s
Manual. Cases in point are the example map information log and map information letter in
Figures 320-1 and Figure 320-2. Communities are not required to use these examples. If
they are used, communities are encouraged to tailor them to local conditions and
circumstances.

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Examples are not official FEMA publications and may change over time. All of the
examples in the Coordinator’s Manual can be found on the CRS website,
www.CRSresources.org, in Microsoft Word® or Excel ®. The website also has examples that
have been or are being used by CRS communities.

231.b. Digital Documentation
Communities are encouraged to provide the needed documentation in digital form. This can
greatly reduce the paper files maintained by the community and the amount of paper
documentation provided to the ISO/CRS Specialist for the community’s verification.
There are two primary ways to provide digital documentation:
(1) Ordinances, codes, regulations, plans, and other documents may be available on the
community’s website. In this case, the only documentation required is the Universal
Record Locator (URL) for the document and a note that states where within that
document the specific language is located. For example, if a community has its
floodplain management ordinance on its website and wants credit for freeboard for new
buildings in the floodplain, it would provide the ISO/CRS Specialist with the URL for
the ordinance and identify the section(s) of the ordinance that has the freeboard
requirement.
(2) In other cases, the community may have a document in digital form, but not on its
website. In that case, the document can be provided to the ISO/CRS Specialist on
compact disk (CD), via e-mail, or by posting it on a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site.
Again, there must be a note that explains where the appropriate language is within the
digital document.
Digital documentation not posted on a website must be in Microsoft Word or Excel, Adobe
Acrobat, or a common graphic format (jpg, gif, etc.). Files that require other software, such
as GIS files, cannot be used. Therefore, due to map scales and viewing limitations, hard
copy maps may still be necessary.

231.c. Ordinances
Ordinances, by-laws, and regulations are documented as follows.
(1) The regulatory language must have the force of law and be in a document adopted by
the community’s governing body.
(2) The language must clearly explain what is required. The following are not acceptable:
• Statements of purpose and other discussions that are not specific regulatory

requirements;

• Plans and other documents that do not have final regulatory authority over

development; and

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• Language that does not have a clear and consistent requirement, such as “to the
extent practical,” “unless exempted by the City Engineer,” or “the building official
may require . . .”
(3) In addition to the regulatory language submitted for credit, the submittal needs to
include related sections on enforcement, such as where the regulation applies and any
exemptions that may be allowed.
(4) If the legal authority for the regulatory language is not clear, the ISO/CRS Specialist
may request a letter from the community’s legal counsel that confirms that he/she will
defend the regulation in court should there be a challenge.
(5) For CRS credit, the regulatory language must be adopted and in full force at the time of
the verification visit.
(6) Regulations adopted by a county, regional agency, or state that are enforced within the
community can be credited. Their implementation is verified in the same manner as a
community regulation and it is expected that the community will assist in that
verification. See also Section 231.d on uniform minimum credit.
(7) A photocopy of the appropriate page(s) of the ordinance is sufficient. It must be marked
to show where the regulatory provision appears (e.g., with the credit’s acronym in the
margin). An alternative to a photocopy is a digital copy (see Section 231.b). If a digital
copy is submitted, the community must identify the specific section number(s) where
the qualifying language appears.
(8) No separate certification of the ordinance copy is needed. The community’s chief
executive officer’s (CEO’s) certification that the community is implementing the
activities (Section 212.b(4)) is considered certification that the ordinance has been
adopted and is being enforced.

231.d. Uniform Minimum Credit
A community may receive credit for an activity that is implemented by a state or regional
agency. For example, a regional water or flood control district may inspect and maintain
certain drainageways in a community or set minimum regulatory standards that all
communities in the district must follow.
“Uniform minimum credit” can be provided to the affected communities. “Uniform” means
that all communities in the affected area receive the same credit. “Minimum” means that if
a community does additional work or has a higher regulatory standard in all or part of the
affected area, the community can document that it deserves higher credit.
A summary of uniform minimum credits is published for each state and can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/200. The publication may include credits that are automatic for all
communities (such as a state-enforced statute on real estate disclosure) or credits that need

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additional materials to document that the activity is being implemented in the community
(such as a state required freeboard—the ISO/CRS Specialist would still need copies of
Elevation Certificates to verify that it is being enforced locally).
In some cases, the ISO/CRS Specialist can work with the state or regional agency to collect
the needed documentation. In others, it is expected that the community will obtain the
additional documentation that may be needed. For example, if a regional agency inspects
and maintains some of the community’s drainageways, the community would need to
provide the ISO/CRS Specialist with the same types of inspection and maintenance records
needed to document the community’s program. These situations are described in the state
summary of uniform minimum credits.

231.e. Maps
Several activities require a map as documentation and many activities need impact
adjustment maps. Maps must meet the following criteria:
(1) They need to be drawn or printed to scale, have a “north” arrow, and include a legend.
(2) Areas affected by an activity or element need to be clearly labeled. The element’s
acronym is acceptable labeling.
(3) Digital maps are encouraged, but they must be in a common graphic format (pdf, jpg,
gif, etc.). Files that require other software, such as GIS files, cannot be used.

232 Verification Visit
232.a. Visit Scheduling
After the application review concludes that the community could receive at least a Class 9
classification, and approval has been received from the FEMA Regional Office, the
ISO/CRS Specialist schedules a verification visit with the community. After a date is
agreed upon, the ISO/CRS Specialist sends correspondence confirming the date and
describing what will happen during the visit. If a community is unable to participate in the
verification visit, it will remain a Class 10.
Visits can also be conducted when FEMA learns of problems in a community that shed
doubt on whether it is fully implementing its activities. For example, if there was a flood
and it appeared that flood warnings were not disseminated or there are a large number of
new “submit for rating” flood insurance policies on buildings that do not appear to be
properly elevated.
Visits may also be conducted to verify a modification that will change the community’s
class (see Section 214).

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232.b. Cycle Scheduling
A community keeps its classification for three or five years after its effective date. Cycle
verifications are conducted every five years after the original application date for most CRS
communities. Communities with larger total premium discounts are visited on a three-year
cycle.
The year before its classification lapses, the ISO/CRS Specialist will contact the
community to schedule a cycle verification visit. Cooperation by the community in
scheduling and conducting the visit is vital in order to process the cycle verification in
time.
The cycle verification is based on the version of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual currently
in effect, not the one used for the original application or the last cycle visit.
The cycle verification visit may be scheduled before or after the three- or five-year cycle.
Some reasons for variation from this cycle include
• If the community has a new CRS Coordinator,
• If there has been a major flood or other disaster,
• When there is reason to believe that the community is no longer implementing all of
its credited activities, and
• If time and costs can be substantially saved by combining the cycle verification visit
with visits to neighboring communities.

232.c. Conduct of Verification Visit
A verification visit usually takes one or two days, depending on the number of activities for
which the community is requesting credit. More time is spent with the communities that
have very large flood insurance premium discounts. Representatives from the FEMA
Regional Office and/or the State NFIP Coordinator’s office may also attend the verification
visit.
During the visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist reviews changes in the Coordinator’s Manual
since the last visit. The community’s activities and the class prerequisites are reviewed and
documented. New activities and elements are explained and may be verified.
The CRS Coordinator needs to be present for the entire visit. The Coordinator and the
ISO/CRS Specialist can agree on a schedule that minimizes the amount of time that other
community staff need to be present.

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Preparation
The documentation that is needed for the verification visit is listed in the “Documentation
Provided by the Community” section for each element or activity. The ISO/CRS Specialist
will send a list of typical documentation with the meeting confirmation letter.
Also before the visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist will request copies of all Elevation Certifi­
cates (required for Activity 310 credit) collected since the last visit. These are reviewed
before the visit and the findings are discussed at the visit. Other documentation is collected
during the visit and either reviewed then or taken by the ISO/CRS Specialist to review
later.
Office Review
The ISO/CRS Specialist will discuss office procedures and similar topics with the
appropriate staff. Samples of records, such as permits, map information logs, and
inspection papers are reviewed.
If the required documentation is missing or otherwise deficient, credit cannot be verified
for that element. However, the community will be allowed time after the visit to assemble
other material necessary to verify the activities for which credit was requested.
New Activities
A community can receive credit for any activity that is verified at the visit, even if it was
not included with the application or the activity was not implemented at the time of the last
visit, provided that the credit criteria and documentation requirements are met.
Credit cannot be provided for activities that were STARTED AFTER the verification visit. For
example, credit is not provided for an ordinance provision that was not adopted or officially
approved by the local governing body before the verification visit.
Field Verification
For some elements, the ISO/CRS Specialist verifies credit in the field. The CRS
Coordinator and/or other community staff members are encouraged to accompany the
ISO/CRS Specialist on the field verification. What might look like a problem to the
ISO/CRS Specialist may be easy to explain by someone familiar with the situation.
Exit Interview
When the visit is completed, the ISO/CRS Specialist will offer to speak to the CEO, or the
highest ranking person available, to discuss the results, the approximate points, the
community’s expected CRS Class, and the need to keep implementing the credited
activities. It is recommended that the CRS Coordinator take advantage of this opportunity
to brief his or her superiors on the program.
The community’s CEO is asked to certify the community’s verified program by signing
Community Certification CC-230. If the CEO cannot sign the CC-230 during the visit, a

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signed copy must be submitted to the ISO/CRS Specialist within 30 days of the visit. A
completed example of CC-230 is in Figure 230-1.

232.d. Verification Thresholds
If the visit reveals that any credited activities are not being fully implemented, then the
credit points are adjusted.
If the ISO/CRS Specialist finds that implementation of an element has fallen below a
certain threshold, credit is not provided for that element. Activities vital to good floodplain
management and for National Flood Insurance Program compliance have higher thresholds.
The thresholds are
• Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates): 90%;
• Floodplain and stormwater management regulations in the 400 series: 80%; and
• All others: 50%.

Example 232.d-1.
On visits to a sample of sites to verify channel debris removal (CDR)
under Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance), the ISO/CRS
Specialist finds that 72% of the sites appear to be properly maintained,
but 28% do not. The community’s verified credit will be 72% of the
credit for the element. If fewer than 50% of the sites had been properly
maintained, the community would have received no credit for CDR.

Example 232.d-2.
The ISO/CRS Specialist reviews a number of Elevation Certificates to
verify freeboard and finds that only 72% of them show the building
elevated to or above the freeboard level. Because the results are
below the 80% threshold for floodplain management regulations in the
400 series, the community will receive no credit for freeboard.

Credit for any element is prorated if the sampling finds instances in which the element is
not fully implemented. It does not matter why it is not fully implemented. For example, if
the lack of freeboard in the previous example was due to legally-issued variances, the credit
is still prorated (or denied if the verification threshold is not met).

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Figure 230-1. An example of a completed verification cover page (CC-230).

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233 Post-visit Actions
Technical Reviews
For some activities, the verification reviews are performed by ISO/CRS Technical
Reviewers other than the ISO/CRS Specialist. For example, the documentation for
Activities 410 (Floodplain Mapping) and 450 (Stormwater Management) are sent to
engineers for review.
Technical review activities may have separate checklists for the community’s CRS
Coordinator to give to the staff person responsible for that activity. The checklists include
contact information for that person, so the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer can talk directly to
the local expert if more information is needed.
Verification Review
Once the ISO/CRS Specialist has all the materials from the community and the technical
review findings, the community file is sent to an ISO Program Coordinator for a second
review. Technical reviews may get a second review from another ISO/CRS Technical
Reviewer at this time as well.
When the ISO Program Coordinator confirms all credits for the community are correct, the
ISO/CRS Specialist prepares a verification report. This report summarizes the findings, the
status of class prerequisites, and the points for each activity. The report is then sent to the
community with a note that it is a draft and still subject to FEMA approval. The community
should be aware that the verification report may be revised later.
Once all credits and the appropriate classification are confirmed, the information is given to
FEMA. This is done twice per year. FEMA reviews the recommendations and sends the
community the official notice of its verified CRS classification and a copy of the final
verification report.
Reconsideration
If the community believes that something was missed or misinterpreted during the
verification visit, it may request a reconsideration of its CRS classification. A request for
reconsideration must be submitted to the FEMA Regional Office, Attn: Director, Mitigation
Division, within 30 days of receipt of the final verification report from FEMA.
A request for reconsideration must be based upon the activities reviewed at the verification
visit. The request must include a description of how the community would credit the
activity and must reference the sections of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual that support the
community’s position. A request to change a community’s credit points that does not
contain sufficient points to change its CRS classification will not be granted.
The 30-day deadline ensures that the classification is determined as quickly as possible.
FEMA will review requests for reconsideration and discuss them with the ISO/CRS

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Specialist. A meeting may be held, depending upon the need for additional communication.
FEMA will provide a written response to the community.
Reconsideration does not include activities implemented after the verification visit or if the
ISO/CRS Specialist was not made aware of them at the visit. Such activities may be
included as a modification in a succeeding year. If the community feels that there is an
error that does not result in a change in CRS classification, it should include its evidence
with its next recertification. Corrections will be made during the next verification visit.
Recertfication
A community must recertify each year that it is continuing to meet the prerequisites for its
class and continuing to implement the activities for which it has earned credit.
Recertification is discussed in Section 213.

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240 CRS COMMUNITY SELF ASSESSMENT
The OBJECTIVE of this tool is to help communities better understand the risks and benefits
inherent in their floodplains. This information will help communities identify which
Community Rating System (CRS) activities would most benefit them.
There are many ways to reduce flood losses and protect natural floodplain functions, so it
can be difficult for communities to know where to begin. An ideal first step for many
communities may be to do a detailed and thorough analysis of their flood risks and natural
floodplain functions as part of creating a comprehensive floodplain management plan (see
Activity 510).
Other communities, though, may not have the immediate option of such an involved
process. The CRS Community Self Assessment is designed to be a quick and simple way
for communities to (1) gain a basic understanding of their floodplains, and (2) determine
where to best direct their efforts to most effectively reduce their flood exposure. It should
be especially helpful for new staff and communities new to the CRS program. It does NOT
replace the benefits of preparing a more comprehensive floodplain management plan. But it
may be a useful early component of that process.
The CRS Community Self Assessment is available online at www.CRSresources.org/200.
To complete it, communities work their way through five steps.
Step 1: Take an inventory of the floodplain. This step asks a series of questions designed
to help a community look at its flood risk holistically. It includes questions about what
structures are in the floodplain and what natural functions the local floodplain offers.
Step 2: Describe and map the hazards. This step walks communities through the process,
hazard by hazard, of creating a map of the flood exposure and natural floodplain
functions.
Step 3: Identify specific flood problem areas.
Here, the community uses the map it created
in Step 2 to outline specific areas where it
may want to reduce flood risk and/or protect
natural functions. An example is in
Figure 240-1.
Step 4: Analyze flood problem areas. In this
step, the community analyzes each flood
problem area to determine its resources and
assets.
Figure 240-1. An example of a flood
Step 5: Assess hazards, exposures, and
problem area map.
activities. In this final step, the community
returns to a broader, community-wide focus
to characterize its floodplain, assess its
challenges, and explore possible means of reducing its flood risk.

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The CRS Community Self Assessment is designed to take a person less than a day to
complete. The amount of time required will depend on a number factors, including the size
of the community, the types and scope of its flood risks, the familiarity of the person
completing the assessment with the community’s problems and assets, and the general
availability of information. However, communities are encouraged to complete the five
steps at whatever pace they wish.

NOTE: The CRS Community Self Assessment is intended to help communities step back, and
take a big-picture look at the benefits and risks offered by their floodplain. Although the
site may make suggestions on ways that communities can reduce their flood exposure, the
recommendations are designed to provoke thought, and do not replace the need for a more
thorough analysis.
The CRS Community Self Assessment is voluntary, and not a credited activity. However,
some activities and elements require an assessment be conducted for certain credit. If there
is no more detailed assessment, such as in a floodplain management plan or other
document, the CRS Community Self Assessment will satisfy this requirement for
 Developing a Program for Public Information (PPI) under Activity 330 (Outreach
Projects),
 The flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA) under Activity 370 (Flood Insurance
Promotion), and
 The documentation to meet the credit criteria for Activities 610 (Flood Warning and
Response), 620 (Levees), and 630 (Dams).
The Self Assessment can also help with the hazard and problem assessments (steps 4 and 5)
when developing a floodplain management plan, credited under Activity 510.

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300 PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTIVITIES
The Community Rating System (CRS) credits local activities that advise people about the
flood hazard, flood insurance, and flood protection measures. The activities can be directed
toward floodplain residents, property owners, insurance agents, real estate agents, or other
segments of the local populace. One activity, 310 (Elevation Certificates), is mandatory for
CRS classification.

Contents of Series 300
Section

Page

300 Public Information........................................................................300-1
301 Impact Adjustments for Buildings.........................................300-4
302 Impact Adjustment Ratio ......................................................300-5
310 Elevation Certificates ...................................................................310-1
311 Background ..........................................................................310-2
312 Elements ............................................................................310-11
313 Credit Calculation ..............................................................310-17
314 For More Information .........................................................310-18
315 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....310-18
320 Map
321
322
323
324
325
326
327

Information Service ..............................................................320-1
Background ..........................................................................320-2
Elements ..............................................................................320-7
Impact Adjustment ............................................................320-15
Credit Calculation ..............................................................320-16
Documentation Provided by the Community .......................320-16
For More Information .........................................................320-17
Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....320-18

330 Outreach Projects .........................................................................330-1
331 Background ..........................................................................330-2
332 Elements ..............................................................................330-6
333 Credit Calculation ..............................................................330-18
334 For More Information .........................................................330-19
335 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....330-20
340 Hazard Disclosure ........................................................................340-1
341 Background ..........................................................................340-2
342 Elements ..............................................................................340-3
343 Credit Calculation ..............................................................340-11
344 For More Information .........................................................340-11
345 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....340-12

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350 Flood Protection Information ........................................................350-1
351 Background ..........................................................................350-2
352 Elements ..............................................................................350-3
353 Credit Calculation ..............................................................350-11
354 For More Information .........................................................350-11
355 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....350-11
360 Flood Protection Assistance..........................................................360-1
361 Background ..........................................................................360-2
362 Elements ..............................................................................360-4
363 Credit Calculation ..............................................................360-11
364 For More Information .........................................................360-12
365 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....360-12

370 Flood Insurance Promotion ...........................................................370-1
371 Background ..........................................................................370-2
372 Elements ..............................................................................370-3
373 Credit Calculation ..............................................................370-12
374 For More Information .........................................................370-12
375 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .....370-13

List of Figures
310-1. The V-Zone Design Certificate ....................................................310-4
310-2. CRS Checklist for the 2006, 2009, and 2012 FEMA
Elevation Certificate Forms......................................................310-7
310-3. An example cover sheet for
a correction to an Elevation Certificate ...................................310-9
320-1.
320-2.
320-3.
320-4.

Sample log for a map information service.................................320-5
A sample map information record for MI1 ................................320-6
A handout about mandatory purchase of flood insurance ..........320-8
A flood depth map ..................................................................320-12

330-1. Examples of FRP messages and projects.................................330-10
330-2. A sample spreadsheet for a Program for
Public Information .................................................................330-15
340-1. Example disclosure on a final subdivision plat .........................340-6
340-2. Template for a real estate agents’ brochure......................................... 340-9

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350-1. Publications credited under element LIB .................................350-3
350-2 An example of an explanation of gage data.............................350-10
360-1 Typical property protection measures .......................................360-2
360-2 A selection of potential sources of financial assistance
for property protection .............................................................360-8

List of Tables
302-1. Impact adjustments for buildings ..............................................300-6
330-1.
330-2.
330-3.
330-4.

CRS topics and example messages............................................330-4
Basic scoring of example outreach projects (without a PPI) ......330-8
Scoring of example FRP projects (without a PPI) ...................330-12
Scoring examples for PPI and STK .........................................330-19

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301 Impact Adjustments for Buildings
Many Community Rating System (CRS) activities are not implemented the same way
throughout the floodplain. Therefore, their credit points need to be adjusted to reflect how
much of the floodplain they cover. In CRS credit calculations, this is called the “impact
adjustment” (see Section 222).
Some activities are adjusted based on the number of buildings affected and some are
adjusted based on the area of land that is affected. This section reviews how activity and
element credits are adjusted to reflect their impact on the community’s flood-prone
buildings. Section 401 covers impact adjustments based on land areas.
Most elements in the activities listed in Table 302-1 do not affect all of the buildings that
could benefit from them. Credit for these elements is adjusted according to the number of
buildings that are actually benefited. In order to measure the impact of these activities, the
community must determine the portion of its flood-prone buildings that is affected by each
element.
Some activities and elements do not have the impact adjustment step as part of calculating
the total credit points. These activities and elements are assumed to be effective throughout
the community. In some cases, credit is provided only if they are implemented throughout
the community. For example, under Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure), credit is provided for
disclosing the hazards for all properties in the community. Because the information must be
provided throughout the community, there is no impact adjustment for Activity 340.

301.a. Definition of “Building”
For CRS purposes, a structure qualifies as a building based on whether it is insurable. The
structure must meet the following criteria, which are taken from the definition in the
National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) Flood Insurance Manual for insurance
agents. A “building” is
 A structure with two or more outside rigid walls and a fully secured roof and that is
affixed to a permanent site; or
 A manufactured home (also known as a mobile home) is a structure built on a
permanent chassis, transported to its site in one or more sections, and affixed to a
permanent foundation; or
 A travel trailer without wheels, built on a chassis and affixed to a permanent
foundation, that is regulated under the community’s floodplain management and
building ordinances or laws.
“Building” does not mean a gas or liquid storage tank, a recreational vehicle, a park trailer,
or other similar vehicle, except as described above.

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Examples of structures that are NOT counted as buildings include open pavilions for picnic
tables, bleachers, carports with open sides, underground pumping stations, and sheds on
skids that are moved to different construction sites.

301.b. Pre- and Post-FIRM buildings
A “pre-FIRM building” is a building constructed or substantially improved on or before
December 31, 1974, or before the effective date of the community’s initial Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM), whichever is later.
A “post-FIRM building” is a building constructed or substantially improved after
December 31, 1974, or after the effective date of the community’s initial FIRM, whichever
is later.
The date of the initial FIRM can be found in the FIRM’s legend under “Flood Insurance
Rate Map Effective.” It usually is not the same as the “initial identification” date, which is
the date of the community’s first Flood Hazard Boundary Map. Post-FIRM buildings are
required to meet the minimum flood protection standards of the NFIP’s Regular Program.

302 Impact Adjustment Ratio
Impact adjustments are calculated by multiplying the points for an element by a ratio that
represents how much of the flood problem is being addressed by the element. Impact
adjustment ratios are variables with a lower case “r” preceding the acronym for the
element.
The value of an impact adjustment ratio is determined by dividing the number of buildings
affected by an element (the numerator) by the appropriate denominator. The number of
buildings is designated by a lower case “b.”
The denominator for the elements in each activity is specified in the Impact Adjustment
section for the element. In most cases, it is the number of buildings in the Special Flood
Hazard Area (SFHA), or “bSF.”

Example 302-1.
Under Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response), the credit for
emergency warning dissemination is adjusted based on its impact, i.e.,
how much of the SFHA that is reached by the warning program. This is
calculated by multiplying the credit by the impact adjustment. The
acronym for emergency warning dissemination is “EWD.” The impact
adjustment ratio for EWD is “rEWD.”

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rEWD is the number of buildings that are reached by the warning
program (bEWD) divided by the number of buildings in the SFHA
(bSF). The formula is
rEWD = bEWD
bSF
For example, a community has a coastal flood warning system that
does not cover buildings subject to riverine flooding. The coastal
warning system reaches 1,350 buildings. bEWD = 1,350
There are 1,890 buildings in the SFHA. bSF = 1,890
rEWD =

1,350
1,890

= 0.71

The community receives 71% of the credit because 71% of the
buildings in the SFHA are affected by the warning system.

Table 302-1. Impact adjustments for buildings.
Activity
310 (Elevation Certificates)
510 (Floodplain Management Planning)

Element

Denominator

ECPO

Number of post-FIRM buildings (bPO)

ECPR

Number of pre-FIRM buildings (bPR)

RLAA

Number of buildings in all repetitive
loss areas

520 (Acquisition and Relocation)

All

530 (Flood Protection)

All

bSF

FTR, EWD, FRO, CFP

bSF

610 (Flood Warning and Response)
620 (Levees)
630 (Dams)

All
DFR, DFW, DFO, DCF

bSF + number of credited buildings

Number of buildings affected by levee
failure (bLF)
Number of buildings inundated by a
dam failure flood (bDF)

Elements not listed do not have an impact adjustment calculation

302.a. Counting Buildings
For each element with an impact adjustment ratio based on buildings, the numerator is the
number of buildings affected by the element, and is designated by a lower case “b”
followed by the acronym for that element. The denominator is the total number of buildings
that could be affected by the element.
What is counted as a “building” is defined in Section 301.a.

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Accessory structures are not included when counting buildings for calculating impact
adjustments. For example, a house with a detached garage and shed is counted as one
building. The flood insurance policy is based on the elevation of the house. However, if a
lot has several principal buildings, each is counted separately because each normally is
insured under a separate policy. For example, a motel with three principal buildings counts
as three buildings. If one of the three buildings is an unheated bathhouse for the swimming
pool and houses only showers and supplies, then the motel would be counted as two
buildings.
To determine building counts, communities may use any method that yields reasonably
good estimates of the number of buildings. Building counts should be accurate so they will
provide the most useful information for both CRS and community planning. Acceptable
methods include
 Using geographic information system- (GIS-) based building footprints,
 Reviewing aerial photographs,
 Using U.S. Census tract data, and
 Using the number of utility connections in an area.
Communities are required to document how they obtained their building counts or
estimated building counts.

302.b. bSF (buildings in the SFHA)
“bSF” is the acronym for the number of buildings within the Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA). This number is needed for the impact adjustment in several activities (see
Table 302-1). Knowing the number of buildings in the SFHA is a requirement for
participation in the CRS, as noted in Section 213.a. The only extra work for an impact
adjustment is to determine how many of those buildings are affected by the credited
element.
For CRS purposes, a community may determine bSF in one of two ways.
(1) bSF = the number of buildings in the community’s Special Flood Hazard Area as of the
verification visit; or
(2) bSF = bPR + (0.6 x bPO), where
bPR = the number of pre-FIRM buildings in the SFHA, and
bPO = the number of post-FIRM buildings in the SFHA.
This approach more accurately reflects the activity’s influence on the pre-FIRM and
post-FIRM flood insurance premium bases in the community.

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Communities with a small number of post-FIRM buildings will probably find it easier to
use the first formula for bSF, i.e., all buildings in the SFHA are counted the same.
Communities with a lot of recent development and a high percentage of post-FIRM
buildings will find that the second formula results in a smaller bSF. This will yield more
points for the activities that use bSF in the impact adjustment.
bSF does not include buildings located outside of the SFHA as shown on the FIRM in
effect on the date of the verification visit. It does not include buildings located in the B, C,
D, or X Zones, even though the community may be regulating flood problem areas in those
zones. It does include buildings in A99 and AR Zones.
bSF is the number of buildings in the SFHA at the time of the verification visit, not the
number on the original map. Therefore, the value for bSF is recalculated at each cycle visit.
The value can change if there is a new map or if the community annexed land that includes
more SFHA.

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310  ELEVATION CERTIFICATES—Summary 
Maximum credit:  116 points 

312  Elements 
a.  Maintaining Elevation Certificates (EC):  Up to 38 points for maintaining 
FEMA Elevation Certificates on all buildings built in the Special Flood 
Hazard Area (SFHA) after the date of application to the Community Rating 
System (CRS). All communities applying to the CRS must apply for this 
element. The community must make copies of the certificates available 
to all inquirers. 
b.  Maintaining Elevation Certificates for post‐FIRM buildings (ECPO):   
Up to 48 points for maintaining Elevation Certificates on buildings built 
before the date of application to the CRS but after the initial date of the 
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). 
c.  Maintaining Elevation Certificates for pre‐FIRM buildings (ECPR):  Up to 
30 points for maintaining Elevation Certificates on buildings built before 
the initial date of the FIRM. 

Credit Criteria 
All three elements of this activity have the same credit criteria, described in 
Section 311.b. 
a.  The community must maintain completed Elevation Certificates showing 
the “finished construction” elevations for all buildings constructed or 
substantially improved in the SFHA during the period credited. 
b.  For floodproofed buildings, a FEMA Floodproofing Certificate is needed 
instead of an Elevation Certificate. Other certificates may be needed in 
coastal high hazard areas and for floodproofed residential basements. 
c.  The community must ensure that the certificates are complete and the 
information correct. 
d.  The community must make copies of Elevation Certificates readily 
available to anyone upon request.  

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for EC. The credit for ECPO and ECPR are adjusted 
based on the number of post‐FIRM and pre‐FIRM buildings in the community.  

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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310 ELEVATION CERTIFICATES
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to maintain correct Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Elevation Certificates and other needed certifications for new and
substantially improved buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

311 Background
According to insurance agents, one of the greatest impediments to selling flood insurance is
the difficulty of obtaining accurate data on the flood insurance rating zone and building
elevation. All of the technical data an agent needs should be recorded on the FEMA
Elevation Certificate. Communities are required to maintain a record of the elevation of the
lowest floor of any new building or substantial improvement built in the SFHA (see the
Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR §60.3(b)(5)(iii))).
In 44 CFR §59.22(a)(9)(iii), the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) also requires
that communities make their elevation and related building information available for public
inspection and flood insurance rating. The NFIP requires insurance agents to use the FEMA
Elevation Certificate form when processing an application for an insurance policy. The
application data are usually more accurate when the FEMA Elevation Certificate form is
prepared at the time of construction by someone who is familiar with the NFIP and when
the form is readily available from the local building department.
This activity requires communities to obtain and review Elevation Certificates and other
certifications on new construction and to ensure that they are filled out completely and
correctly. This should be done as soon as construction is complete and before the certificate
of occupancy or certificate of use is issued. It is vital to get an accurate Elevation
Certificate filed while the community still has some authority to get any needed corrections
made.
The CRS considers accurately completed Elevation Certificates to be evidence of a
community’s full compliance with the minimum requirements of the NFIP. Therefore,
Elevation Certificates that are not accurately completed are taken as an indication that the
community may not be in full compliance, and continued participation in the CRS may
become an issue.

311.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 310 is 116 points.
Credit is provided if the community maintains FEMA Elevation Certificates for new and
substantially improved construction. To participate in the CRS, a community must maintain
completed FEMA Elevation Certificates on all buildings constructed, substantially
improved, or placed in the SFHA after the community’s initial date of application for the
CRS. The community must review the certificates to ensure accuracy, and make copies
available to any inquirer.

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Copies of all final certificates for new and substantially improved buildings must be made
available to inquirers and provided to the CRS for review. It is recommended that the
community establish a separate file and place a copy of each new certification in this file. If
the community maintains digital copies of building permit records, digital copies of the
certificates should be separated from the rest of the file so that they can easily be collected
to meet this requirement. The community may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of
copying the certificates for inquirers.
All discussions here in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual about Elevation Certificates also
apply to the other specialized certifications described in the next section.
Required Certificates
Almost all buildings constructed to meet NFIP criteria are raised so that the lowest floor is
at or above the base flood elevation. The appropriate record that shows that the building
meets the code requirement is the FEMA Elevation Certificate (FEMA Form 086-0-33).
Because most building data are recorded on Elevation Certificates, this activity is called
“Elevation Certificates.” However, full credit for this activity requires that the community
also use the following where appropriate:
 Floodproofed non-residential buildings require FEMA’s Floodproofing Certificate
(FEMA Form 086-0-34). A separate Elevation Certificate is not needed for these
buildings. The 2012 Floodproofing Certificate has a new “Finished Construction”
section and only 2012 Floodproofing Certificates for “Finished Construction” will be
accepted.
 In addition to an Elevation Certificate, a V Zone Design Certificate is needed for new
and substantially improved buildings in coastal high hazard areas (V Zones and
coastal A Zones, where credited). These are required for buildings constructed or
substantially improved after the first verification visit under the 2013 Coordinator’s
Manual.
 The V Zone Design Certificate is found in FEMA’s Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal
Construction, Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.5. It is shown in Figure 310-1 and can be
found at http://www.fema.gov/residential-coastal-construction. Communities with
alternative forms or certifications may submit them to their ISO/CRS Specialists to
see if they meet this activity’s criteria.
 Communities that have received a residential basement floodproofing exception must
use FEMA’s Residential Basement Floodproofing Certificate (FEMA Form 086-0-24)
where applicable.
Copies of the FEMA Elevation Certificate and the FEMA Floodproofing Certificate are
available free in quantity from FEMA and can be downloaded from FEMA’s website at
http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-2/elevation-certificate. Instructions
are included with the forms.
For new construction, only the current FEMA forms are acceptable. A community may
receive credit by transferring data from other forms onto a FEMA certificate.

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V ZONE DESIGN CERTIFICATE
Name

Policy Number (Insurance Co. Use)

__

Building Address of Other Description
Permit No.

______
______

______ ____City

_State

_____Zip Code

______

SECTION I: Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Information
Community No.

Panel No.

Suffix FIRM Date

FIRM Zone(s)

SECTION II: Elevation Information Used for Design
[NOTE: This section documents the elevations/depths used or specified in the design – it does not document surveyed
elevations and is not equivalent to the as-built elevations required to be submitted during or after construction.]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

FIRM Base Flood Elevation (BFE) .......................................................................................................................... ______ feet*
Community’s Design Flood Elevation (DFE)............................................................................................................ ______ feet*
Elevation of the Bottom of Lowest Horizontal Structure Member ............................................................................ ______ feet*
Elevation of Lowest Adjacent Grade ........................................................................................................................ ______ feet*
Depth of Anticipated Scour/Erosion used for Foundation Design.............................................................................______ feet
Embedment Depth of Pilings of Foundation Below Lowest Adjacent Grade ............................................................______ feet

* Indicate elevation datum used in 1-4:

 NGVD29

 NAVD88

 Other

______

SECTION III: V Zone Design Certification Statement
I certify that: (1) I have developed or reviewed the structural design, plans, and specifications for construction of the abovereferenced building and (2) that the design and methods of construction specified to be used are in accordance with accepted
standards of practice** for meeting the following provisions:
 The bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding piles and columns) is elevated to or above
the BFE.
 The pile and column foundation and structure attached thereto is anchored to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement
due to the effects of the wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components. Water loading values used are
those associated with the base flood***. Wind loading values used are those required by the applicable State or local building
code. The potential for scour and erosion at the foundation has been anticipated for conditions associated with the base flood,
including wave action.

SECTION IV: Breakaway Wall Design Certification Statement
[NOTE. This section must be certified by a registered engineer or architect when breakaway walls are designed to have a
resistance of more than 20 psf (0.96 kN/m2) determined using allowable stress design]

I certify that: (1) I have developed or reviewed the structural design, plans, and specifications for construction of breakaway walls to
be constructed under the above-referenced building and (2) that the design and methods of construction specified to be used are in
accordance with accepted standards of practice** for meeting the following provisions:



Breakaway wall collapse shall result from a water load less than that which would occur during the base flood***.
The elevated portion of the building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to collapse, displacement, or other
structural damage due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components (see Section III).

SECTION V: Certification and Seal
This certification is to be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer or architect authorized by law to certify
structural designs. I certify the V Zone Design Certification Statement (Section III) and ________ the Breakaway Wall Design
Certification Statement (Section IV, check if applicable).
Certifier’s Name
Title
Address

License Number
Company Name
State

City
Signature

Date

Zip Code
Telephone

Note: The V Zone design certificate is not a substitute for the NFIP Elevation Certificate (see Fact Sheet No. 1.4, Lowest Floor
Elevation), which is required to certify as-built elevations needed for flood insurance rating.

Figure 310-1. The V Zone Design Certificate (from FEMA’s Home Builder’s
Guide to Coastal Construction, Technical Fact Sheet No. 1.5).

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CRS Participation Requirement
As noted earlier, properly completed FEMA Elevation
Certificates are a key indicator of community compliance with the requirements of the NFIP. Therefore,
obtaining, reviewing, and maintaining elevation and
the other certificates is a minimum requirement of
participation in the CRS (see also Section 211.a).
The community is required to maintain certificates on
all new SFHA buildings and substantial improvements
permitted after the community applies for CRS credit,
as credited under Section 312.a. Because the community’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) certifies in the
application that it is doing this, the community will
receive up to 38 points for EC under Section 312.a.
Those few NFIP communities that have no SFHA may
not receive credit for this activity. However, if such a
CRS community with no SFHA later receives a FIRM
from FEMA that includes areas of SFHA or annexes
an area with an SFHA, it must begin maintaining
Elevation Certificates on the date of the FIRM or
annexation or it will lose its credit.

Elevation Certificates
Completed by the Community
Elevation Certificates can be
completed by a local official who is
authorized by law or ordinance to
administer the community’s
floodplain management program,
provided that the original surveyed
elevations in Section C were
obtained by a registered design
professional.
A community can transfer data
from a surveying project to the
FEMA Elevation Certificate form if
it can demonstrate that the source
of the data was appropriate and if
the source is described in Section
G of the certificate.

Some communities require FEMA Elevation Certificates for new construction in floodprone areas that are outside of the SFHA but are regulated by the community. This is
encouraged as a good floodplain management practice. However, because the certificates
are not used in flood insurance rating, there is no requirement under this activity that they
be maintained or submitted for review. The documentation requirement is limited to
Elevation Certificates for new construction or substantial improvements in the SFHA.

311.b. Activity Credit Criteria
(1) The community must maintain completed FEMA Elevation Certificates showing the
“finished construction” elevations for all buildings constructed or substantially
improved in the SFHA during the period credited.
(2) If the building was floodproofed, a FEMA Floodproofing Certificate is needed instead
of an Elevation Certificate. Other certificates may be needed in coastal high hazard
areas and for floodproofed residential basements (see “Required Certificates,” above).
(3) The community must review the certificates to ensure that they are complete and that
the information is correct. This is described in more detail under “Elevation Certificate
Checklist” and “Getting Correct Certificates,” below.
(4) The community must make copies of Elevation Certificates readily available to anyone
upon request. If a community receives credit for having Elevation Certificates from

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before it applied to the CRS, it must be able to retrieve those certificates, including
those from projects whose permit files may have been archived or discarded.

Elevation Certificate Checklist
As noted in “Activity Credit Criteria,” above, the community must review the certificates to
ensure that the information is correct. The ISO/CRS Specialist collects all Elevation
Certificates for which the community requests credit and checks them for specific items.
The CRS checklist for the 2006, 2009, and 2012 Elevation Certificate forms is shown in
Figure 310-2. There is also a form with the checklist items highlighted available at
www.CRSresources.org/300. The ISO/CRS Specialist can provide similar checklists for
earlier versions of the FEMA forms.
If any of the items on the checklist are not completed or are incorrect, the ISO/CRS
Specialist will reduce the element’s credit points as explained in Section 311.c.
Note that, although Item A6. of the instructions to the Elevation Certificate form requires
photos of the structure, the photos are only required for purchasing flood insurance. Photos
are not required for the community’s permit records nor are they required for CRS credit.
However, photos are encouraged and credited as part of the three inspections under
Regulations Administration (RA) in Section 432.o.
Checklists for the Floodproofing Certificate, V Zone Design Certificate, and the Residential
Basement Floodproofing Certificate can be found at www.CRSresources.org/300.

Getting Correct Certificates
It is the community’s responsibility to ensure that the certificates it maintains have been
completed correctly. Certificates provided by surveyors must be proofread and corrected if
there are errors or omissions. Although the surveyed elevations are likely to be correct, it is
not unusual for surveyors to enter the wrong FIRM date or diagram number or fail to
complete all the entries in Section C of the Elevation Certificate form.
If there are certificates that have items on the checklist omitted or incorrectly filled out, the
community has the following options:
(1) For any inaccurate or incomplete information in Section C2, the local official should
request a new certificate.
(2) If incomplete or inaccurate information is found in the other sections, the local
official can do the following. Note that in some states, the local official SHOULD NOT
mark up a signed and sealed form.
o The forms may be returned to the surveyor with instructions on what needs to
be changed or corrected;
o The local official can prepare a separate memo with the correct information
and attach the memo to the form (see Figure 310-3). When the certificate is
provided to an inquirer, the memo must be included with it; or
o The local official can note the changes or corrections in Section G.

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SECTION A—PROPERTY INFORMATION
A2 and A3
Complete street address or property description. In either case, the city, state, and zip
code must be listed.
A6
Photographs: Photographs are not required for CRS credit. However, they are required
for writing a flood insurance policy and they can be very helpful for compliance records.
A7
Building diagram number.
A8
a), b), and c) Enclosure and crawl space information for buildings that are
diagram 6, 7, 8, or 9.
A9
a), b), and c) Attached garage information. If there is no attached garage, enter “N/A” in
all three spaces. If there is an attached garage and there are no openings, the correct
entry is “zero,” even if the garage is above the BFE.
A8 and
A9
If the square footage of the crawlspace or garage is larger than the square inches of
the openings AND “(d) Engineered flood openings” is checked “yes,” then there must be
a certification by a registered design professional or a copy of the ICC Evaluation Service
report.

SECTION B—FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) INFORMATION
B1
B4
B5
B7
B8
B9
B10
B11
B12

NFIP community name/community number.
Map AND panel number.
Panel number suffix. If the property is in an area revised by a LOMR, then B4, B5, and
B7 must all be completed based on the LOMR.
FIRM panel effective/revised date.
Flood zone(s) in which the building is located.
Base flood elevation(s).
The source of the base flood elevation data or base flood depth entered in B9.
The elevation datum used for the base flood elevation in B9.
Whether the building is located in a Coastal Barrier Resources System area or Otherwise
Protected Area.

SECTION C—BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (when a survey is required)
C1
C2

Basis for building elevations: Note: “Finished construction” must be checked unless the
building is still under construction. The ISO/CRS Specialist will not review Elevation
Certificates for buildings still under construction, unless requested to by the community.
Elevations. The benchmark utilized and vertical datum entries must be completed. Items
a) through g) must have an entry.
Elevation items a), f), and g) must be recorded on every certificate. If an item does not
apply, enter “N/A” in the fields where no data are being supplied.
Items b) and c) must be completed with an elevation if they are applicable and if that
letter appears on the diagram on pages 7−9 of the instructions.
If there is an attached garage, an elevation must be entered for item d), otherwise the
entry is “N/A.” If there is machinery and/or equipment that service the building, an
elevation must be entered for item e), otherwise the entry is “N/A.”

Figure 310-2. CRS Checklist for the 2006, 2009, and 2012
FEMA Elevation Certificate forms.

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SECTION D—CERTIFICATION BY A REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
Certifier’s name and license number
Certifier’s signature
Date
If there is a signature and/or date in the box, there does not have to be a separate signature or
date on the line.

SECTION E—BUILDING ELEVATION INFORMATION (when a survey is not required in a
Zone AO or a Zone A without a base flood elevation)
E1

a) and b) Enter the difference between the top of the bottom floor and the highest and
lowest adjacent grade.
E2
For Building Diagrams 6–-9 with openings, enter the difference between the top of the
next higher floor and the highest adjacent grade.
E3
Enter the difference between the top of the garage slab and the highest adjacent grade.
E4
Enter the difference between the top of the platform for machinery or equipment and the
highest adjacent grade.
E5
Zone AO (only) Elevation of bottom floor complies with the ordinance (if there is no base
flood depth provided).
Note: If Section E is used, then Sections F or G must be completed.

SECTION F—PROPERTY OWNER (OR OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE)
CERTIFICATION
This section is used if Section E is completed by the owner or owner’s representative. If used, this
section must include the property owner’s or representative’s name in the first line and the signature in
the third line.

SECTION G—COMMUNITY INFORMATION
If G1 or G2 is checked, then the first and third lines after G10 (the local official’s name and signature)
must be completed.
NOTE: If a local official authorized by law to complete an Elevation Certificate fills out ALL the information
(including elevation data), then G8, G9, and the signature block must be completed.

Figure 310-2 (cont.). CRS Checklist for the 2006, 2009, and 2012
FEMA Elevation Certificate forms.

One way communities have improved the quality of their Elevation Certificates is by
completing Sections A and B at the time of the permit application. The partially completed
form then is given to the applicant or to the surveyor who then can focus on completing the
surveyed information in Section C. This has been shown to reduce many of the more
common errors.

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Figure 310-3. An example of a cover sheet for a correction to an Elevation Certificate.
Some communities use a “correction form” like this one when an error or omission
is found that can be corrected by the local official. It is stapled to the certificate that is
made available to inquirers. It should be noted that the community assumes responsibility
for the accuracy of the changes it makes.

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311.c. Credit Verification
Two months before each verification visit, the community sends the ISO/CRS Specialist a
list of all new buildings and substantial improvements constructed in the SFHA since the
last visit. The community also sends copies of the Elevation Certificates (and/or V Zone,
Floodproofing Certificates, etc., as appropriate) for those buildings and substantial
improvements.
ISO reviews the certificates in accordance with the checklist and brings the findings to the
visit. The community’s credit for the first element, EC, will be based on this review. For
example, if the community has 20 certificates and only 12 have no problems listed on the
checklist, the community’s credit will be
EC = 38 x 12 = 22.8 points
20
The community is given feedback on all the certificates. To stay in the CRS, at least 90% of
the community’s certificates must be correct, i.e., have no problems. If less than 90% of the
certificates pass (as in the example above), the community must correct them in order to
stay in the CRS.
The credit for EC is based on the review of certificates submitted for the verification visit.
It will not change after the community makes the needed corrections, but EC will be
rescored at the next visit based on a review of the next batch of certificates.
The certificates for ECPO and ECPR credit are reviewed in the same way and the 90%
threshold applies to them as well. However, if the certificates with problems are corrected,
they can be reviewed again and the community will receive a revised credit. The number of
pre- and post-FIRM buildings is relatively static. Because EC reflects new construction, it
needs to be rescored at every verification visit.
At each annual recertification, the community again provides the list of new buildings and
substantial improvements constructed in the SFHA during the previous year and copies of
the elevation and other certificates for those buildings. These are reviewed and feedback on
the findings is given to the community.
There is no change to the community’s credit based on the recertification findings, but
those Elevation Certificates will be reviewed at the next cycle verification visit. Therefore,
it is in the community’s best interest to correct the Elevation Certificates as soon as
possible so the EC credit is not lowered at the community’s next verification visit.
At the next verification visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist will review all certificates collected
since the previous visit (or, at the community’s option, only those submitted at the annual
recertification that had problems plus all certificates collected by the community since the
last recertification). Credit for EC will be revised, based on this review. Because the
community will have had most of the certificates reviewed and critiqued after each annual
recertification, the community should have had adequate time to assemble a corrected set of
Elevation Certificates for the next verification visit.
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Example 311.c-1.
A coastal county’s cycle verification visit is in 2014. Two months before
the visit, the building department provides the ISO/CRS Specialist with
a list of all new buildings and substantial improvements that were built
in the SFHA since the last visit. There are 134 such projects. The
department also provides 133 Elevation Certificates, one
Floodproofing Certificate, and 6 V Zone Design Certificates, for a total
of 140 forms.
ISO’s review of the 140 forms finds 24 with problems and 116 that are
correct. The verified credit for EC for the county is 38 x 116 ÷ 140 =
31.48. The ISO/CRS Specialist gives the county a deadline to correct
at least 10 certificates, which would give the county 126 correct ones,
or 90% of the 140. If this is not done, the county will be converted to a
CRS Class 10.
The county staff makes the corrections and submits them to the
ISO/CRS Specialist. The county stays in the CRS and the county’s
credit for EC remains at 31.48 until the next cycle visit.
At each annual recertification, the county submits the list of permits
and copies of all of the certificates collected during the previous year.
They are reviewed and the county is advised of any problems that are
found.At the next verification visit in 2017, the ISO/CRS Specialist
collects the list of permits. The community has the option of providing
copies of all the certificates collected by the county since the 2012 visit
or just those that the ISO/CRS Specialist has not seen (i.e., since the
last annual recertification submittal), plus the corrected certificates that
had problems in the previous year or years.
This time, the list has 488 permits and the building department
provides 483 Elevation Certificates, 5 Floodproofing Certificates, and
22 V Zone Design Certificates, for a total of 510 forms. A technical
review finds that 505 (99%) are correct. The credit for EC is based on
the latest visit’s findings, so EC = 38 x 505 ÷ 510 = 37.63. The county
is encouraged to correct the five certificates with problems, but the
credit will remain at 37.63 until the next visit.

312 Elements
312.a. Maintaining Elevation Certificates (EC)
The maximum credit for this element is 38 points.
EC credit is provided if the community maintains Elevation Certificates since the date of
application to the CRS.

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EC is adjusted to less than 38 points if the verification findings warrant such a reduction.
The credit points are reduced if incorrect or incomplete information appears on the
Elevation Certificate forms checked during the verification process.
As described in the Section 311.c, the community must have at least 90% of its elevation
and other certificates correct in order to meet one of the prerequisites to be in the CRS. This
prerequisite only applies to element EC, i.e., certificates on buildings built or substantially
improved after the community applied to join the CRS, not to ECPO or ECPR.
If no buildings have been built or substantially improved in the SFHA since the CRS
application date, the community receives full credit for EC. The CRS prefers to see no
buildings in the floodplain rather than provide credit for records on those that have been
built.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 311.b must be met.
Credit Points
EC = a maximum of 38 points for maintaining Elevation Certificates,
and
EC = 38 x

reviewed and correct Elevation Certificates
all reviewed Elevation Certificates

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment because communities must require, review, and maintain
copies of Elevation Certificates on ALL new construction. There is no credit under this
activity for having Elevation Certificates on only some of the buildings constructed or
substantially improved since the community’s CRS application.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At least two months before each verification visit,
(a) A list of all permits issued for new buildings and substantial improvements in the
SFHA since the last visit. The list needs to include the address of each building, the
type of building (e.g., residential, commercial, or other term used in Section A4 of
the FEMA Elevation Certificate form), and the date of the permit; and
(b) Copies of Elevation Certificates (and/or V Zone and Floodproofing Certificates, as
appropriate) for all new buildings and substantial improvements in the SFHA that
have been collected since the last visit.
(c) If the community is applying for or receiving credit for regulating areas outside the
SFHA, the ISO/CRS Specialist will advise whether the list of permits and copies of
Elevation Certificates in (a) and (b) should include properties in those non-SFHA
areas.

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The list and certificates can be provided in paper or digital format. Certificates on
detached garages, non-substantial improvements, and properties not in the SFHA are not
needed for this activity’s credit. If they are needed to verify another activity, they
should be submitted with the documentation for the other activity.
Note that it is acceptable that there are permits issued for buildings that do not yet have
Elevation Certificates because construction has not been completed. Likewise, it is
acceptable that there are Elevation Certificates on buildings not on the current permit
list because the permits were issued before the last visit.
If there have been no new buildings or substantial improvements in the SFHA since the
last submittal, a letter or memo to that effect is needed, signed by the permit official.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) A description of how the community maintains, stores, and provides copies of
certificates to inquirers.
(3) With the annual recertification,
(a) A list of all permits issued for new buildings and substantial improvements in the
SFHA since the last recertification submittal, and
(b) Copies of all Elevation Certificates (and/or V Zone and Floodproofing Certificates,
as appropriate) for new buildings and substantial improvements in the SFHA that
have been collected since the last submittal.
The list and certificates can be provided in paper or digital format. If there have been no
new buildings or substantial improvements in the SFHA since the last submittal, a letter
or memo to that effect is needed, signed by the permit official.

312.b. Maintaining Elevation Certificates for post-FIRM buildings (ECPO)
The maximum credit for this element is 48 points.
ECPO credit is provided if completed certificates are maintained for all buildings built or
substantially improved in the SFHA between the date of the community’s initial FIRM and
the date of application to the CRS.
If there are no post-FIRM buildings in the SFHA, the community receives full credit for
ECPO because there are no post-FIRM buildings or substantial improvements without
Elevation Certificates. The CRS would prefer to see no buildings in the floodplain rather
than provide credit for records on those that have been built. However, if the community
annexes lands that include buildings in the SFHA constructed since the date of its initial
FIRM, the credit is based on how many of those buildings have Elevation Certificates.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 311.b must be met.

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Credit Points
ECPO = up to 48 points, for maintaining Elevation Certificates for
post-FIRM buildings

Impact Adjustment
If the community only has certificates for some of its post-FIRM buildings, then the value
for ECPO is adjusted.
rECPO =

bECPO , where
bPO

bECPO = the number of post-FIRM buildings with correct
Elevation Certificates, and
bPO = the number of buildings built or substantially improved in
the community’s SFHA between the initial FIRM effective date
and the date the community applied to the CRS

Section 301 describes how to count buildings for the impact adjustment and has an
alternative way to calculate bPO that favors post-FIRM, i.e., compliant, buildings in the
SFHA.
If no buildings have been built or substantially improved in the SFHA since the community
entered the Regular Program of the NFIP, then bPO = 0. As noted above, the community
would still receive full credit for this element because the CRS would prefer to see no
buildings in the floodplain rather than provide credit for records on those that have been
built.

Example 312.b-1.
A community’s CRS credit was verified by its ISO/CRS Specialist
during the spring of 2004. Its initial FIRM effective date is May 15,
1980. Between then and when it applied to the CRS in 2003, 22
buildings were built or substantially improved. bPO = 22
The community began using FEMA’s Elevation Certificates after FEMA
conducted a community assistance visit in 1986. It has completed
certificates for all buildings built since then. There are 10 buildings with
correct Elevation Certificates. bECPO = 10
rECPO =

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22

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Copies of Elevation Certificates (and/or V Zone and Floodproofing Certificates and
other certificates, as appropriate) for new buildings and substantial improvements
constructed between the date of the community’s initial FIRM and the date of
application to the CRS.
(b) Demonstration that the community still has access to all the credited certificates and
provides them to inquirers.
(c) Documentation showing how bPO was determined. Note that this number can change
if the community annexes areas in the SFHA or a FIRM revision changes the number
of post-FIRM buildings in the SFHA.

312.c. Maintaining Elevation Certificates for pre-FIRM buildings (ECPR)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
ECPR credit is provided if completed certificates are maintained for buildings that were
constructed in the SFHA before the date of the community’s initial FIRM.
Although most communities did not keep elevation records before they joined the Regular
Program of the NFIP (which is usually the same date as their initial FIRM), lowest floor
elevations may have been determined for a flood protection study. If the data are transferred
to the FEMA forms, credit can be provided under ECPR. ECPR is adjusted in the same
manner as ECPO, as described in the Impact Adjustment section.
If there are no pre-FIRM buildings in the SFHA, the community receives full credit for
ECPR because there are no pre-FIRM buildings without Elevation Certificates. However, if
the community annexes lands that include buildings that were constructed in the SFHA
before the date of its initial FIRM, the credit will be based on how many of those buildings
have Elevation Certificates.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 311.b must be met.
Credit Points
ECPR = up to 30 points, for Elevation Certificates for pre-FIRM
buildings

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Impact Adjustment
If the community only has certificates for some of its pre-FIRM buildings, then the value
for ECPR is adjusted.
rECPR =

bECPR , where
bPR

bECPR = the number of pre-FIRM buildings with correct
Elevation Certificates, and
bPR = the number of pre-FIRM buildings in the community’s
SFHA

Section 301 describes how to count buildings for the impact adjustment.

Example 312.c-1.
A community has 250 pre-FIRM buildings.

bPR = 250

As part of a flood control study, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
surveyed the first-floor elevations of all buildings in one of the
community’s floodplains. Because there are no basements in the
community, the first floor is the same as the lowest floor. [NOTE: This
is not always the case. Other sources of elevation data must be carefully checked to ensure that the records are for the lowest floor.] The
study provided correct elevations for 122 of the community’s 250 preFIRM buildings, and the community subsequently recorded the data on
FEMA’s Elevation Certificates. bECPR = 122
rECPR = 122 = 0.49
250

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Copies of Elevation Certificates (and/or V Zone and Floodproofing Certificates and
other certificates, as appropriate) for buildings and substantial improvements
constructed before the date of the community’s initial FIRM.
(b) Demonstration that the community has access to all the credited certificates and
provides them to inquirers.
(c) Documentation showing how bPR was determined. Note that this number can change
if the community annexes areas in the SFHA or a FIRM revision changes the number
of pre-FIRM buildings in the SFHA.

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313 Credit Calculation
c310 = cEC + cECPO + cECPR, where
cEC = the verified credit for the element EC based on
the number of correct certificates,
cECPO = ECPO x rECPO, and
cECPR = ECPR x rECPR

Example 313-1.
A community applies for participation in the CRS, so it must apply for
this activity. After the initial review, only 5 of the 7 new Elevation
Certificates are correct.
cEC = 38 x 5 ÷ 7 = 27.14
Note that the community must correct the two Elevation Certificates
with problems in order to meet the 90% requirement. If this is not done,
the community will be reclassified as a CRS Class 10 community.
The community has correct Elevation Certificates for 10 of its 22 postFIRM buildings. As discussed above, rECPO = 0.45.
cECPO = 48 x 0.45 = 21.6
The community has Elevation Certificates for 122 of its 250 pre-FIRM
buildings. As discussed above, rECPR = 0.49.
cECPR = 30 x 0.49 = 14.7
c310 = cEC + cECPO + cECPR
c310 = 27.14 + 21.6 + 14.7 = 63.44, which is rounded to 63
Provided that the community corrects the problem Elevation
Certificates, this credit remains the same until it is re-calculated at the
next verification visit. If all new Elevation Certificates are correct and
complete, the community’s credit will revised to reflect full credit
for EC.
c310 = 38 + 21.6 + 14.7 = 74.3, which is rounded to 74

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314 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
b. The FEMA Elevation and Floodproofing Certificates include detailed instructions for
completing them. The latest version can be downloaded from FEMA’s website at
http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-2/elevation-certificate. The FEMA
Regional Office and State NFIP Coordinating Office can provide help in completing and
maintaining the certificates.
c. Elevation Certificate, FEMA’s Floodplain Management Bulletin 467-1, provides
questions and answers on completing the form and using the Elevation Certificate to
verify building compliance. The bulletin can be downloaded from
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=1727.
d. Instructions on completing the V Zone Design Certificate can be found in FEMA’s Home
Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheets 1.4, 1.5, and 8.1 at
http://www.fema.gov/residential-coastal-construction.

315 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Elevation Certificate data can be very helpful when estimating flood depths under
Activity 320 (Map Information Service). The base flood elevation can be compared to
the lowest floor or garage elevation to give the inquirer a good idea of how deep the
base flood would be. Even if there is no Elevation Certificate on the property in
question, describing the flood depth on a neighboring property can still be useful.
 If the community develops a Program for Public Information (credited under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects)), the PPI committee should discuss how insurance agents and
property owners can learn about the availability of Elevation Certificate data.
 Providing building elevation data on a website is credited under Activity 350 (Flood
Protection Information) and having it in the community’s geographic information
system (GIS) or other property data base is credited under Activity 440 (Flood Data
Maintenance).
 Elevation Certificate data can also be helpful when advising an inquirer about flood
protection alternatives, credited under Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance) and
flood insurance rating, credited under Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion).
 Elevation Certificates are used by the ISO/CRS Specialist to verify some regulatory
credits, such as development of new base flood elevations (NS) under Activity 410
(Floodplain Mapping) and freeboard (FRB) under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory
Standards).

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320   MAP INFORMATION SERVICE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  90 points 

322  Elements 
a.  Basic FIRM information (MI1):  30 points for providing basic information 
found on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that is needed to accurately 
rate a flood insurance policy. 
b.  Additional FIRM information (MI2):  20 points for providing information 
that is shown on most FIRMs, such as protected coastal barriers, 
floodways, or lines demarcating wave action. 
c.  Problems not shown on the FIRM (MI3):  Up to 20 points for providing 
information about flood problems other than those shown on the FIRM. 
d.  Flood depth data (MI4):  Up to 20 points for providing information about 
flood depths. 
e.  Special flood‐related hazards (MI5):  Up to 20 points for providing 
information about special flood‐related hazards, such as erosion, ice 
jams, or tsunamis. 
f.  Historical flood information (MI6):  Up to 20 points for providing 
information about past flooding at or near the site in question. 
g.  Natural floodplain functions (MI7):  Up to 20 points for providing 
information about areas that should be protected because of their 
natural floodplain functions. 

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 321.b. Each element has 
additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for MI1 and MI2. The credit for MI3 through MI7 
is adjusted based on the area of the Special Flood Hazard Area that is covered by 
the map information service. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
The documentation needed for this activity is described in Section 325. 

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320 MAP INFORMATION SERVICE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to provide inquirers with information about the local flood
hazard and about flood-prone areas that need special protection because of their natural
functions.

321 Background
Maps are an effective method of communicating information about flood hazards. Residents
and businesses that are aware of potential flood hazards can take steps to avoid problems
and/or reduce their exposure to flooding. Communities are the best source of map
information because they can often supplement and clarify the Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) with complementary maps, and with information on additional hazards, flooding
outside mapped areas, development regulations that affect floodplain properties, flood
insurance, natural floodplain functions, and property protection measures.
A map information service can greatly help a
community’s residents as well as its banks, insurance
agents, real estate agents, and anyone else who needs
flood hazard information. This public service is
particularly helpful to those who have trouble
reading maps, people from out of town, and those
who do not have access to the latest maps or all the
hazard information available in the community.

The FIRM and
Mandatory Purchase of
Flood Insurance
For compliance with the mandatory
purchase requirements of the National
Flood Insurance Program, the current
FIRM (or Letter of Map Change) is the
only legal document allowed to be used
by lenders or third-party vendors.

This activity is also intended to bring other available
community resources to bear on each individual
situation. Such resources include local topographic, planning, road, and utility maps;
geographic information systems (GISs); maps of special flood-related hazard areas; permit
records; and subdivision plats. Where they are available, these other resources can
complement the FIRM as sources of additional flood data or more detailed map
information.

321.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 320 is 90 points.
Credit is provided for providing inquirers with information from the community’s FIRM
and other sources of information about the local flood hazard and natural floodplain
functions.
There are seven elements. The first, providing basic information from the FIRM that is
needed to write a flood insurance policy, is a prerequisite for the rest of the elements.
Credit for the other elements is dependent upon what information the community has and
what information it believes its residents and businesses need. If the community conducted

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the CRS Community Self Assessment described in
Section 240, it would have a good list of available map
information.
The maximum points for each element are noted in
Sections 322.a through 322.g. If only partial information
is provided or only part of the community is covered by
elements MI3 through MI7, the points can be prorated.
There is no proration of MI1 or MI2, because for those
elements the community must provide all the information
needed from the entire FIRM.
The information provided by the service should be
located on a map or GIS layer so the person responding
to the inquiries has an accurate source of information.
The community may provide the service via telephone,
written or e-mailed inquiry, or a website or computer
terminal. To avoid errors in property location, the
community may request from the inquirer a street map
locating the property.

The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private
property, including repetitive loss
properties, are subject to the Privacy
Act. Information such as the names
of people and addresses of
properties that have received flood
insurance claims and the amounts of
such claims MAY NOT be released to
the public. Such information should
be marked “For internal use only.
Protected by the Privacy Act of
1974.”
Generic information, such as
total claim payments for an area or
data not connected to a particular
property MAY be made public.

To cover staff time and office overhead , the community may charge a reasonable fee for
providing map information. This service should not include surveying or similar costs to
collect new data, such as ground elevations.
The community may enter into an agreement with another agency, such as a regional
planning commission, to provide the map information service. To receive credit under the
Community Rating System (CRS), there must be a written agreement that clarifies that the
agency providing the service will respond to all inquirers and will allow the ISO/CRS
Specialist to verify its work. The service must meet all the prerequisites and documentation
requirements, including publicity and records of inquiries.

321.b. Activity Credit Criteria
(1) MI1, providing information from the FIRM needed to write a flood insurance policy, is
a prerequisite to receiving other credit under this activity.
(2) The map information service must be able to locate a property based on a street address.
There is no credit if an inquirer is given a map to read. One of the reasons for this credit
is that some people have difficulty reading maps.
(3) The information must be volunteered when there is an inquiry. For example, an inquirer
about a property that is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) needs to be told
about the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement. If the community wants
credit for MI6, historical flood information, the inquirer must also be told whether the
area has been flooded in the past, even if he or she did not ask.

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(4) The service must include an opportunity for personal contact. One value of the map
information service is that it gives the staff person responding to the inquiry a chance to
determine whether all of the inquirer’s questions have been answered and to supply
additional information on related topics, such as permit requirements.
If the service is provided remotely, such as through a website, contractor, or by taking
written or faxed requests, the annual publicity and the response to the inquirer must
include a telephone number that can be called so that the inquirer can pose further
questions about map information and about the community’s floodplain management
program.
(5) The inquiry must be responded to within a reasonable amount of time.
(6) The service must be publicized at least once a year. There are three publicity options:
(a) An annual notice that reaches everyone in the community, such as an article in a
newsletter or a stuffer in a utility bill that goes to all properties;
(b) An annual notice directed to the most common users of the service: lenders (banks,
credit unions, etc.), insurance agents, and real estate agents. This can be a mailing
directly to these offices or articles in the newsletters of professional associations
that reach these offices (e.g., the newsletters of the Board of Realtors® or the
chamber of commerce); and
(c) An annual outreach project developed as part of a Program for Public Information
(PPI) credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), provided that the program
document identifies the target audience for the service and discusses the best way to
reach that audience.
Whichever option the community selects, the publicity must
o Describe the service(s) provided with a few words on each of the topics in
MI1 through MI7 that the community wants credited (e.g., the community will
provide information about the flood hazard, flood insurance rating data, and
areas with natural floodplain functions that should be protected);
o Be distributed at least once a year;
o Explain how to access the service, i.e., what telephone number to call, or what
internet address to use to access the website;
o Provide a telephone number for more information about flood maps and the
community’s floodplain management program (if different from the number to
call for the map information service); and
o Include a notice that copies of FEMA Elevation Certificates are available from
the community.
(7) The maps used for MI1 and MI2 must be kept updated at least annually to reflect new
studies, subdivisions, annexations, flood insurance restudies, map revisions, and map
amendments (including Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) and Letters of Map

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Revision (LOMRs)). This may mean plotting every LOMA and LOMR or noting on the
paper FIRM that LOMAs and LOMRs have been issued.
(8) The community must maintain copies of earlier FIRMs that have been in effect since
1999. It is recommended that the community keep a copy of every FIRM that has been
published (credit for this is available under Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance)).
(9) Records of the service must be kept and provided for credit documentation (see
Section 325).
The record must note
o The date of the inquiry,
o The address or location of the property in question,
o The FIRM zone, and
o Whether the inquirer was advised of the items to be credited. For example, for
MI1, there must be a note for properties in the SFHA that the inquirer was
told about the rules on mandatory flood insurance purchase.
A log is required if information is given orally or on the telephone. A sample log is
shown in Figure 320-1. Copies of letters will suffice for documentation if the
information was provided in writing. A sample of such a letter is shown in
Figure 320-2. Copies of the log or letters are also required if another agency or
organization provides the map information.

Figure 320-1 A sample log for a map information service.

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[Community Letterhead]
Date: ________________________
RE: Flood Hazard Information
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The property located at: _______________________, also known as __________________
________________________ [legal description if needed] has been located on the city’s Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The following information is provided:
Community ID or NFIP number:
The property is located on panel number:
The date of the FIRM index:
The property is located in FIRM zone:

123456
________________ , Suffix: _______
May 15, 2005.
______

The main building on the property:
____ IS located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. The base flood elevation at the property
, NAVD. Federal law requires that a flood zone determination be done as a
is
condition of a federally backed grant or loan to determine if the structure is in an SFHA and if so,
to require flood insurance. This letter is not to be considered a flood zone determination. It is up
to the lender to determine whether flood insurance is required for a property.
____ IS NOT located in a Special Flood Hazard Area. However, the property may still be subject to
local drainage problems or other unmapped flood hazard. Flood insurance from the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is available at non-floodplain rates. A flood insurance policy
can still be required by a lender.
____ A decision about the building’s exact location cannot be made on the FIRM. A copy of the FIRM
is attached for your information.
Flood insurance from the NFIP is available for any property in this city. More information on flood
insurance is attached. This office has copies of FEMA Elevation Certificates for all buildings
constructed in the SFHA since 1990. Questions about this letter or about the City’s floodplain
management program are welcome at this office by calling 555-123-1234.
NOTE: This information is based on the Flood Insurance Rate Map for the City. This letter does not
imply that the referenced property will or will not be free from flooding or damage. A property not in a
Special Flood Hazard Area may be damaged by a flood greater than that predicted on the FIRM or
from a local drainage problem not shown on the map.

___________________________________
Building Official

Figure 320-2. A sample map information record for MI1.

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322 Elements
322.a. Basic FIRM information (MI1)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
MI1 credits providing basic information found on a FIRM that is needed to accurately rate
a flood insurance policy.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) If requested, the community must provide all of the following FIRM information:
(a) Whether the property is in an SFHA,
(b) The community number,
(c) The panel number and suffix,
(d) The date of the FIRM’s index (cover panel),
(e) The FIRM zone, e.g., A, C, X, V, AE, A2, AO, etc.,
(f) The base flood elevation (the depth in AO Zones) where shown on the FIRM, and
(g) The elevation datum used on the FIRM, if other than NGVD.
These items provide what is needed to complete most of Section B of the FEMA
Elevation Certificate form (see Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates)). A copy of the
Elevation Certificate for the property, if available, can suffice for the minimum
requirements of this element. There is no prorating for providing only some of the
needed map information.
(3) The community need only supply the insurance rating data requested. If the inquirer
only wants to know if a building is in a floodplain, then advising whether it is in an
SFHA as shown on the FIRM is sufficient.
(4) If a property is too close to the SFHA boundary to determine the building’s FIRM zone,
the community may give the inquirer a copy of the FIRM and advise that the FIRM zone
cannot be determined based on the map information available.
(5) The community is not required to provide data that do not appear on the FIRM, such as
base flood elevations in unnumbered A Zones, but providing additional information
from other maps and sources of flood hazard and flood protection information is
encouraged and may be credited under elements MI2 through MI7.
(6) If the property is in an SFHA, the community must inform the inquirer of the mandatory
flood insurance purchase requirement, as appropriate. This may be done by advising the
inquirer that flood insurance may be required because of the property’s location or by
providing a written summary of the requirement (e.g., the example in Figure 320-3).

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About the Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance
The NFIP: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program enabling
property owners in participating communities to purchase flood insurance on eligible buildings
and contents, whether they are in or out of a floodplain. This community participates in the
NFIP, making federally backed flood insurance available to its property owners.
The NFIP insures most walled and roofed buildings that are principally above ground on a
permanent foundation, including mobile homes, and buildings in the course of construction.
Property owners can purchase building and contents coverage from any local property and
casualty insurance agent. To find a local insurance agent that writes flood insurance in your
area visit www.floodsmart.gov.
Mandatory Purchase Requirement: Pursuant to the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973
and the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, the purchase of flood insurance is
mandatory for all federal or federally related financial assistance for the acquisition and/or
construction of buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). An SFHA is defined as any
A or V flood zone on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM).
The mandatory purchase requirement also applies to secured loans from such financial
institutions as commercial lenders, savings and loan associations, savings banks, and credit
unions that are regulated, supervised, or insured by federal agencies, such as the Federal
Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of Currency, the Farm
Credit Administration, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the National Credit Union
Administration. It further applies to all loans purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in the
secondary mortgage market.
Federal financial assistance programs affected by the laws include loans and grants from
agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Farmers Home Administration, Federal
Housing Administration, Small Business Administration, and FEMA disaster assistance.
How it Works: When making, increasing, renewing, or extending any type of federally
backed loan, lenders are required to conduct a flood zone determination using the most
current FEMA FIRM to determine if any part of the building is located in an SFHA. If the
building is in an SFHA, the federal agency or lender is required by law to provide written
notification to the borrower that flood insurance is mandatory as a condition of the loan. Even
though a portion of real property on which a building is located may lie within an SFHA, the
purchase and notification requirements do not apply unless the building itself, or some part of
the building, is in the SFHA. However, lenders, on their own initiative, may require the
purchase of flood insurance even if a building is located outside an SFHA. Up to 25% of all
NFIP flood losses arise from outside SFHAs (B, C, and X Zones).
Under federal regulations, the required coverage must equal the amount of the loan
(excluding appraised value of the land) or the maximum amount of insurance available from
the NFIP, whichever is less. The maximum amount of coverage available for a single-family
residence is $250,000 and for non-residential (commercial) buildings is $500,000. Federal
agencies and regulators, including government-sponsored enterprises, such as Freddie Mac
and Fannie Mae, may have stricter requirements.

Figure 320-3 A handout about the mandatory purchase of flood insurance.

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Credit Points
MI1 = 30 points, for providing all the basic information found on a
FIRM that is needed to accurately rate a flood insurance policy

The community must provide all the information needed from the entire FIRM.

322.b. Additional FIRM information (MI2)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI2 credit is for providing information that is shown on the community’s FIRM that is not
needed for insurance rating. This can include information about protected coastal barriers,
floodways, or lines demarcating wave action.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) The additional information must include whether the property is in an “undeveloped
coastal barrier” or “otherwise protected area” of the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
If so, the community must advise the inquirer that flood insurance, federal disaster
assistance, and other types of federal financial assistance are not available for buildings
constructed or substantially improved after the effective date of designation, as shown
on the FIRM. More information on the Coastal Barrier Resources System can be found
at www.fws.gov/CBRA.
(3) The additional information must include whether the property is located seaward of the
Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA), if shown on the FIRM. If it is, the inquirer
must be advised that waves and velocity from coastal storms and hurricanes can cause
significant damage to a structure that is not properly elevated on an open foundation and
protected from erosion and scour.
(4) The additional information must include whether the property is located in a floodway.
If it is, the community must explain the regulatory requirements for developing in a
floodway.
If the community’s FIRM does not show any Coastal Barrier Resources System areas,
LiMWAs, or floodways, there is no credit for MI2.

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Challenging the Lender’s Map Determination
Communities should be aware that the ultimate decision on whether flood insurance is required
rests with the lender. Lenders are permitted to rely on third-party vendors for flood zone
determinations provided that those vendors guarantee the accuracy of their determinations.
Communities are not considered third-party vendors nor are they expected to assume the lender’s
responsibility. See also Figure 320-3
However, if there is a flood zone discrepancy among the parties involved, community officials
often are contacted to provide assistance and documentation to clarify the flood zone for the
building in question. The CRS encourages communities to help their residents. The community staff
that provides the map information service should be familiar with the mandatory purchase
requirements and the following processes available to property owners to resolve a flood zone
dispute.
1) Talk to the lender—The first step should always be to talk to the lender and demonstrate
that the building is not in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). The community can help,
by supplying a printout of the FIRM showing the building’s location. If the lender’s decision
is based on information from a flood zone determination company, the inquirer can ask the
lender to request a manual determination. Often determinations are made by a computer,
so a manual determination may result in a different finding.
2) Letter of Map Amendment—Out as Shown (LOMA—OAS) —Occasionally, a parcel or
individual structure may be incorrectly determined to be located within the SFHA because
of imprecise map delineations. A property owner may submit property and elevation
materials to FEMA in support of a request for a LOMA. Where the FIRM is based on an
aerial photograph and the building is clearly shown as outside the SFHA, this can be a
relatively simple approach.
3) Letter of Determination Review (LODR)—This process is meant to be used to determine
whether the FIRM was read correctly. The borrower and lender can jointly submit a review
request to FEMA during the 45-day period after the borrower is notified that flood insurance
is required.
After reviewing the required supporting technical documentation, within 45 days after
receiving the completed package, FEMA will issue a written determination, a LODR,
indicating its concurrence or disagreement with the original determination made by the
lender or third party, and stating whether the FIRM indicates that the subject building is in
the SFHA. FEMA will assess a flat fee to cover the costs of this review.
4) Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)—Sometimes the flood map will show a structure as
clearly being within an SFHA, even though the building on the property is on ground that is
above the base flood elevation. FIRMs may not reflect every rise in terrain, so there may be
instances of “natural islands” of high ground that are advertently included in the SFHAs. A
property owner may submit property and elevation materials in support of a request for a
LOMA to remove the property from the SFHA.
More details about these letters can be found at www.fema.gov/letter-map-amendment-letter-maprevision-based-fill-process.

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Credit Points
MI2 = 20 points, for providing non-insurance rating information that
appears on the community’s FIRM

322.c. Other flood problems not shown on the FIRM (MI3)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI3 credit is for providing information about flood problems other than those shown on the
FIRM. Note that providing information about historical flooding is credited under MI6.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) The other flood problem information provided must be about a flood hazard not shown
on the community’s FIRM. Examples include, but are not limited to
 Areas predicted to be flooded in the future because of climate change or sea
level rise;
 Local drainage problems;
 Areas mapped and regulated outside the SFHA (e.g., in watersheds smaller
than FEMA’s mapping threshold) (note that such mapping can receive credit
under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping); and
 A levee or dam failure inundation zone (note that such mapping is needed for
credit under Activities 620 (Levees) and 630 (Dams)).
Credit Points
MI3 = 20 points, for providing information about flood problems
other than those shown on the FIRM

322.d. Flood depth data (MI4)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI4 credit is for providing information about how deep flood waters can be anticipated to
be in given areas of the community. The depth of expected flooding gives the inquirer a
better concept of the flood hazard than does the base flood elevation alone.

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Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) Depth data must be conveyed to inquirers. There are usually two ways to provide flood
depth data. Either one is acceptable for credit.
(a) Staff can provide information from a map that shows the depth of flooding at
different flood recurrence levels. An example is shown in Figure 320-4
(b) Staff can provide data on both the flood elevation and the ground or building
elevation at a site. This could be obtained from the FIRM or flood elevation
profile and a topographic base map or Elevation Certificate. Where there is no
elevation data for the property in question, data from a neighboring building’s
Elevation Certificate are acceptable to convey the flood depth in the area.
Credit Points
MI4 = 20 points, for providing information about flood depths

Figure 320-4. A flood depth map, one of the
new Risk MAP products.

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322.e. Special flood-related hazards (MI5)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI5 credit is for providing information about special flood-related hazards in the
community. If the community is receiving CRS credit for mapping and regulating one of
the special flood-related hazard areas described in Section 401 or credited elsewhere,
inquirers should be advised whether the property falls within a special flood-related hazard
area and of any additional regulatory requirements the community may have for developing
properties in that area.
Creditable special flood-related hazards include, but are not limited to
 Uncertain flow paths—alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, and other
floodplains where the channel moves during a flood.
 Closed basin lakes—lakes that have a small or no outlet that may stay above
flood stage for weeks, months, or years.
 Ice jams—flooding caused when warm weather and rain break up a frozen
river. The broken ice floats downriver until it is blocked by an obstruction,
such as a bridge or shallow area, creating a dam.
 Land subsidence—lowering of the land surface caused by withdrawal of
subsurface water or minerals or by compaction of organic soils.
 Mudflow hazards—a river, flow, or inundation of liquid mud down a
hillside, usually as a result of the loss of brush cover and the subsequent
accumulation of water on the ground, preceded by a period of unusually heavy
or sustained rain.
 Coastal erosion—areas subject to the wearing away of land masses caused
primarily by waves on the oceans, Gulf of Mexico, or the Great Lakes.
 Tsunamis—large ocean waves caused by an underwater earthquake or volcano.
 Coastal A Zones credited under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards),
Section 432.k. If there is a LiMWA shown on the community’s FIRM,
explaining it to inquirers would be credited under MI2.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) The affected area must be mapped for this credit, but does not have to be regulated. If
there are no regulations, the inquirer must be told what precautions should be taken
when developing or improving the property.

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Credit Points
MI5 = 20 points, for providing information about a special floodrelated hazard that does not appear on the FIRM

322.f. Historical flood information (MI6)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI6 credits providing information about past floods that have occurred at or near the site in
question. This can include, but is not limited to
 Whether and when the area has been flooded in the past,
 Historic flood levels or the location of a nearby high-water mark,
 Whether the property is in a mapped repetitive loss area, or
 Photographs of past flooding at sites around the community.

Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) Information on historical flooding must be provided.
Relevant available information should be provided, such as the dates of past flooding in
the area, whether people were killed or injured, and the amount of warning time. Some
of this information may be available from the community’s floodplain management or
hazard mitigation plan or the community’s self assessment conducted under
Section 240.
Credit Points
MI6 = 20 points, for providing information about past flooding at or
near the site in question

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322.g. Natural floodplain functions (MI7)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
MI7 credit is for providing information about areas that should be protected because of
their natural floodplain functions. Many types of maps show such areas, including, but not
limited to
 Areas mapped in the National Wetlands Inventory, available at
www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html;
 Areas mapped as critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, available at
http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov/crithab/;
 Areas identified in state or regional programs, such as the Colorado Natural Heritage
Program maps of existing and potential conservation areas, available at
www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/gis.asp;
 Areas receiving natural floodplain functions credit under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation); and
 Areas identified in a natural floodplain functions plan credited under NFF in
Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning).
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 321.b must be met.
(2) Information must be provided about any natural floodplain functions the area provides.
Credit Points
MI7 = 20 points, for providing information about areas that should
be protected because of their natural floodplain functions

323 Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for MI1 and MI2. For MI1 and MI2, the community must
provide the map information for all areas shown on the FIRM.
For MI3 through MI7, the impact adjustment is calculated as described below.

rMI# =

aMI# , where
aSFHA

aMI# = the area covered by the map information service, and

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aSFHA = the area of the SFHA
If rMI# < 0.1, then rMI# = 0.1

aMI# represents the area covered by the service under MI3 through MI7. Estimates of the
areas affected by a service can be used. The area of the SFHA must be the same number
submitted with the most recent floodplain data table (see Section 213.a).
In most cases, aMI# will be equal to aSFHA, but there may be instances in which the
community wants to provide the public with information on only some of its mapped flood
problem areas. In these instances, it may be helpful to prepare an impact adjustment map,
as explained in Section 403.
For MI4, the area of SFHA where there is a flood elevation provided can be used instead of
aSFHA. For example, if there are large areas of approximate A Zone with no base flood
elevations, such areas can be excluded from the numerator and denominator.

324 Credit Calculation
c320 = MI1 + MI2 + (MI3 x rMI3) + (MI4 x rMI4) +
(MI5 x rMI5) + (MI6 x rMI6) + (MI7 x rMI7)

325 Documentation Provided by the Community
a. At each verification visit,
(1) Documentation that shows how the community publicizes the service each year (see
Section 321.b, activity credit criterion (6)).
If the community publicizes this service through an annual outreach project credited
under Activity 330, the publicity materials may be included with the documentation
for Activity 330. There must be a notation (e.g., “320”) in the margin of the portion
of the outreach project where the map information service is addressed.
If a Program for Public Information is used to determine the appropriate publicity
mechanism, the public information strategy document must discuss the best way to
publicize the map information service to the intended audiences.

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Example 325.a-1.
City gives Answers to Floodplain Questions
If you want to know if a property is in the Special Flood Hazard Area,
check our website at www.__________.org/flood/mapinfo. You’ll find a
wealth of information about the City’s Flood Insurance Rate Map,
coastal high hazard areas, flood depths at your property, natural
conservation areas and wetlands, flood insurance, special rules for
building in the floodplain, and ideas for protecting your property from
flood damage. Or you can call the Building Department with all of your
floodplain questions at 555/123-4567. We also have copies of FEMA
Elevation Certificates on all buildings constructed or substantially
improved in the floodplain since January 1995.

(2) An explanation of how the community keeps the FIRM updated (Section 321.b,
activity credit criterion (7)). This may be a verbal explanation at the time of the
verification visit.
(3) Copies of all FIRMs that have been in effect since 1999 (Section 321.b, activity
credit criterion (8)).
(4) A record, copies of letters, or log of the service (Section 321.b, activity credit
criterion (9)).
(5) Documentation showing how the area of each element (aMI#) was calculated.
(6) If another agency or organization provides map information, documentation that the
agency has agreed to provide the service to all inquirers and will allow the ISO/CRS
Specialist to verify its work.
b. With the annual recertification,
(1) A copy of material showing how the community publicized the service during the
year.
(2) A page from the log of the service or copies of three letters that were completed
during the year (Section 321.b, activity credit criterion (9)).

326 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
b. Copies of the following booklets are available free, singly and in quantity (see Appendix C).
Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA-084. This is
also available from FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1404.

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Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, FEMA-083 (09/07). This booklet
discusses the legal background of the flood insurance purchase requirement, particularly
from the lender’s perspective. This is also available from FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2954.
See also FEMA’s flood hazard mapping website at
www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/index.shtm.
Information on FEMA’s FIRMs can be found at http://www.fema.gov/national-floodinsurance-program-2/flood-insurance-rate-map-firm.
c. Assistance in determining whether a “too-close-to-call” property is in the Coastal Barrier
Resources System can be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More information
on the CBRS can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website at
www.fws.gov/CBRA/
d. Communities may check on past FIRMs at www.msc.fema.gov.
e. The Compendium of Flood Map Changes is a list of all the changes made to the NFIP maps
including Physical Map Revisions, Letters of Map Revision, and Letters of Map Amendment
during a given six-month period. The list is updated every six months and published in the
Federal Register. http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-hazardmapping/compendium-flood-map-changes.

327 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Credit under Activity 320 is provided for explaining map information to the public.
Credit for additional map data (AMD) under Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance)
is provided for maintaining and updating the data. A community can get either credit
without getting credit for the other.
 If an inquirer wants to know more about the flood hazard, flood insurance, and/or
protecting natural floodplain functions, the community should have resources
available to answer those questions. Such resources are credited by the CRS under
Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information), Activity 360 (Flood Protection
Assistance), and Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion).
 If the community develops a Program for Public Information (credited under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects)), the PPI committee should discuss what map information to
provide and how the service would best be publicized.
 Some communities’ map information services help real estate agents find out the
flood hazard for a property. Having an objective source of this information can help
overcome some agencies’ reluctance to disclose the flood hazard and can help the
community receive credit under Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure).

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330  OUTREACH PROJECTS—Summary 
Maximum credit:  350 points  
Although the total of all elements in this activity exceeds 350 points, the 
maximum credit is 350 points. 

332  Elements 
a.  Outreach projects (OP):  Up to 200 points for designing and carrying out 
public outreach projects. Credits for individual projects may be increased 
if the community has a Program for Public Information (PPI). 
b.  Flood response preparations (FRP):  Up to 50 points for having a pre‐
flood plan for public information activities ready for the next flood. 
Credits for individual projects may be increased by the PPI multiplier.  
c.  Program for Public Information (PPI):  Up to 80 points added to OP 
credits and up to 20 points added to FRP credits, for projects that are 
designed and implemented as part of an overall public information 
program.  
NOTE:  A Program for Public Information can help design an entire public 
information program, not just outreach projects. A PPI that covers other 
types of public information endeavors, such as a website and technical 
assistance, can result in increased credit under other activities. 
d.  Stakeholder delivery (STK):  Up to 50 points added to OP credits for 
having information disseminated by people or groups from outside the 
local government.  

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section describing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for this activity.  

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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330 OUTREACH PROJECTS
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to provide the public with information needed to increase
flood hazard awareness and to motivate actions to reduce flood damage, encourage flood
insurance coverage, and protect the natural functions of floodplains.

331 Background
Research has shown that awareness of the flood hazard is not enough to motivate people to
take action to protect themselves and their property. People need to be told repeatedly,
through various means, what specific actions to take before they will change their behavior.
Research has also shown that a properly run local information program is more effective in
bringing about change than are national advertising or publicity campaigns.
Based on these research findings, Activity 330
provides credit to communities that engage in
thorough, critical thinking about their public
information needs and about what they want
people in their communities to know and do with
regard to floodplain resources and flood hazards.
The activity provides extra credit for
communities that develop locally customized
strategies to increase awareness and motivate
residents to take action.

Two separate publications, CRS Credit
for Outreach Projects and Developing a
Program for Public Information, provide
more details and examples for this
activity.
See Section 334 to obtain copies.

331.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 330 is 350 points, including the extra credit available for
communities that design and implement a Program for Public Information (PPI). The sum
of the maximum credit for all the elements exceeds 350, but a community’s score is capped
at 350 points.
Two types of outreach projects are credited:
(1) Outreach projects (OP) that are distributed every year, and
(2) Projects that will be distributed when a flood occurs, but are prepared in advance
and updated each year (FRP).
The credits for these two types of projects are based on three factors:
(1) What and how many messages are conveyed;
(2) What type of projects they are (e.g., informational materials that people pick up,
activities that reach out to people, or projects targeted to a specific audience); and
(3) How often they are delivered. OP projects must be delivered at least once each year.
FRP projects must be delivered at least once during or after a flood.

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The credit points for OP and FRP projects can be increased by 40% if they are developed
and implemented pursuant to a PPI.
The credit for OP projects can be increased by 30% if they are delivered by stakeholders,
i.e., organizations or agencies other than the community’s local government (STK).
The Community Rating System (CRS) intends to provide additional credit in the future if
the messages conveyed via the outreach projects actually bring results and demonstrated
changes in people’s behavior—such as an increase in the number of property protection
projects built or installed by residents, or a decrease in dumping in the stream. The criteria
for providing credit for such results will be described in the next edition of the CRS
Coordinator’s Manual.
Messages
Messages are the heart of public outreach. Messages are specific statements or directions
that the community considers important for its audiences. For CRS credit, the messages are
based on one or more of six priority floodplain management topics. Table 330-1 shows the
six priority CRS topics and some sample messages that could be based upon them.
Communities formulate their own messages based on one or more of these topics. For
credit, the messages must either clearly state what the audience should do (e.g., “Turn
around, don’t drown” or “Get a floodplain permit from . . .”) or provide some basic
information with a note on where to get more information (e.g., “You may live in a
floodplain. Find out by calling 555-1234” or “Information on ways to protect your property
from flooding can be found at www. . . .”).
The messages in Table 330-1 are examples. Several Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) programs, such as FloodSmart and Risk MAP, can provide additional
guidance and examples that have been research-tested on several of the topics.
Communities that have developed a PPI (see Section 332.c) may add up to four additional
topics of their own that are particularly pertinent to their communities.
Projects
The same message can and should be conveyed via different, multiple methods. Certain
methods or projects are more effective than others at motivating change, so the credit for
different types of projects is assigned accordingly. Credit is also based, in part, on the
number of times the message is delivered each year. The CRS credits three types of
methods or projects.
(a) Informational Materials (1 point per topic). These are brochures, flyers, and
similar documents that are made available upon request or are placed in a static
location, such as a city hall or public library. Since they do not “reach out” to the

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Table 330-1. CRS topics and example messages.
Six Priority Topics

Example Messages

1. Know your flood hazard

Your property is subject to flooding
You are in a repetitively flooded area
Drive safely: five people died in the 2002 flood

2. Insure your property for your flood hazard
NOTE: At least one project must include
a message on this topic

You need flood insurance
Renters should buy flood insurance for their contents
Take advantage of a low-cost Preferred Risk Policy

3. Protect people from the hazard

Turn around, don’t drown
Know the flood warning signals: one long blast of the siren
means a flash flood along Silver Creek
Designate a place where your family can rendezvous after an
evacuation order is issued

4. Protect your property from the hazard

Replace your flooded furnace with one elevated above the
flood level
Keep debris and trash out of the streams and ditches
We can help you get a grant to elevate your home. Call us
at _______________

5. Build responsibly

Get a permit from . . . before you build
Know the substantial damage rules (and the ICC benefits). You
can see them at www…..
All projects should be at least 10 feet from the property line so
you don’t alter the drainage between homes

6. Protect natural floodplain functions

Don’t dump in the storm drains; they drain to the bay
Protect our turtle nesting areas: stay off the beach after sunset
Report broken silt fences: they help keep our streams clean

Examples of additional topics
(developed by a community that has a
Program for Public Information)

Example Messages

7. Hurricane preparedness *

Know your evacuation route

8. General preparedness *

Inventory and photograph your home’s contents and put
important papers and insurance policies in a safe place

9. Basement flooding *

Check your downspout—drain away from the house

10. Flood education *

Teach school children about flooding

* Example topics 7 and 8 could also be listed under CRS topic 3—Protect people from the hazard. By listing
them as separate topics in its PPI, the community can receive credit for covering three different topics in
each project. Similarly, example topic 9 could be covered under CRS topic 4. All four additional topics
(7 through 10) need to be explained in the Program for Public Information.

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public, informational materials receive only one point per topic. They are counted as
conveying their messages only once each year. A few examples follow.
 The building department has several one-page handouts about permit
requirements and substantial improvement/substantial damage. They are
available to people who come in to the permit office.
 The department also has a FEMA brochure on flood insurance available at the
permit counter.
 Information on one or more of the six priority topics is posted on a website.
Note that if the website qualifies for credit under Activity 350 (Flood
Protection Information), the community would receive more credit there and
would not receive double credit under Activity 330.
(b) General Outreach Projects (2 points per topic). These are newspaper articles,
signs, and presentations that are designed to resonate with an identified general
audience. These messages “reach out” to people in general, so they receive two
points per topic. A few examples follow.
 A regional newspaper has a flood preparedness supplement at the beginning of
the flood season.
 A city employee gives a talk about floodplain construction rules to the annual
meeting of the local homebuilders association. A handout on permit
requirements is given to all attendees.
(c) Targeted Outreach Projects (6 points per topic). These are projects directed to a
specified audience. Communities must demonstrate that the targeted outreach
projects reach or are distributed to all of the members of the targeted audience. The
message must clearly explain that the recipient is receiving the message because
he/she is part of the targeted audience. Research has shown these types of projects to
be the most effective way to reach people, provided that they address the audience
and focus on the audience’s concerns. Targeted outreach projects that are repeated to
the identified audience (e.g., more than one mailing to the same people each year)
are counted as separate projects.
Here are two examples of targeted outreach projects:
 The mayor sends a letter to all residents of the floodplain.
 A presentation is made to a neighborhood meeting attended by all the
repetitive loss area’s residents.
If a community does not have a PPI, only four target audiences are recognized for
credit.
 Floodplain residents and businesses;
 Repetitive loss area residents and businesses;

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 Residents of areas protected by a levee, provided the community receives
credit under Activity 620 (Levees); and
 Residents of areas subject to flooding if an upstream dam fails, provided the
community receives credit under Activity 630 (Dams).
If a community has a PPI, the community can identify additional target audiences.
These can be people in a specific geographical area (e.g., downtown businesses,
residents or tourists along the coast, residents in an area where most people speak
only Spanish, etc.) or a functional group (e.g., insurance agents, building
contractors, drivers, etc.).
NOTE: Activities 610 (Flood Warning and Response), 620 (Levees), and 630 (Dams) have
outreach project requirements that can qualify for credit under Activity 330 and receive
extra credit for a PPI. See Sections 611.b, 621.b, and 631.b for more information.
NOTE: Training or projects targeted to local government staff, elected officials, or
members of advisory bodies do not qualify as outreach projects.
Other Components
The community’s PPI is discussed in Section 332.c. Stakeholder participation is discussed
in Section 332.d. See also Section 335 for ideas on how outreach projects and a PPI can
support and receive extra credit under other CRS activities.

331.b. Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for this activity.

332 Elements
332.a. Outreach projects (OP)
The maximum credit for this element is 200 points. If the community has a PPI that
discusses preparation and implementation of the project, it can receive up to 80 extra
points. If the project is delivered by a stakeholder (STK), it can receive up to 50 additional
extra points.
OP credit is provided for disseminating one or more messages via one or more outreach
projects one or more times each year (see Table 330-2). The credit is for projects that
convey the messages identified by the community as being important to its residents,
businesses, and others.

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Credit Criteria
(1) To receive credit, projects must be disseminated at least annually to the audience.
(2) At least one project must convey a message on the topic of flood insurance. Note that,
under Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion), there is additional credit for outreach
projects that promote flood insurance.
(3) The community will not lose OP credit during the year of a flood if its other OP projects
cannot be carried out because implementing the FRP projects diverted needed resources
from them.
Credit Points
OP = ∑ OP#1 + OP#2 + OP#3 . . . , to the maximum of 200 points
The value for each outreach project (OP#1, OP#2, etc.) is the
product of (A) x (B) x (C), where
A = the number of points per topic, which is based on the
type of project—informational material (1 point), general
outreach (2 points), or targeted outreach (6 points),
B = the number of message topics covered by the project,
and
C = the number of times the project is delivered each year
The values for each outreach project (OP#1, OP#2, etc.) are
added to determine the total value for OP. A spreadsheet in
Microsoft Excel® is available to help calculate the credit for OP.

To be considered as disseminating a message more than once each year, a general or
targeted outreach project must either (1) use more than one type of media, or (2) involve
two-way communication with the same audience. For examples, see OP#3 and OP#7 in
Table 330-2. Informational materials are counted as conveying their messages only once
each year.
NOTE: For credit, a single project can only convey one message per topic. For example, a
booklet for floodplain property owners will get credit for covering the topic of protecting
people. It will not get credit for covering more topics if the topic “protecting people” is
parsed into smaller pieces (such as safety in cars, evacuation routes, warning signals) in
order to create multiple messages. However, if the community has a PPI, it can add
additional topics that could include these additional messages, as noted in Table 330-1.
There is no limit to the number of projects a community can undertake, but there is a limit
of 200 points for OP (not including the extra credit provided by PPI and STK).

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Note that extra points are available under the PPI and STK extra credit elements. These are
discussed in more detail in Section 332.c and 332.d, respectively.

Table 330-2. Basic scoring of example outreach projects (without a PPI).
A

B

C

(A x B x C)

Example Outreach Projects (OP)

Points
per
topic

# of
Floodrelated
Topics

# of Times
Delivered

OP = Points per
Project

OP#1. A brochure on flood insurance produced by FEMA
is set out in various public places (informational
material—1 point per topic).

1

1

1

1

OP#2. Local insurance agents have agreed to advise
their clients that flood insurance is a good idea and
give them the OP#1 brochure (general outreach—2
points per topic).

2

1

1

2

OP#3. Presentations are made to five neighborhood
associations with messages under CRS topics 1, 2,
4, and 5. (general outreach—2 points per topic)
The OP#1 brochure is handed out to everyone
present.

2

4

5

40

OP#4. The neighborhood association presentation is
taped and repeated twice a month on the public
service cable TV channel. (general outreach—2
points per topic) This does not involve two-way
communication, so it is counted as being delivered
once a year.

2

4

1

8

OP#5. A mailing is sent each year to all residents of the
SFHA. It has messages under the first five CRS
topics. (targeted outreach—6 points per topic)

6

5

1

30

OP#6. “Do not dump” stencils are sprayed next to storm
drain inlets. (general outreach—2 points per topic)

2

1

1

2

OP#7. The floodplain manager meets twice a year with
the home builders association to discuss
construction regulations and ways to incorporate
flood mitigation into home improvement projects
(general outreach—2 points per topic, CRS topics
4 and 5)

2

2

2

8

Total OP =

91

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification and recertification,
(a) A copy of the flyers, presentations, brochures, etc., that have been produced and
disseminated as outreach projects, marked to show where the credited topics appear.
At least one of the submittals must be a project that covers the topic of flood
insurance. If an outreach project is a presentation to a group, it can be documented
with a copy of the minutes or a memo to the file.

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332.b. Flood response preparations (FRP)
The maximum credit for this element is 50 points. If the community has a PPI that
discusses preparation and implementation of the FRP package, it can receive extra points
under PPI.
FRP credits developing a pre-flood plan for public information projects that will be
implemented during and after a flood. An FRP package is a collection of outreach projects
prepared in advance, but not delivered until a flood occurs. These materials may include
templates and masters of handouts, mailers, press releases, etc. that cover key messages
that need to be disseminated before, during, and after a flood. The package must include
both the materials that will be needed and the procedures for how they will be used.
FRP projects are credited the same way as projects credited under OP (Outreach Projects),
so the activity credit criteria on messages and projects in Section 331 also apply to FRP.
The same three components of scoring are used: the number of topics with flood response
or recovery messages, the type of project delivering the messages, and the number of times
the project is delivered. The topics that can be credited are listed in Figure 330-1.
Examples of FRP messages include
 Evacuation routes,
 Shelter locations,
 “Turn Around Don’t Drown,”
 When it is safe to go back,
 Don’t enter a flooded building until it has been cleared by an inspector,
 Get a permit for repairs,
 Substantial damage rules,
 Mitigation opportunities during repairs, and
 Information on mitigation grants.
FRP projects and procedures are prepared, reviewed, and updated each year. The projects
do not have to be implemented until a flood is imminent—at that time, materials would be
reproduced and distributed, messages disseminated, and notices posted on doors, etc.
If no flood occurs, credit is still provided, as long as an annual review is conducted to make
sure that the information is still current. The review and update could be carried out as a
part of an annual flood response drill or exercise (required for credit under Activity 610
(Flood Warning)) or as part of the annual PPI evaluation.
FRP preparations should be closely coordinated with the community’s emergency manager.
Note that there is also credit under Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response) if the flood
warning and response plan includes instructions that are similar to the FRP messages
(FRO6 in Section 612.c).

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Flood Response Preparations
The first part of preparing an FRP package is determining the key messages. As with OP, only
one message per topic is credited per project. If the community has a PPI, additional messages
can be identified for credit (as in PPI Topics 8 and 9, below).
Communities should develop messages keyed to the flood and post-flood situation, which are not
necessarily the same messages that are needed for OP projects in a pre-flood situation.
Examples of FRP Messages
CRS Topic 3: Protect people from the hazard—Message 3: Don’t enter a flooded
building until it’s been cleared by an inspector
CRS Topic 4: Protect your property from the hazard—Message 4: Mitigate while you
repair
CRS Topic 5: Build responsibly—Message 5: Get a permit for repairs
PPI Topic 8: Message 8: ICC can help pay to mitigate substantially damaged buildings
PPI Topic 9: Message 9: Apply for a mitigation grant
Examples of FRP Projects
FRP#1: A media kit with background information for reporters on all five FRP messages
FRP#2: Radio public service announcements that cover FRP messages 3 and 5
FRP#3: Door hangers for flooded homes that explain all five FRP messages
FRP#4: Handouts on grant programs

Figure 330-1. Examples of messages and projects creditable under
Flood Response Preparations (FRP).
See also Table 330-2 for an example of how these projects are scored.

Credit Criteria
(1) OP credit is a prerequisite to receiving FRP credit.
(2) To receive FRP credit each year, the community must either use the FRP in response to
a flood or (if no flood occurs) review it and update it as needed.
(3) The community will not lose OP credit during the year of the flood if implementing the
FRP projects diverts resources that would have been used to implement other OP
projects. However, the community will lose its FRP credit if it does not implement its
FRP projects when there is a flood or if it does not evaluate the FRP projects every
year.

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Credit Points
FRP = ∑ FRP#1 + FRP#2 + FRP#3 . . . . , to the maximum of 50
points
The value for each project, FRP1, FRP2, etc., is the product of
(A) x (B) x (C), where
A = the number of points per topic, which is based on the
type of project—informational material (1 point), general
outreach (2 points), or targeted outreach (6 points)
B = the number of message topics covered by the projects,
and
C = the number of times the projects will be delivered
The values for each outreach project (FRP#1, FRP#2, etc.) are
summed to determine the total value for FRP. A spreadsheet in
Microsoft Excel® is available to facilitate calculating the credit for
FRP.

FRP can provide up to 50 points. FRP is credited the same as OP. The extra PPI credit can
be applied to FRP projects, but STK credit does not apply to FRP. See Section 332.c for a
discussion of the PPI. Scoring examples for FRP projects are shown in Table 330-3.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the masters for the handouts, news releases, and other projects prepared as
part of the FRP.
(b) Written procedures that explain how the handouts, news releases, and other projects
are to be copied and disseminated.
(c) Documentation that the FRP materials were reviewed to determine whether they are
still current and appropriate. This may be done as part of the annual PPI evaluation
report.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) Documentation that the FRP materials were reviewed to determine whether they are
still current and appropriate. This may be done as part of the annual PPI evaluation
report.
(b) Copies of any FRP materials that were revised during the annual review or
distributed during or after a flood.

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Table 330-3. Scoring of example FRP projects (without a PPI).
A

B

C

(A x B x C)

Points
per Topic

# of
Floodrelated
Topics

# of Times
Delivered

FRP =
Points per
Project

FRP#1. Media kit with background information for reporters

2

5

1

10

FRP#2. Radio public service announcements

2

2

1

4

FRP#3. Door hangers for flooded homes

6

5

1

30

FRP#4. Handouts on grant programs

1

1

1

1

Example Flood Response Projects (FRP)
(See Figure 330-1)

Total FRP =

45

332.c. Program for Public Information (PPI) (extra credit points)
This element is a 40% multiplier that increases the points for each OP and FRP project that
is covered in the PPI. The maximum extra credit for this element is 80 points.
The PPI is an ongoing public information effort to design and transmit the messages that
the community determines are most important to its flood safety and the protection of its
floodplains’ natural functions.
Note that a PPI can help design an entire public information program, not just outreach
projects. A PPI that covers other types of public information endeavors, such as a website
and technical assistance, can result in increased credit under other activities, as noted in
Section 335.
Credit Criteria
For CRS credit, the PPI must be developed according to a seven-step planning and public
involvement process, similar to the process credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain
Management Planning). There are seven steps to preparing a PPI.
Step 1: Establish a PPI committee. The community’s PPI must be developed by a
committee of people from both inside and outside the local government. The number of
participants and their identities is determined by the community, but the committee
must
 Comprise at least five people,
 Include one or more representatives from the community’s floodplain management
office,
 Include one or more representatives from the community’s public information office,
if there is one, and
 Have at least half of its members from outside the local government.
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A multi-jurisdictional committee can prepare a PPI for several communities that want to
work together. To receive this credit,
 Each community wanting the credit must send at least
two representatives to the regional committee,
 At least half of the community’s representatives must
be from outside the local government, and
 At least half of the representatives must attend ALL the
meetings of the regional committee. In effect, there
must be a quorum from each community. Remote
attendance via a webinar that allows for everyone to
talk is permissible. It is recommended that
communities use existing committees, such as the
floodplain management planning committee credited
under Activity 510, in cases in which such
organizations meet the above criteria.

The PPI process is the
same process used to
obtain credit under Activity
370 (Promotion of Flood
Insurance).
If the PPI committee
includes a local insurance
agent and a local lender, it
can qualify for the planning
committee that is credited
under Activity 370.
It is recommended that
both activities be addressed
at the same time, by the same
group. Developing a Program
for Public Information shows
how this can be done.

Step 2: Assess the community’s public information
needs. During this step, the committee delineates
different target areas within the community, based on
different flooding or development conditions. This may
See Section 334 to obtain
have been done as part of the community’s floodplain
a copy.
management planning. The CRS Community Self
Assessment, described in Section 240, is an online tool
that can help identify target areas and audiences. Another documented process may
suffice, provided that it includes an evaluation of the flood hazard(s) and the buildings
exposed to the hazard(s), and identifies flood-prone target areas.

The assessment must also inventory existing public information and outreach efforts
being conducted in the community. These should include non-flood programs, such as
efforts to inform people about other hazards, automobile safety, home improvements, or
other activities where the community could leverage attention to flood protection.
Step 3: Formulate messages. The public information messages needed for each target
audience are determined. The PPI committee identifies a desired outcome for each
message.
Step 4: Identify outreach projects to convey the messages. The committee considers
what media to use to deliver the identified messages to the target audiences. This may
include continuing or revising existing public information and outreach efforts that are
already being conducted in the community. Step 4 must produce a list of specific
projects and identify who is responsible for them and when they will be implemented. A
multi-jurisdictional PPI must identify which communities benefit from each project.

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Step 5: Examine other public information initiatives. The PPI committee looks at other
public information activities in addition to outreach projects. This could include how to
best set up a website on flood protection (Activity 350), what technical assistance is
needed throughout the community (Activity 360), or how to publicize flood protection
services (Activities 320, 350, and 360).
Step 6: Prepare the PPI document. The committee’s work is recorded in a formal
document. The PPI and the annual report that evaluates it can be stand-alone documents
or they can be sections or chapters in a floodplain management or hazard mitigation
plan credited under Activity 510. The document does not need to be a long, formal
report. Much of the key information can be displayed in a spreadsheet, such as the
example in Figure 330-2.
For multi-jurisdictional programs, the document must show which communities benefit
from which projects. For example, an inland community would not benefit from a
project oriented to beachfront property owners, but all communities would benefit from
articles in a regional newspaper about flood insurance. This documentation may be in
the form of a matrix or table included in, or attached to, the PPI document.
The PPI must be adopted by the community, through either
 Formal approval by the community’s governing body, or
 Formal approval by another body or office of the community that has the
authority and funding to implement the PPI, such as a flood control district.
Step 7: Implement, monitor, and evaluate the program. The PPI committee meets at
least annually to monitor the implementation of the outreach projects. The committee
assesses whether the desired outcomes were achieved and what, if anything, should be
changed. This work is described in an evaluation report that is prepared each year, sent
to the governing body, and included in the annual recertification.
Credit Points
PPI = OPi x 0.4
AND/OR

PPI = FRPi x 0.4

PPI is a multiplier added to each outreach project credited under OP (OP#1, OP#2, etc.) and
FRP (FRP#1, FRP#2, etc.) that are described in the PPI document and evaluated and
revised annually by the PPI committee. There is no PPI bonus for projects that are not
included in the PPI. The application of the PPI points can be seen in the scoring example in
Table 330-4.

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PPI Worksheet
Target
Audience

Message

Topic 1
message:
Find out
about your
flood
hazard
Target Area 1.
Coastal
floodplain
residents

Topic 2
message:
All
residents
in
floodprone
areas
should
have flood
insurance

Outcome

Project(s)

Assignment

Schedule

Stakeholder

320 map info service to include info on flood
depths, wave heights, and past floods (320)

Floodplain manager

Start as soon as
staff has the maps

OP 3. Presentations to five neighborhood
associations

Floodplain manager

Set up the five
presentations by
January 31

Neighborhood
associations

OP 4. Cable TV to show the neighborhood
association presentation

Floodplain manager and
public information officer

Tape the first two
presentations and
use the best
scenes

Neighborhood
associations,
cable TV
company

OP 5. Mailing sent each year to residents of
the SFHA

Floodplain manager and
public information officer

Disseminate in
May, before
hurricane season

Increase in
number of
webpage hits

New website page will show flood depths
and LiMWA boundary (350)

Floodplain manager and
webmaster

Have on line by
May 1 start of
hurricane season

Increase in the
number of
people getting
tech assistance

Floodplain manager to explain depths,
waves, and past floods when providing
assistance (360)

Floodplain manager

Start as soon as
staff has the maps

OP 1. FEMA brochure on flood insurance

Floodplain manager

Printed and displayed by Feb. 28

FEMA

OP 2. Local insurance agents advise their
clients

Insurance agency
representative on the PPI
committee

Explain at March
15 insurance
assoc. meeting

Insurance
agencies

OP 3. Presentations to neighborhood
associations

See OP 3 above

See OP 3 above

See OP 3 above

OP 4. Presentation on cable TV

See OP 4 above

See OP 4 above

See OP 4 above

Website to summarize cost of typical policy
and have link to FloodSmart (350)

Floodplain manager and
webmaster

Have on line by
May 1 start of
hurricane season

Increase in the
number of map
information
inquiries

The total
number of SFHA
policies
increases

Figure 330-2. Example spreadsheet for a Program for Public Information (PPI).

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Topic 2
message:
Make sure
you have
contents
coverage

Target Area 3.
Residents of
repetitive loss
areas 3 – 9
(in X Zone)

Topic 4
message
4a: Protect
your
property
from
shallow
flooding

Topic 4
message
4b: Don’t
dump in
your ditch
[could be
topic 7 in
the PPI]

Increase in the
number of flood
insurance
policies with
contents
coverage

Increase in the
number of
permits for
retrofitting
projects

Drainage
inspectors
report fewer
calls and a
decrease in the
amount of trash
removed

OP 2. Local insurance agents advise their
clients

See OP 2 above

See OP 2 above

See OP 2 above

OP 3. Presentations

See OP 3 above

See OP 3 above

See OP 3

OP 4. Cable TV
Website page stresses contents coverage
(350)
Floodplain manager to explain need for
contents coverage when providing tech
assistance (360)
OP 3. Presentations
OP 4. Cable TV

See OP 4 above
Floodplain manager and
webmaster

See OP 4 above
Have on line by
May 1

See OP 4

Floodplain manager

Start immediately

See OP 3 above
See OP 4 above

Floodplain manager and
webmaster

See OP 3 above
See OP 4 above
Presentations at
the January and
April meetings
Have on line by
May 1

Floodplain manager

Start immediately

See OP 3 above
See OP 4 above

See OP 3 above
See OP 4 above

See OP 3
See OP 4

OP 7. Meeting to explain the rules to home
builders

See OP 7 above

See OP 7 above

See OP 7

Website page on drainage maintenance
(350)

Floodplain manager and
webmaster

Have on line by
May 1

Floodplain manager to explain owner’s
responsibilities when providing advice (360)

Floodplain manager

Start immediately

OP 3, 4 and 5 to cover dumping regs (540)

See OP 3, 4, and 5

See OP 3, 4, and 5

OP 7. Meetings with home builders
association to explain retrofitting projects
Website page on how to protect from
shallow flooding (350)
Floodplain manager to explain projects
when providing advice (360)
OP 3. Presentations
OP 4. Cable TV

Floodplain manager

See OP 3
See OP 4
Home builders
association

See OP 3, 4, and
5

Figure 330-2 (cont.). Example spreadsheet for a Program for Public Information (PPI).

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Documentation Provided by the Community
In addition to the materials provided for OP and FRP credit:
(1) At the initial verification visit,
(a) A copy of the PPI document.
(b) Minutes of the meetings, sign-in sheets, or other documentation of the committee
members’ participation.
(c) Documentation that the PPI has been adopted by the community.
(2) At each subsequent verification visit and annual recertification,
(a) Documentation that the PPI document has been reviewed and updated annually. This
is in the form of a report, table, or spreadsheet that summarizes each outreach
project, what was done, and the outcomes. An example annual report can be found in
CRS Credit for Outreach Projects found at www.CRSresources.org/300.
(b) Minutes of the meetings, sign-in sheets, or other documentation of the committee
members’ participation.

332.d. Stakeholder delivery (STK) (extra credit points)
STK is a 30% multiplier that increases the points for each project credited under OP that is
delivered or otherwise endorsed by one or more stakeholder organizations. The maximum
extra credit for STK is 50 points for outreach projects (OP). STK points do not apply to
FRP projects.
Research has shown that the credibility and visibility of outreach messages are enhanced if
they are sent by numerous sources. Since most messages tend to come from the local
government, extra credit is provided for messages that are clearly from stakeholders—
someone or some group concerned with the community, but not a part of the local
government.
Credit Criteria
(1) This credit is only available to communities with a PPI. The stakeholder organization or
agency must be named in the PPI document and the associated projects, but the
stakeholder does not need to be on the PPI committee.
(2) A stakeholder can be any agency, organization, or person (other than the community
itself) that supports the message. Stakeholders could be
 An insurance company that publishes a brochure on flood insurance, even if it is set
out at City Hall;
 A local newspaper that publishes a flood or hurricane season supplement each year;
 FEMA, if, for example, a FEMA brochure is used as an informational material;
 Schools that implement outreach activities;

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 A local newspaper that publishes articles and editorials (although advertisements
paid for by the community do not qualify for STK credit, unless other sponsors or
supporters are named in the advertisement);
 A neighborhood or civic association that sponsors and hosts a presentation by a
community employee;
 A utility company that includes pertinent articles in its monthly bills; or
 Presentations made by state or FEMA staff at a Risk MAP meeting.
(3) It needs to be clear that the message is coming from someone other than the community
or is sponsored by or supported by the stakeholder. For example, when stencils are
displayed on city storm drains, they send a message that appears to come from the city,
even if the stencils were applied by a volunteer group. If the volunteer organization’s
name were in the message, however, then it would qualify for STK credit.
Credit Points
STK = OPi x 0.3, if the outreach project is delivered by a
stakeholder entity

The application of the STK points can be seen in the scoring example in Table 330-4.
Documentation Provided by the Community
All documentation needed for this element is supplied with the OP and PPI documentation.
It should be made clear which projects are delivered by stakeholders and therefore warrant
STK credit.

333 Credit Calculation
Credit is based on the number of messages, the type of projects, the number of times the
messages are repeated, and the extra PPI and STK credit. This makes for a complicated
scoring system, best done on a spreadsheet. A sample spreadsheet is shown in Table 330-4.

c330 = cOP + cFRP , where
cOP = ∑ (OP#1 + PPI#1 + STK#1) + (OP#2 + PPI#2 + STK#2)
+ (OP#3 + PPI#3 + STK#3) . . .
and
cFRP = ∑ (FRP#1 + PPI#1) + (FRP#2 + PPI#2) . . .

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A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel ® is available to facilitate calculating the credit for all the
elements and for c330.
The credit for each element cannot exceed the element’s maximum points, and the total
credit for Activity 330 cannot exceed 350 points.

Table 330-4. Scoring examples for PPI and STK.
A

B

C

(A x B x C)

PPI

STK

Total

Points
per
topic

# of
Floodrelated
Topics

# of times
Project
Delivered

OP =
Points per
Project

OP x
0.4

OP x
0.3

cOP = OP +
PPI + STK

OP#1. FEMA’s brochure on flood
insurance

1

1

1

1

0.40

0.30

1.70

OP#2. Local insurance agents
advise their clients

2

1

1

2

0.80

0.60

3.40

OP#3. Presentations to five
neighborhood associations

2

5a

5

50

20.00

15.00

85.00

OP#4. The neighborhood association presentation on cable TV

2

5a

1

10

4.00

3.00

17.00

OP#5. Mailing sent each year to
residents of the SFHA

6

6a

1

36

14.40

50.40

OP#6. Stencils on storm drains

2

1

1

2

0.80

2.80

OP#7. Meetings with home builders
association

6b

2

2

24

9.60

33.60

Outreach Project

Total

125

50.00

18.90

193.90

a. When the PPI added a 7th message, OP#3, OP#4, and OP#5 received more points for including the new message.
b. The PPI also identified building contractors as a target audience, so the semi-annual meetings in OP#7 are now
considered targeted outreach projects. This is not a simple change of numbers. To continue to receive this higher
credit, the PPI committee must track progress towards the desired outcomes, evaluate and revise the project each
year as needed, and include its findings in the annual report.
c. A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel® is available to facilitate calculating the credit for OP, FRP, PPI, STK, and c330.

334 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
b. A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel® is available to facilitate calculating the credit for OP, FRP,
PPI, STK, and c330. "330-370 Spreadsheets.xls" can be downloaded from
www.CRSresources.org/300.

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c. CRS Credit for Outreach Projects and Developing a Program for Public Information can be
found at www.CRSresources.org/300.
d. Some state and local emergency management offices have training courses for public
information officers. FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers public
information officer courses. EMI courses are tuition free and travel stipends can often be
obtained. For more information, contact your state emergency management agency’s training
officer.
e. NFIP flyers, stuffers, and toolkits can be ordered and/or downloaded from
http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program or from http://www.floodsmart.gov/.
f. The American Red Cross has informational materials that can be obtained in bulk, such as
tear-sheet pads about flood preparedness and returning to a flooded building. “Preparedness
Fast Facts” can be ordered from the Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

335 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
Several activities have publicity requirements that may be met with an outreach project that
is credited under this activity. These include Activities 320 (Map Information Service) and
360 (Flood Protection Assistance); technical assistance (TA) under Activity 370 (Flood
Insurance Promotion); and stream dumping regulations (SDR) under Activity
540 (Drainage System Maintenance). Outreach projects should be designed with these
publicity needs in mind.
The three warning and response activities, Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response),
Activity 620 (Levees), and Activity 630 (Dams), have requirements for outreach projects
that can be credited under OP.
A PPI should not be limited to outreach projects. It should look at all the activities a
community can pursue to inform people and motivate them to protect life and property, buy
insurance, and protect natural floodplain functions. The CRS credits other public information work in addition to that credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). The 2013
Coordinator’s Manual provides extra credit in some activities, if they are included in the
PPI:
 Activity 320 (Map Information Service): The priority messages identified in the PPI
should be conveyed when inquiries are made. The PPI step 2, Needs Assessment,
may identify areas that should be mapped and included in the map information
service.
 Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure): If real estate agencies are represented on the PPI
committee and their disclosure practice(s) and informational brochures are reviewed
in the PPI, then extra credit is provided.
 Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information): As with outreach projects, credit for
the website (WEB) is based on the number of topics covered. If there is a PPI, the
community can receive additional credit for covering up to 10 topics, instead of just

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six. The WEB credit for information on flood warning is also increased if it is
coordinated with other warning messages in the PPI.
 Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance): The credits for the first three elements,
property protection advice (PPA), advice after a site visit (PPV), and financial
assistance advice (FAA), all can be increased if the services are included in the PPI.
 Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion): It is recommended that the plan to
improve insurance coverage be part of the PPI and be prepared by the same
committee, provided that the committee meets the prerequisites for Activity 370
credit. Developing a Program for Public Information provides guidance for doing
this.
 Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation): This activity provides extra credit for
educational materials (brochures, signs, field trips, etc.) in open space areas that also
have identified natural floodplain functions. The credit is higher if the materials are
part of a PPI.
 Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning): In the past, some communities
have prepared public information program strategies (OPS) as part of their floodplain
management or hazard mitigation plans. Both PPI and floodplain management
planning (FMP) provide credit for having a committee. The same committee can
fulfill both activities’ credit criteria.
 Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance): A additional five points are available
under SDR if the community publicizes its regulations prohibiting dumping in
streams and ditches through its PPI.
NOTE: To receive the extra PPI credit, these activities would need to be based on
appropriate messages, which have desired outcomes discussed in the PPI. The activities
would also need to be evaluated by the committee and reviewed in the annual report.

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340  HAZARD DISCLOSURE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  80 points 

342  Elements 
a.  Disclosure of the flood hazard (DFH):  Up to 25 points if real estate 
agents notify those interested in purchasing properties located in the 
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) about the flood hazard and the flood 
insurance purchase requirement. An additional 10 points are provided if 
the disclosure program is part of a Program for Public Information 
credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). 
b.  Other disclosure requirements (ODR):  Up to 5 points for each other 
method of flood hazard disclosure required by law, up to a maximum of 
25 points. 
c.  Real estate agents’ brochure (REB):  Up to 8 points if real estate agents 
are providing brochures or handouts that advise potential buyers to 
investigate the flood hazard for a property. An additional 4 points are 
provided if the disclosure program is part of a Program for Public 
Information credited in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). 
d.  Disclosure of other hazards (DOH):  Up to 8 points if the notification to 
prospective buyers includes disclosure of other flood‐related hazards, 
such as erosion, subsidence, or wetlands. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for this activity. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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340 HAZARD DISCLOSURE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to disclose a property’s potential flood hazard to
prospective buyers before the lender notifies them of the need for flood insurance.

341 Background
Most prospective buyers do not take the time (or know how) to investigate whether a
property is subject to a hazard. In many cases a property may not be near a stream or
shoreline, past flooding may have been minor, or there may be no history of flooding since
the area was developed. As a result, many people are caught by surprise when their
properties are flooded. One of the best times to advise someone of a flood hazard is when
he or she is considering the purchase of property.
Federal regulations enacted pursuant to the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (as
amended by the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994) require only that a lender
advise a person of the flood hazard before closing on the loan. This could be well after the
buyer has put down earnest money, has lost interest in other properties, or has become
committed to purchasing the property without knowing all the facts. In many states a buyer
has recourse under consumer protection laws.
Many real estate organizations have disclosure practices. A community should check with
its ISO/CRS Specialist to see if neighboring communities are receiving this Community
Rating System (CRS) credit. They may already have submitted the needed documentation
for real estate agencies that serve the area.

341.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 340 is 80 points.
Credit is provided if a community’s real estate agents advise prospective floodplain
occupants about the flood hazard and the flood insurance purchase requirement. Other
disclosure methods may also be credited.
This activity should
 Encourage the purchase of flood insurance,
 Encourage implementation of flood protection measures,
 Prevent victimization of unwary buyers,
 Encourage appropriate use of vacant land,
 Prevent the troubles that can arise from failing to advise potential purchasers of a
flood hazard, and
 Protect the real estate agents and sellers from lawsuits.

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341.b. Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for Activity 340. Each element must be implemented
throughout the community.

342 Elements
342.a. Disclosure of the flood hazard (DFH)
The maximum credit for this element is 35 points. There are 25 points for DFH, and an
additional 10 points are provided if the disclosure program is part of a Program for Public
Information (PPI), credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
Credit for DFH relies on real estate agents to inform a potential purchaser whether a
property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). A statutory or other legal mandate that
real estate agents disclose the hazard is not needed to obtain credit for DFH. The credit is
based on documentation that real estate agents ARE disclosing the hazard, not on WHY they
are doing it. The best way to implement this activity is with a written notification to
potential purchasers. This provides the purchaser with the correct information and provides
documentation for the real estate agent and the ISO/CRS Specialist. Notations can be
provided on property summary sheets, offer-to-purchase forms, Multiple Listing Service
(MLS) forms, or other media. The most common approach is to have a box on the MLS
form.
This element can be implemented in conjunction with Activity 320 (Map Information
Service). Real estate agents may request that the community assist them with a determination of the flood risk of properties being advertised for sale; however, the real estate
agent must be informing people whether a property is in an SFHA. No credit is provided if
prospective buyers are sent to the community to find out about a property’s potential flood
risk.
Credit Criteria
(1) The notice must clearly state whether the property is in the floodplain and, if so, that
flood insurance is required. If the notice states that a property is in a floodplain or in the
SFHA, it must also tell the inquirer that federal law requires the purchase of flood
insurance as a condition of acquiring a federally backed mortgage. If the notice states
“Flood Insurance Required,” the notation that the property is in a floodplain is not
needed.
(2) A property notice that is difficult to interpret, such as “FP: Y/N,” or a general statement
on all properties, such as “Flood insurance may be required,” or “Flood Zone,” is not
acceptable. The form must clearly state, “Flood insurance is required.”

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(3) If the property is in an area designated under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, the
notice must advise that National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance is not
available.
(4) The disclosure must be volunteered by the real estate office. There is no DFH credit if
the disclosure is made only in response to someone’s inquiry about whether the property
is in a floodplain.
(5) Credit for DFH cannot be based on real estate agents’
use of a seller’s statement or certificate. The information that is required is notification of whether the
property is in an SFHA, not whether the sellers
experienced a flood while they owned the property.

Credit points are provided
under ODR, below, for a state or
local legal requirement that
potential purchasers be advised
about the property’s known flood
history.

(6) Additional credit is provided if the disclosure program
is covered in the community’s PPI credited under
Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) and the PPI
committee conducts an annual evaluation of the
disclosure program that is included in the annual PPI
report. In lieu of a PPI, the extra 10 points can be
provided if community staff worked with local real
estate agents to develop the disclosure program and
the staff meet with real estate agents annually to evaluate

Credit is also available under
Section 342.c (REB) if real estate
agents provide a brochure that
advises potential property
purchasers to investigate the
flood hazard.

and improve the program.

Credit Points
DFH = EITHER
25 points, if real estate agents notify those interested in
purchasing properties located in the SFHA about the flood
hazard and the flood insurance purchase requirement,
OR

35 points, if the real estate agents disclosure program credited
above is covered in the community’s PPI

Example 342.a-1.
On their property summaries, real estate agents include a notice of
flood hazard and whether flood insurance is required. When a seller
contracts with a real estate agent, the latter requests map information

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from the community. The cost is paid by the real estate agent. The
Board of Realtors® has provided the community with a description of
this procedure.
DFH = 25

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) At least one copy of a disclosure notice from at least five real estate agencies that
serve the community. If there are fewer than five agencies that serve the community,
then at least one notice from each agency must be submitted.
This documentation can be copies of the notations on property summary sheets,
offer-to-purchase forms, MLS forms, or other media. If the MLS form is used, a
photocopy of a completed MLS form must be submitted as documentation.
Seller’s disclosure forms may be sufficient documentation if they clearly state that
the property is or is not in the SFHA. Statements that “to the best of the seller’s
knowledge,” or statements regarding whether the property has been flooded are not
creditable. However, such statements may be eligible for credit under Section 342.b,
(ODR) if they are required by law. Statements that advise the buyer to determine if
the property is flood-prone are not creditable, although they may be eligible for
credit under Section 342.c (REB).
Blank forms are not acceptable documentation. Copies of actual information shown
to prospective buyers are required. Names may be blacked out to preserve
confidentiality.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) [Required only for the extra PPI credit] A copy of the annual report prepared by the
PPI committee or by the community after meeting with real estate agents.
The report must identify how the credited element worked, how effective it was
estimated to be, and what changes were recommended for improving its
effectiveness. If the PPI report is submitted for documentation for credit under
Activity 330, a separate submittal is not needed for this credit.

342.b. Other disclosure requirements (ODR)
The maximum credit for this element is 25 points (5 points per requirement).
The objective of the ODR credit is to provide information to people before they are
committed to owning or occupying a piece of property that is subject to a flood hazard.

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Credit Criteria
Credit can be requested for up to five state or local laws or ordinances that require
disclosure of a property’s exposure to flooding, including but not limited to
(1) Requiring all sellers to disclose the flood hazard in those cases where a real estate agent
is not involved.
(2) Requiring real estate agents and sellers to advise potential purchasers whether “to the
best of their knowledge and belief” the property has ever been flooded.
(3) Requiring landlords to advise
potential renters about the flood
hazard.
(4) Requiring final recorded subdivision
plats to display the flood hazard area
(see Figure 340-1).
(5) Requiring that the flood hazard area
be shown on individual lot surveys
prepared for deed records, property
transactions, or mortgages.
(6) Requiring titles or deed records to
show zoning or building permit
conditions related to floodplain or
drainage regulations, such as a notice
about the substantial improvement or
substantial damage requirement for
floodplain properties.
(7) Requiring signs posted in
subdivisions to advise visitors of the
flood hazard.
(8) Requiring that deeds show the lot or
building elevation in relation to sea
level and the base or historical flood
elevation.

Note: Requirements for identifying the floodplain
or flood elevations on preliminary plats or permit
applications are not disclosure requirements and
are not credited. ODR credit is based on a legal
requirement to disclose the flood hazard on a
record or notice that will be seen by potential
purchasers or occupants of a property.

Figure 340-1. An example of hazard disclosure on
a final subdivision plat.

(9) Requiring all sellers to disclose
whether the property is subject to a special flood-related hazard.
This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.

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Credit Points
ODR = 5 points for each other method of disclosure required by law
or ordinance

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the law or ordinance language that requires one or more disclosure
methods prior to the time of sale or rental of a property. See also Sections 231.b and
231.c on documenting regulatory language.

Example 342.b-1.
A community can receive credit for a state law that requires that,
before they are recorded, all subdivision plats are to “include an
engineer’s or surveyor’s statement as to which lots, if any, are partially
or completely located in an area of special flood hazard identified
pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.” [5 points]
A community’s zoning and building codes require that property records
show all special requirements that have been imposed as a condition
of building in a floodplain: “A record of each variance, special use
permit, and conditional use permit, and all conditions and stipulations
attached thereto, shall be provided to the County Recorder of Deeds to
be filed with the record of the property.” [5 points]
The community’s application includes a photocopy of these two quoted
legal requirements with “ODR” marked in the margin.
ODR = 5 + 5 = 10

342.c. Real estate agents’ brochure (REB)
The maximum credit for this element is 12 points. There are 8 points for REB, and an
additional 4 points are provided if the disclosure program is part of a PPI credited under
Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
REB credit is provided if real estate agents give a brochure to all clients that are looking to
purchase a property. The brochure does not need to identify which properties are floodprone, but it must advise the reader to check to see if a property is in a floodplain or has a
history of flooding.

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Figure 340-2 has language that communities can use to
develop their own locally tailored brochure. Sellers, in
particular, may appreciate as complete a description as
possible, especially if the flooding is shallow and slowmoving and retrofitting or other protective measures would be
appropriate and inexpensive. Purchasers of vacant land
should be well aware of factors such as the depth, velocity,
and warning time of the base flood.
It is recommended that real estate agents or communities
provide the brochures to lenders, because they would be
valuable to people seeking pre-approval for a mortgage
before they start house hunting.

Credit Criteria
(1) The real estate agents’ brochure must advise the reader to
check to see if a property is in a floodplain or has a
history of flooding.
(2) Additional credit is provided if the brochure is
recommended by the community’s PPI credited under
Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) and the PPI committee
conducts an annual evaluation of the brochure that is
included in the annual PPI report. In lieu of a PPI, the extra 4 points can be provided if
community staff worked with local real estate agents to develop the brochure and the
staff meet with real estate agents annually to evaluate and improve it.
(3) This credit is available even if the community does not receive DFH credit under
Section 342.a.
Credit Points
REB = EITHER
8 points, if real estate agents are providing brochures or
handouts that advise potential buyers to investigate the flood
hazard for a property
OR

12 points, if the credited brochure or handout is covered in the
community’s PPI

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Flood Hazard: Check Before You Buy
Most everyone knows that coastal properties are subject to flooding and wind damage from hurricanes. There are
maps that show areas predicted to flood. To find out more about flood-prone area maps, check with
___________________ [office that administers the map information service credited under Activity 320]
However, flooding and other surface drainage problems can occur well away from the coast. If you’re looking at
a property, it’s a good idea to check out the possible flood hazard before you buy. Here’s why:
• The force of moving water or waves can destroy a building.
• Slow-moving floodwaters can knock people off their feet or float a car.
• Even standing water can float a building, collapse basement walls, or buckle a concrete floor.
• Water-soaked contents, such as carpeting, clothing, upholstered furniture, and mattresses, may have to be
thrown away after a flood.
• Some items, such as photographs and heirlooms, may never be restored to their original condition.
• Floodwaters are not clean: floods carry mud, farm chemicals, road oil, and other noxious substances that
cause health hazards.
• Flooded buildings breed mold and other problems if they are not repaired quickly and properly.
• The impact of a flood—cleaning up, making repairs, and the personal losses—can cause great stress to
you, your family, and your finances.
Floodplain Regulations: _______________ [name of community] regulates construction and development in
the floodplain to ensure that buildings will be protected from flood damage. Filling and similar projects are
prohibited in certain areas. Houses substantially damaged by fire, flood, or any other cause must be elevated to

or above the regulatory flood level when they are repaired. More information can be obtained from
__________________ [name, phone number of permit office]
Check for a Flood Hazard: Before you commit yourself to buying property, do the following:
• Ask the __________________ [name, phone number of permit office] if the property is in a
floodplain; if it has ever been flooded; what the flood depth, velocity, and warning time are; if it is
subject to any other hazards; and what building or zoning regulations are in effect.
• Ask the real estate agent if the property is in a floodplain, if it has ever been flooded, and if it is subject to
any other hazards, such as sewer backup or subsidence.
• Ask the seller and the neighbors if the property is in a floodplain, how long they have lived there, if the
property has ever been flooded, and if it is subject to any other hazards.
Flood Protection: A building can be protected from most flood hazards, sometimes at a relatively low cost.
New buildings and additions can be elevated above flood levels. Existing buildings can be protected from
shallow floodwaters by regrading, berms, or floodwalls. There are other retrofitting techniques that can protect a
building from surface or subsurface water.
Flood Insurance: Homeowners insurance usually does not include coverage for a flood. One of the best
protection measures for a building with a flood problem is a flood insurance policy under the National Flood
Insurance Program, which can be purchased through any licensed property insurance agent. If the building is
located in a floodplain, flood insurance will be required by most federally backed mortgage lenders. Ask an
insurance agent how much a flood insurance policy would cost.

Figure 340-2. A template for a real estate agents’ brochure

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the brochure or other document that real estate agents make available to
interested parties.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) [Required only for the extra PPI credit] A copy of the annual report prepared by the
PPI committee or by the community after meeting with real estate agents. The report
must identify how the credited element worked, how effective it was estimated to be,
and what changes were recommended for improving its effectiveness. If the PPI
report is submitted for documentation for credit under Activity 330, a separate
submittal is not needed for this credit.

Example 342.c-1.
The California Department of Water Resources has produced a model
brochure for prospective purchasers of flood-prone property that
provides them with information about flood hazards. California
communities that adapt the brochure for their local flood conditions can
receive 8 points, provided it is distributed by local real estate agents. It
is available as a template at http://www.water.ca.gov/floodmgmt/
lrafmo/fmb/fas/nfip/crs/300series_publicinformation.cfm.

342.d. Disclosure of other hazards (DOH)
The maximum credit for this element is 8 points.
DOH provides credit for providing information to inquirers about other flood-related
hazards. Potential property purchasers should be advised of other hazards that have been
identified for specific sites. These include
 Coastal wave hazards (as mapped as V Zones, LiMWA, or coastal A Zones);
 Coastal and channel erosion;
 Subsidence;
 Dam failure and levee failure;
 Areas subject to increased flooding due to climate change and sea level rise; and
 Tsunamis and the other special flood-related hazards listed in Section 401.
Disclosing areas subject to non-flood-related hazards, such as volcanoes, landslides, and
wildfire, is encouraged, but not credited by the CRS.

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Credit Criteria
DFH credit is a prerequisite to receiving DOH credit. The disclosure of other hazards must
be included in the materials used for DFH credit.
Credit Points
DOH = 8 points, if the notification to prospective buyers credited in
Section 342.a includes disclosure of other flood-related hazards

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The documentation submitted for credit under Section 342.a (DFH), marked to show
how the other flood-related hazards are disclosed.

343 Credit Calculation
c340 = DFH + ODR + REB + DOH

344 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
b. Copies of the following booklets are available free, singly or in quantity (see Appendix C
or www.CRSresources.org).
Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA F-084,
Federal Emergency Management Agency (2011). This is also available from FEMA’s
website at www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=1404.
Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, FEMA F-083, Federal Emergency
Management Agency (2007). This booklet discusses the legal background of the flood
insurance purchase requirement from the lender’s perspective. It is also available from
FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=2954.

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345 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Some communities’ map information services (credited under Activity 320 (Map
Information Service)) help real estate agents determine the flood hazard for a
property. Having an objective source of this information can help overcome some
agencies’ reluctance to disclose the flood hazard and can help the community receive
credit under this activity.
 The PPI credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) can be an effective way to
start involving real estate staff in community public information activities. Their
participation in the PPI can result in more points for DFH and REB under Activity
340.
 Some credited regulations require filing a provision with the property records. For
example, subdivision plat limitations credited by open space incentives (OSI) in
Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation) and nonconversion agreements credited
under ENL in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) are filed with the recorder
of property records so future owners are made aware of the restrictions. Such
regulations are also eligible for credit under ODR in this activity.

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350  FLOOD PROTECTION INFORMATION—Summary 
Maximum credit:  125 points 

352  Elements 
a.  Flood protection library (LIB):  10 points for having 10 Federal Emergency 
Management Agency publications on flood protection topics housed in 
the public library. 
b.   Locally pertinent documents (LPD):  Up to 10 points for having additional 
references on the community’s flood problem or local or state floodplain 
management programs housed in the public library. 
c.  Flood protection website (WEB):  Up to 76 points for providing flood 
protection information via the community’s website. An additional 29 
points are provided if the website is part of a Program for Public 
Information (credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)). There are 
four ways to receive credit under this element: 
WEB1: for providing more information on the messages conveyed in the 
community’s outreach projects credited under Activity 330 (Outreach 
Projects). 
WEB2: for providing information on warning, safety, evacuation, and 
other topics of immediate concern when a flood threatens. 
WEB3: for posting or linking real‐time gage information so users can see 
current water levels and, where available, flood height predictions. 
WEB4: for posting Elevation Certificates or the data from Elevation 
Certificates. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for this activity. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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350 FLOOD PROTECTION INFORMATION
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to provide the public with information about flood
protection that is more detailed than that provided through outreach projects.

351 Background
As noted in Activity 330, research has shown that people become interested in a subject
when they receive repeated messages from different sources. When they do become
interested, they need more information than what usually is covered in brief outreach
projects. This activity credits providing that more detailed information. It also credits
supplying additional information, such as real-time gage data, that can be disseminated
effectively via websites.
The community library and community websites are obvious places for residents to look for
detailed information about flooding and flood protection. These locations can contain a
great deal of information and they offer alternatives for people who are hesitant to go to
City Hall or talk to a local regulatory official about their flood problem or flood concerns.
Libraries are best for providing guidebooks and handbooks to the public since they are
typically costly to mail or are often too lengthy to be presented on a website. They are also
a good source of materials for people who do not use the internet.
Websites have become the primary source of detailed information for more and more
people. For some types of information, such as maps and current information on flooding, a
website can be the most effective and efficient source. A website also allows links to other,
more detailed information that is kept current by the agency or organization that is most
familiar with it.

351.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 350 is 125 points.
This activity credits providing the public with more detailed information about flood
protection measures. The flood protection information provided in this activity supports the
messages presented under Activity 330’s outreach projects. It also credits supplying
community-specific documents and additional information, such as real-time gage data, that
can be disseminated effectively via websites. The more detailed information is intended to
help the public take steps to protect themselves and their property from the impact of
flooding.
Two main sources of information are credited in this activity: libraries and websites.

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Library: Two elements provide credit for having references in the community’s public
library:
 Flood protection library (LIB) provides 10 points for the public library’s having all
10 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publications on flood
protection topics that are listed in Figure 350-1.
 Locally pertinent documents (LPD) provides up to 10 more points for the library’s
having additional references on the community’s flood problem or local or state
floodplain management programs.
Website: More points are provided under the flood protection website (WEB) element
because more people use websites, more information can be provided quickly through that
outlet, and the information can be accessed 24 hours a day. The maximum credit for WEB
is 76 points. An additional 29 points are provided if the website is part of a Program for
Public Information (PPI) credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
For both the library and the website, the material must be kept up to date. In both cases, the
community can make use of other organizations’ programs, such as a county library system
or links to other agencies’ websites, to provide the detailed information to its residents.

351.b. Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for Activity 350.
1. Above the Flood: Elevating Your Floodprone
House, FEMA-347 (2000)

352 Elements

2. Answers to Questions About the National Flood
Insurance Program, F-084 (2011)

352.a. Flood protection library (LIB)

3. Coastal Construction Manual, FEMA-P-55,
(2011)

The maximum credit for this element is 10
points.
LIB credit is provided for having the latest
versions of the 10 FEMA publications listed in
Figure 350-1 cataloged and available in the
community’s library. If the state, region,
community, or other entity has published
documents that are more appropriate to the
community’s situation, then those may be
substituted. References that are not relevant
(e.g., the community has no coastal floodplain
or manufactured homes) do not have to be
included.

5. Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance
Guidelines, F-083 (2007)
6. Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods
and Other Hazards, FEMA P-85 (2009)
7. Mitigation of Flood and Erosion Damage to
Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, FEMA257 (1994)
8. Protecting Building Utilities From Flood
Damage, FEMA-P-348 (1999)
9. Protecting Floodplain Resources, FEMA-268
(1996)
10. Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding,
FEMA 511 (2005)

All of the publications are available free,
singly or in quantity (see Appendix C or

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4. Elevated Residential Structures, FEMA-54
(1984)

Figure 350-1. Publications credited
under element LIB.
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www.CRSresources.org). Although only one copy of each publication is required for credit,
it is expected that the library will keep sufficient copies to meet the demand.
Note that there are many other appropriate and relevant national publications on flood
protection from agencies and organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
American Red Cross. Communities are encouraged to include these references in their
library for their citizens, but they are not required for LIB credit.
A library may receive credit for digital copies provided that they can be checked out or
there is a computer terminal or other machine in the library that people may use to read
them. Digital versions must be located in the library or the library’s system and not be
dependent on links to an outside source.
Credit Criteria
(1) The 10 publications listed in Figure 350-1 must be cataloged and maintained in the
public library that is most accessible and most widely used by residents of the
community.
 In a community with branch libraries or where there is a multi-community library
system, the publications must be available to all branches, although it is not
necessary for each branch to maintain a full set.
 If a small community does not have a library, but an adjacent large community does,
the small community may receive credit for this activity if it documents that its
residents have ready access to the library in the adjacent community.
No credit is provided for documents kept in an office that is not a local public library.
(2) The documents must be entered into the library’s card catalog or similar system that
allows patrons to find publications related to flooding and flood protection. Some
libraries place these documents in a reference library that contains uncataloged items. In
such cases, the card catalog still needs an entry under “flood,” which could read, “See
Reference Librarian for materials on flooding and flood protection.”
Credit Points
LIB = 10 points, if the publications are cataloged and maintained in
the community’s public library

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of the publications that have been cataloged in the community’s library or
library system. The list may be hard copy or digital. If the catalog is available for
review on line, the URL may be provided in lieu of a list.

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352.b. Locally pertinent documents (LPD)
The maximum credit for this element is 10 points.
LPD credit is provided for having documents in the community’s local public library that
cover flood hazards, flood protection, and natural floodplain functions and also are keyed
to local conditions or to the topics credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
Examples of such documents are
 A city handbook on how to protect a building from flood damage,
 A state booklet on floodplain regulation requirements,
 The community’s floodplain management ordinance,
 An environmental organization’s guide to local aquatic and riparian habitats,
 The community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM),
 A reconnaissance report or flood control plan for a stream in the community,
published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
 The community’s Flood Insurance Study,
 The county’s floodplain management or hazard mitigation plan, or
 Resource management plans that are related to floodplains, such as a beach
management plan or fish habitat restoration plan.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must receive credit for LIB in Section 352.a.
(2) The documents must be entered into the library’s card catalog or similar system that
allows patrons to find publications related to flooding and flood protection. Some
libraries place these documents in a reference library that contains uncataloged items. In
such cases, the card catalog still needs an entry under “flood,” with a reference to where
the items can be found (e.g., “See Reference Librarian for local materials on flooding
and flood protection”).
Credit Points
LPD = 1 point for each locally pertinent document that is cataloged
in the community’s public library, up to a maximum of 10 points

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of the publications that have been cataloged in the community’s library or
library system. This may be hard copy or digital. If the catalog is available for
review on line, the URL may be provided in lieu of a list.
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352.c. Flood protection website (WEB)
The maximum credit for this element is 76 points.
WEB credit is for providing flood protection information via the community’s website. An
additional 29 points are provided if the website is part of a PPI credited under Activity 330
(Outreach Projects).
A community can receive credit for a county or regional website, provided that there is a
link from the community’s website and that the information is locally pertinent. Uniform
minimum credit can be calculated for all communities that link to such a site (see
Example 352.c-1).
There are four sub-elements for WEB:
(1) WEB1—Providing detailed information on the flood protection messages conveyed in
outreach projects that are credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) (up to 36
points, and up to 60 points if the website is covered under the PPI).
(2) WEB2—Providing information on warning, safety, evacuation, and other topics of
immediate concern when a flood threatens (up to 10 points, and up to 15 points if the
website is covered under the PPI).
(3) WEB3—Posting real-time gage information so users can see current water levels and,
where available, flood height predictions (up to 10 points).
(4) WEB4—Posting Elevation Certificates or data from Elevation Certificates (up to 20 points).
Credit Criteria
To receive any WEB credit, the community’s website must meet the following criteria.
(1) There must be a flood information home page that is readily found by either (1) having
it listed and linked on the community website’s home page, or (2) using the website’s
search feature. When using the website’s search feature, the flood information home
page must be the first or second item listed when “flood” or a similar term is entered.
There is no credit if the search engine lists numerous possible sites and the user must
wade through them to find the flood information home page.
(2) The flood information home page must have a directory of the flood protection
information provided, along with links to the appropriate pages. There is no credit for
items that are not connected to this flood information home page. Examples of
creditable home pages can be found at www.CRSresources.org/300.
(3) The links to the flood protection information pages may be to pages on the community’s
own website or on other websites. Other websites’ links may include sites operated by
FEMA; the state; the regional flood, water resources, or sewer district; universities; or
any agency or organization with information related to the credited topics. However, the
other sites must have information pertinent to the community’s flood conditions (e.g., a
riverine community should not refer users to a coastal website).
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Example 352.c-1.
One of the best sources of information about protecting a house from
flooding is the Floods and Hurricanes site administered by the
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (www.lsuagcenter.com/en/
family_home/hazards_and_threats/floods_hurricanes/). Communities with
slab-on-grade foundations (even communities not in Louisiana) could
refer web users to this site via a link.

(4) If a page discusses a topic and the community provides a service related to that topic
that is credited by the Community Rating System (CRS), the website must inform the
readers about the service the community offers. For example, if the community is
receiving credit under Activity 320 (Map Information Service), the page on the flood
hazard or flood maps must note that the community can provide information to people
from the FIRM and other sources.
(5) There must be a link to FloodSmart (www.floodsmart.gov) or to FEMA’s flood
insurance page at www.fema.gov/business/nfip.
(6)The community must check the website’s links at least monthly, and fix those that are no
longer accurate. (There is free or low-cost software that can identify broken links
automatically.) At least annually, the community must review the content to ensure that
it is still current and pertinent (e.g., make sure names, addresses, phone numbers, and
other contact information are still correct; update any ordinance changes; etc.). For
more information on how this can be done, see the Activity 350 website information at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
(7) Additional credit is provided for WEB1 and WEB2 if the website content is covered in
the community’s PPI credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
Credit Points
WEB = the total of the points for the four sub-elements:
WEB = WEB1 + WEB2 + WEB3 + WEB4
(a) WEB1 = up to 6 points per topic for detailed coverage of
each of the topics credited under Activity 330 (Outreach
Projects)
The maximum credit for WEB1 is 36 points for coverage of
the six priority CRS topics or 60 points if the community has
more than six topics in a PPI

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(a) The maximum credit for WEB1 is 36 points for coverage of the six priority CRS
topics listed in Table 330-1, even if the community is not receiving credit under
Activity 330.
(b) If the community has a PPI, it may cover more than six topics, in which case it can
receive up to an additional six points for each topic, up to a total of 10 topics and 60
points. The PPI must include a discussion of the website and have recommendations
on what should be included on the website. Continued credit for the additional topics
is dependent upon receiving continued credit for the PPI.
(c) To receive the full 6 points for a topic, there must be thorough coverage of the topic.
This can be provided with a detailed discussion on the community’s website or via a
link to a reference or other site that provides a detailed discussion. If the written
portion of an outreach project is posted on the website without more detailed
information, then credit will be up to 2 points. The objective is to provide more indepth information than that provided in the outreach projects.

Example 352.c-2.
The University of New Orleans Center for Hazard Assessment,
Reduction, and Technology maintains a website to help repetitive loss
communities, www.FloodHelp.uno.edu. Note that portions of the site
are not relevant for some flooding situations, such as coastal V Zones
and mountainous flash flooding. A community that finds the information
relevant to its situation may link to the site or to selected pages.
Uniform minimum credit can be provided for the six topics as noted in
the table below.
Topic

Coverage on UNO’s Site

Points

1. Know your flood
hazard

There is no credit because the University’s
site does not discuss local hazards

0

2. Insure your property
for your flood hazard

Flood Insurance link on the home page

6

3. Protect people from
the hazard

Protecting Yourself link on the home page

6

4. Protect your property
from the hazard

Protecting Your Home link

6

5. Build responsibly

Protecting Your Home, Construction Rules

6

6. Protect natural
floodplain functions

There is no credit because the site does not
discuss local natural floodplain functions

0

WEB1 =

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(b) WEB2 = EITHER
up to 10 points, for information on warning, safety,
evacuation and other topics of immediate concern when a
flood threatens
OR

up to 15 points, if the community has a PPI that discusses
what information is needed on the website when a flood
threatens

For full credit, the following must be covered:
 Flood warning signals,
 Where the flood will or is likely to go (e.g., a link to a map),
 Evacuation routes,
 Flood safety precautions, and
 Shelter locations, including special-needs shelters and transportation assistance.
Additional credit is provided if the information is covered in the community’s PPI, credited
under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). The PPI must include a discussion of the website
and have recommendations on what should be included on the website. Continued credit for
the additional 5 points is dependent upon receiving continued credit for the PPI.

(c) WEB3 = up to 10 points, for posting real-time gage
information so users can observe current water levels and,
where available, flood height predictions

WEB3 credit is provided for linking to real-time reporting gages. They can be the
community’s gages or gages managed by the National Weather Service, the U.S. Geological
Survey, or a state or other agency. Full credit is dependent upon posting information for all
available gages and an explanation of the site.
If a local gage-stage datum is used, the gage data must relate to sea level, NAVD, or
NGVD, as appropriate locally; to recent flooding; or a local landmark (e.g., “one foot
below the 2006 flood,” “two feet over the Route 30 bridge,” or “four feet deep at the
Pettaway Park parking lot”). See also the example in Figure 350-2.

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Little Calumet River Flood Levels
Flood heights have been recorded since 1947
on a river gage that is currently located at
the Cottage Grove Avenue bridge over the
Little Calumet River. Recorded flood heights
can be shown in stage or in elevation. Stage
is measured in feet above an arbitrary starting point that was set when the gage was
first installed. Elevations are in feet above
sea level. Stage of zero on this gage is the
same as an elevation of 575.0 feet above sea
level.
"Flood stage" is the elevation where the rising river starts to damage property. Yards
and parks are flooded when the river reaches
an elevation of approximately 590 feet above
sea level. Buildings are affected at approximately 593 feet….
In 2005, the National Weather Service issued
a new "flood stage" level − 16.5 feet or an
elevation of 591.5. The Weather Service also
provides real-time stage data for the upstream river gauges on the Little Calumet
River at South Holland, and on Thorn
Creek at Thornton.

Figure 350-2. Example explanation of gage data.
From www.southholland.org/index.php?page=FloodProtection/problems

(d) WEB4 = up to 20 points, for posting Elevation Certificates or
the data from Elevation Certificates on the website

Either the Elevation Certificates must be posted on the website, or the site may provide a
list of addresses for which the community has Elevation Certificates. If the addresses are
posted, then the website must include information on how to obtain a copy of the Elevation
Certificate.
Full credit is provided for WEB4 if all the Elevation Certificates maintained by the
community are posted on the website. For example, if the community has 100 Elevation
Certificates, but only 50% are posted on the website, then WEB4 = 20 x 0.5 = 10 points.
The number of Elevation Certificates maintained by the community is the number of
Elevation Certificates submitted for credit under Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates). Any
Elevation Certificates that have been found by the verification review of Activity 310 to be
incomplete or incorrect should not be posted on the website.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
This element is verified by checking the community’s website online. If the reviewer
cannot find the website or the flood protection home page, there is no credit.
(1) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) A statement that the community has checked the website, fixed any broken links,
and confirmed that the content is still current and pertinent (Section 352.c, credit
criterion (6)).
(b) [Required only for the extra PPI credit] The annual report prepared by the PPI
committee that evaluates the service. This is provided with the recertification
documentation for Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

353 Credit Calculation
c350 = LIB + LPD + WEB

354 For More Information
a. The CRS website (www.CRSresources.org/300) has a page on websites, with links to good
examples around the country. This page is kept up to date as websites change and new
examples are found. It also has a section with useful links from federal agencies, such as the
real-time gage websites of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.

355 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
This credit is closely related to Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). The objective of outreach
projects is to pique the reader’s interest in a topic, such as flood insurance or property
protection. Some readers will want to know more, so Activity 350 credits providing that
additional information through the local library or the community’s website. WEB1 is
directly tied to the messages that are disseminated in the projects credited under
Activity 330, and those credit points can be increased to a maximum of 60 if the messages
also are part of the community’s PPI (credited under Activity 330).
The website credit can also help publicize other community services, such as
 Providing copies of Elevation Certificates (Activity 310),
 Reading maps for people (Activity 320),
 Providing technical assistance on property protection (Activity 360),
 Providing technical assistance on flood insurance (Activity 370),

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 Administering the permit requirements for construction and development in the
floodplain (Activity 430 and Activity 450), and
 Maintaining the drainage maintenance system and carrying out related procedures
and responsibilities (Activity 540).
It should be noted that posting information about these service using a website does not
fulfill the publicity prerequisite for these activities, unless website-based publicity is
discussed in the PPI and the PPI documents why a website is the best medium to use.
The real-time gage information and flood warning information should be coordinated
closely with the flood warning and response planning in the 600 series of CRS activities
and with the outreach project prerequisites for those activities.

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360  FLOOD PROTECTION ASSISTANCE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  110 points 

362  Elements 
a.  Property protection advice (PPA):  Up to 25 points for providing one‐on‐
one advice about property protection (such as retrofitting techniques and 
drainage improvements). An additional 15 points are provided if the 
assistance program is part of a Program for Public Information (credited 
under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)). 
b.  Protection advice provided after a site visit (PPV):  Up to 30 points if the 
property protection advisor makes a site visit before providing the advice. 
An additional 15 points are provided if the site visit procedures are part 
of a Program for Public Information credited under Activity 330 
(Outreach Projects). 
c.  Financial assistance advice (FAA):  10 points for providing advice on 
financial assistance programs that may be available. An additional 5 
points are provided if the financial assistance advisory service is part of a 
Program for Public Information credited under Activity 330 (Outreach 
Projects). 
d.  Advisor training (TNG):  10 points if the person providing the advice has 
graduated from the EMI courses on retrofitting or grants programs. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for this activity. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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360 FLOOD PROTECTION ASSISTANCE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to provide one-on-one help to people who are interested in
protecting their property from flooding.

361 Background
People can become informed most effectively through direct, one-on-one communication
with an expert. Research has found that people are more likely to undertake activities to
reduce the flood hazard to their property if they can get reliable information right in their
own community. Localized information and advice could be for taking care of drainage
problems, retrofitting existing structures, or properly locating and building new structures.
Research has also found that property owners are much more likely to implement
appropriate mitigation measures if they have financial support for doing so.
There are many ways to protect a property from flood damage, including, but not limited to,
those listed in Figure 360-1. Note that the list does not include major structural flood
control projects, such as building an upstream reservoir.
Different measures are appropriate for different flood hazards, building types, and building
conditions. The objective of this activity is to have a knowledgeable person directly advise
a property owner about whether one or more of these measures would be appropriate for the
owner’s situation.

To protect property from flood damage . . .
● Demolish the building or relocate it out of harm’s way.
●
●
●
●
●
●
●

Elevate the building above the flood level.
Elevate damage-prone components, such as the furnace or air conditioning unit.
Dry floodproof the building so water cannot get into it.
Wet floodproof portions of the building so water won’t cause damage.
Construct a berm or redirect drainage away from the building.
Maintain nearby streams, ditches, and storm drains so debris does not obstruct them.
Correct sewer backup problems.

Figure 360-1. Typical property protection measures.

361.a. Activity Description
This activity credits telling individuals what they can do to protect their own properties
from flood damage. For full credit, the advice must include the types of protection
measures listed in Figure 360-1 and sources of financial assistance. The maximum credit
for this activity is 110 points.

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Under this activity, a qualified person must be willing and able to talk to inquirers about
the flood hazard, flood protection measures, and/or possible financial assistance. The
availability of this service must be publicized at least annually. As long as the service is
publicized and provided to inquirers, credit is provided regardless of how many people take
advantage of it.
The following should be considered when providing the advice:
 The advice should include specific recommendations, such as “elevate well above the
base flood elevation,” or “don’t try to dry floodproof a basement,” but does not need
to include detailed construction specifications.
 This credit is not intended to provide a public service that competes with local
engineers, architects, or contractors. Where appropriate, the technical advisor would
still recommend things like soils analyses, structural studies, engineering design,
and/or competitive bids.
 The advice can be a review of an existing problem
or it can be providing advice to someone who is
contemplating developing or improving a property.
In the latter case, the advice should encourage the
inquirer to exceed the community’s minimum
requirements, such as recommending not building
in the floodplain in the first place.
 This activity does not give credit for floodplain
ordinance enforcement activities that are routinely
conducted by a building department, such as
making site visits and/or reviewing plans to ensure
that they comply with the building code.
 Responding to stream dumping or drainage
maintenance complaints is credited under
Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance).
This Corps of Engineers
reference is a good resource for
communities that are starting a flood
protection assistance program. It
can be found at

361.b. Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for Activity 360.

www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/civil
works/Project%20Planning/nfpc/Local%
20Flood%20Proofing%20Programs%20
2005.pdf.

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362 Elements
362.a. Property protection advice (PPA)
The maximum credit for this element is 40 points. There are 25 points for PPA and an
additional 15 points if the advisory program is part of a Program for Public Information
(PPI) credited in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
PPA credits ONE - ON- ONE advice and/or assistance about property protection, i.e., the types
of projects listed in Figure 360-1.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must identify at least one person to provide the flood protection advice
and assistance. The person(s) could be the city engineer, building inspector, consultant,
employee of a county or regional flood control district, Natural Resources Conservation
Service District Conservationist, etc. It need not be local staff if other agencies have
agreed to answer inquiries.
(2) The person(s) providing the advice and assistance must be familiar with structural and
non-structural flood protection and mitigation measures, including flood insurance.
Assistance can be provided by a combination of offices to secure a range of expertise,
such as a building official who knows retrofitting measures and a public works
employee who understands drainage.
(3) The advice must be provided one-on-one, i.e., by talking directly to the person making
the inquiry, either face-to-face or over a telephone. There is no credit for simply
handing an inquirer materials or references or referring people to a website.
(4) The service must be publicized at least once a year. There are three publicity options:
(a) An annual notice that reaches everyone in the community, such as an article in a
newsletter or stuffer in a utility bill that goes to all properties.
(b) An annual notice directed to the areas with flooding and drainage problems, such as
a mailer to all properties in the floodplain.
(c) An annual outreach project developed as part of a Program for Public Information,
credited as element PPI under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), provided that the
program document identifies the audience for the service and discusses the best way
to reach that audience.
(5) Records of the service must be kept and provided for credit documentation.
(6) Additional credit is provided if the flood protection assistance service is covered in the
community’s PPI credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). The PPI must include
a discussion of the service and have recommendations on how it should be conducted.
Continued credit for the extra PPI points under this activity is dependent upon receiving
continued credit for the PPI under Activity 330.

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Credit Points
PPA = EITHER:
Up to 25 points, if the community provides one-on-one advice
OR

Up to 40 points, if the property protection advisory service is
included in the PPI

Full credit is dependent upon providing the service to all properties with known flooding,
drainage, and sewer problems. If the community only addresses selected problems, such as
sewer backup, and does not assist property owners who are subject to other flood-related
hazards, then the credit is prorated.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) If the person providing the advice is not a community employee, a letter stating that
the person and/or agency has agreed to do the work (Section 362.a, credit
criterion (1)). If the service provider covers several jurisdictions (e.g., a county
flood control agency), a letter or memo stating that the service is provided
throughout its jurisdiction is sufficient.
(b) A description of the technical qualifications of all persons who are providing the
service (Section 362.a, credit criterion (2)). A resume that includes training or other
qualifications that directly relate to the person’s knowledge of the topic will suffice.
A job description is not creditable.
(c) Documentation that shows how the community publicizes the service each year
(Section 362.a, credit criterion (4)). The publicity must
 Describe the service(s) provided;
 Be distributed at least once a year; and
 Explain how to access the service, e.g., what telephone number to call.
If the community publicizes this service through an annual outreach project credited
under Activity 330, the publicity materials may be included with the documentation
for Activity 330. There must be a notation (e.g., “360-PPA”) in the margin of the
outreach project where the flood protection assistance service is addressed.
If a PPI is used to determine the appropriate publicity mechanism, the public
information strategy document must discuss the best way to publicize the service to
the intended audiences.
(d) Records of the service must be kept and provided for credit documentation (Section
362.a, credit criterion (5)). These can be copies of written reports, memos, emails,

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work orders, letters to the property owners, etc. The records must include the date
and type of assistance given, the details of the findings, and the recommendations
provided to the inquirer.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) A copy of how the community publicized the service during the year.
(b) Copies of three written reports or other material that documents providing the
service (Section 362.a, credit criterion (5)). If there have been fewer than three
requests for the service during the year, copies of documentation of all the requests
are needed.
(c) [Required only for the extra PPI credit] The annual report prepared by the PPI
committee that evaluates the service. This is provided with the recertification
documentation for Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

362.b. Protection advice provided after a site visit (PPV)
The maximum credit for this element is 45 points. There are 30 points for PPV and an
additional 15 points if the site visits are part of a Program for Public Information credited
in element PPI under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
If the community receives credit for PPA, additional PPV points are available for making
SITE VISITS to review flooding, drainage, and sewer problems, and providing one-on-one
advice to the property owner about protection of the property.
This service must provide advice to the inquirer and must be more than a determination of
whether the flood problem is a community responsibility or whether the community will
construct a drainage improvement project. The site visit must include advice on how to
protect the property from the flood hazard, as explained in the previous section on property
protection advice (PPA).
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must receive credit for PPA. PPV credit for site visits is an additional
credit as part of the community’s provision of property protection advice.
(2) The publicity for the service must include a note that a community representative will
visit the site in question and review the problem with the inquirer.
(3) Additional credit is provided if the flood protection assistance service is covered in the
community’s PPI credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). The PPI must include
a discussion of the site visits and have recommendations on how they should be
conducted. Continued credit for the extra PPI points in this element is dependent on
receiving continued PPI credit under Activity 330.

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Credit Points
PPV = EITHER:
Up to 30 points, if the community includes site visits before
providing advice
OR

Up to 45 points, if the property protection visit service
is included in the PPI

Full credit is dependent upon providing the service to all properties with known flooding,
drainage, and sewer problems. If the community only addresses selected problems, such as
sewer backup, and does not assist property owners subject to other flood-related hazards,
then the credit is prorated.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Along with PPA documentation items (1)(a) and (1)(b), the names and titles of the
person(s) conducting the site visits.
(b) Along with the PPA publicity documentation (item (1)(c)), a note that the
community will visit the site if requested.
(c) Records of the site visits and the advice provided must be kept (PPA documentation
item (1)(d)).
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) The materials provided with the recertification for PPA, which must include the
appropriate PPV references.

362.c. Financial assistance advice (FAA)
The maximum credit for this element is 15 points. There are 10 points for FAA, and an
additional 5 points if the financial assistance advice is part of a Program for Public
Information credited in element PPI under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
Research has shown that property owners are more likely to implement mitigation measures
if they have financial support. Telling people about both pre-flood and post-flood help is
useful because they may not be fully motivated to act until they are flooded again.
This element credits providing advice and/or assistance about financial help for
undertaking property protection measures, such as those sources listed in Figure 360-2.

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Credit Criteria
(1) The community must identify at least one person to provide the financial assistance
advice. It need not be local staff if other agencies have agreed to answer inquiries.
(2) The service must be publicized at least once a year. Although PPA credit is not a
prerequisite, to receive credit for FAA the financial assistance advisory service must be
publicized in the same manner described in PPA credit criterion (3). If the community
provides PPA advice, then the publicity for FAA should be part of the PPA publicity.
(3) Full credit is dependent upon providing information on all available sources of financial
assistance. There must be a documented check of the sources of assistance listed in
Figure 360-2 to determine which ones may be available and appropriate for the
community. No credit is provided if the advice covers only flood insurance or Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mitigation grants. Saying that there is no
assistance is not credited.

Financial Assistance for Property Protection Measures
Pre-flood Assistance
○

Projects fully or partially funded by a local agency. For example, some metropolitan sewer
agencies fund part or all of a project to stop sewer backup and some communities have
their own rebate, financial assistance, or construction programs;

○

FEMA mitigation grants;

○

State or local programs, such as grants, loans, and rebates;

○

Housing improvement assistance programs;

○

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development grants and loans for mitigation;

○

The potential to reduce flood insurance premiums for certain mitigation projects (e.g.,
elevating the building above the base flood elevation); and

○

Exempting the improvements from property tax increases.

Post-flood Assistance
○

Flood insurance;

○

Flood insurance’s Increased Cost of Compliance benefit for substantially damaged
structures;

○

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; and

○

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s post-flood mitigation loans.

See www.CRSresources.org/300 for more information on these financial assistance programs.

Figure 360-2. A selection of potential sources of financial assistance
for property protection.

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(4) The advice must be provided one-on-one, i.e., by talking directly to the person making
the inquiry, either face-to-face or over a telephone. Written materials may be used to
help explain the programs, but there is no credit for simply handing an inquirer
materials or references or referring people to a website.
(5) Records of the service must be kept and provided for credit documentation.
(6) Additional credit is provided if financial assistance advice is covered in the
community’s Program for Public Information credited in element PPI under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects). The PPI must include a discussion of the service and have
recommendations on how it should be conducted. Continued credit for extra PPI points
in this element is dependent upon receiving continued PPI credit under Activity 330.
Credit Points
FAA = one of the following:
10 points, if the information on financial assistance programs is
provided during one-on-one discussions with an inquirer, such
as is credited under PPA
OR

15 points, if the information on financial assistance programs is
provided during one-on-one discussions with an inquirer, such
as is credited under PPA, and if the financial assistance
advisory service is included in the PPI credited under
Activity 330
OR

5 points, if the community only covers the above-listed financial
assistance programs on its website and the website meets the
credit criteria for in Section 352.c of Activity 350 (Flood
Protection Information)

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) If the person providing the advice is not a community employee, a letter stating that
the person and/or agency has agreed to do the work (Section 362.c, credit criterion
(1)). If the service provider covers several jurisdictions (e.g., a county flood control
agency), a letter or memo stating that the service is provided throughout its
jurisdiction is sufficient.
(b) A copy of how the service is publicized (Section 362.c, credit criterion (2)).

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(c) A record or memo to the files that reviews the above list of sources of assistance
(see Figure 360-2) to determine which ones may be available and appropriate for the
community (Section 362.c, credit criterion (3)).
(d) Copies of the materials used to explain the financial assistance programs, if any are
used (Section 362.c, credit criterion (4)). These may be hard copy, digital, or
website references.
(e) Records of the service provided (Section 362.c, credit criterion (5)). These can be
copies of written reports, memos, emails, letters to the property owners, etc.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) A copy of how the community publicized the service during the year.
(b) Copies of three written reports or other documentation of providing the service
(Section 362.c, credit criterion (5)). If there have been fewer than three requests for
the service during the year, copies of documentation of all requests are needed.
(c) [Required only for the extra PPI credit] The annual report prepared by the PPI
committee that evaluates the service. This is provided with the recertification
documentation for Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

362.d. Advisor training (TNG)
The maximum credit for this element is 10 points.
One of the best ways to ensure a quality service is to send the advisors to the latest FEMA
training on property protection and financial assistance. TNG provides credit if the
person(s) providing advice on flood protection and financial assistance attends those
classes.
Credit Criteria
(1) Credit for property protection advice
(PPA) and/or financial assistance advice
(FAA) are prerequisites for TNG credit.
The person credited for the training must
be the one providing the relevant advice
for PPA and/or FAA credit.
(2) This credit is related to classes that are
provided by the Emergency Management
Institute (EMI). A community may submit
an equivalent field-deployed or homestudy course for possible scoring.

The Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
is a FEMA training center located in
Emmitsburg, Maryland. It offers a four-day
course on retrofitting techniques oriented to
engineers and experienced building
professionals as well as courses on FEMA
financial assistance programs, including
application procedures and benefit/cost
analyses. Stipends to cover travel, registration,
and rooms are usually available from FEMA for
federal, state, and local officials. For many of its
topics, EMI also offers field-deployed and
independent study versions, which are also free.
For more information, see
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb.

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Credit Points
TNG = The sum of the following, up to 10 points:
(1) The sum of the following, not to exceed 5 points:
4 points, if the person providing property protection advice
(PPA) has graduated from EMI’s 4-day resident or field
deployed retrofitting class (E279 or L279)
1 point, for each person providing property protection advice
(PPA) who has graduated from EMI’s independent study
retrofitting class (IS-279)
(2) The sum of the following, not to exceed 5 points:
4 points, if the person providing financial assistance advice
has graduated from EMI’s 4-day resident or field-deployed
class on the Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance
Program (E212 or L212)
3 points, if the person providing financial assistance advice
has graduated from EMI’s 3-day resident or field-deployed
class on benefit/cost analysis (E276 or L276)
1 point, for each person providing financial assistance
advice who has graduated from either independent study
class (IS-212 or IS-30)

The different points for FAA are based on the length of the classes. The independent study
classes take approximately one day.

NOTE: Periodically, EMI introduces new courses. Check www.CRSresources.org/300 for
the latest list of creditable resident, field-deployed, and independent study classes on flood
protection and financial assistance.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the certificate of course attendance.

363 Credit Calculation
c360 = PPA + PPV + FAA + TNG

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364 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/300.
b. The FEMA references on property protection in Figure 350-1 are good resources for the flood
protection advisor.
c. The following are U.S. Army Corps of Engineers references on property protection. They can
be found at www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProjectPlanning/nfpc.aspx.
 Flood Proofing Performance—Successes & Failures, 1998
 Flood Proofing Techniques, Programs and References, 1996
 Raising and Moving The Slab-On-Grade House, 1990
 Local Flood Proofing Programs, 2005
 A Flood Proofing Success Story, 1993
 Flood Proofing: How to Evaluate Your Options, 1993
 Flood Proofing Technology in the Tug Fork Valley, 1994.
d. Information on financial assistance programs includes
 FEMA grants: www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance
 Flood insurance: www.fema.gov/business/nfip
 Increased Cost of Compliance: www.fema.gov/national-flood-insuranceprogram-2/increased-cost-compliance-coverage
 SBA mitigation loans: www.sba.gov/content/disaster-loan-program
 A good overall guide on state and local funding programs, such as rebates and
tax exemptions, can be found in the Corps’ Local Flood Proofing Programs at
www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/civilworks/Project%20Planning/nfpc/Loca
l%20Flood%20Proofing%20Programs%202005.pdf.

365 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 The credits for the first three elements, PPA, PPV, and FAA, can be increased if the
services are included in the Program for Public Information credited in element PPI
under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
 Activity 330 gives basic information on property protection and flood insurance.
Outreach projects should publicize that the community can provide more advice and
assistance to interested people. The publicity requirement for PPA, PPV, and FAA
should be coordinated with, and be part of, the outreach projects.

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 Similarly, the website credited under Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information)
could publicize this service. However, using a website does not fulfill the publicity
prerequisite for these activities, unless the PPI documents why a website is the best
medium to use.
 Activity 360 credits encouraging property owners to build or install property
protection measures, such as those listed in Figure 360-1. If an owner implements a
recommended project, the community can receive additional credit under Activity
530 (Flood Protection). If the owner relocates the building or obtains financial
assistance to sell it to a public agency, credit could be provided under Activity 520
(Acquisition and Relocation).
 One common source of a local drainage problem is a blocked drainageway. Advising
property owners about good drainage maintenance can result in reduced work for the
community’s drainage maintenance program. That program and regulations to
prohibit dumping in drainageways are credited under Activity 540 (Drainage System
Maintenance).

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370  FLOOD INSURANCE PROMOTION—Summary 
Maximum credit:  110 points 

372  Elements 
a.  Flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA):  Up to 15 points for 
assessing the community’s current level of coverage and identifying 
shortcomings.  
b.  Coverage improvement plan (CP):  Up to 15 points for a plan prepared by 
a committee that has representation from local insurance agents and 
lenders.  
c.  Coverage improvement plan implementation (CPI):  Up to 60 points for 
implementing the projects in the CP plan. 
d.  Technical assistance (TA):  Up to 20 points for providing advice about 
flood insurance. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for this activity.  

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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370 FLOOD INSURANCE PROMOTION
The

OBJECTIVE

of this activity is to improve flood insurance coverage in the community.

371 Background
Flood insurance is a wise investment. Floods are the number-one natural disaster in the
United States. Wherever rain falls, snow melts, or coastal storms rage, there can be
flooding. Just a few inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Flood
damage is not covered by most standard homeowner or business insurance policies. Disaster
assistance, if it is available, is typically a loan that must be repaid with interest.
As noted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM),
The simple truth is that residents and business owners with adequate flood insurance
rebuild and recover faster and return to normal faster than people without. This means
faster and more complete community recovery…. Experience has shown that an insured
community is a better prepared community….
For communities, the lesson is clear: preparing for flooding and pursuing flood
mitigation strategies are important, however, it is equally critical to prepare for the
financial burdens which will be placed on the community and its residents and businesses
when the next flood occurs…. Self-reliant communities know that flood insurance is the
only guaranteed vehicle to assure a smooth and complete recovery for everyone affected.
—ASFPM News & Views, October 2010

Many people are not aware that flood insurance is available, and many of those who are
aware do not see a need to insure their property. As a method of protecting people from the
consequences of flooding, promoting flood insurance should be as much a community
responsibility as building flood control projects or regulating new development in the
floodplain. Communities in the Community Rating System (CRS) have a special
opportunity to promote the availability of flood insurance and its importance as a
preparedness measure.

371.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for this activity is 110 points.
As noted in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), one of the most effective ways to get a
message across is to have it tailored to local audiences and repeated by different sources.
This activity credits a similar approach to improve flood insurance coverage in a
community.
This activity provides credit for a three-step process that allows communities to assess their
own needs and receive credit for improving their coverage:
Step 1: Flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA). This credit is provided for
assessing the community’s current level of coverage and identifying shortcomings. The
maximum credit for FIA is 15 points.
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Step 2: Coverage improvement plan (CP). The plan is prepared by a committee that
has representation from local insurance agents and lenders. The maximum credit for CP
is 15 points.
Step 3: Implementation of the coverage improvement plan (CPI). The plan’s
projects are implemented. The maximum credit for CPI is 60 points.
Credit for the three steps or elements is provided incrementally. That is, a community may
prepare an assessment and circulate it for review (FIA) before it decides whether to proceed
with a coverage improvement plan. Credit is provided for a coverage improvement plan
(CP) even if it is not implemented.
Credit is also available in this activity for Technical Assistance (TA), i.e., providing
advice about flood insurance similar to the flood protection assistance service credited in
Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance). The maximum credit for TA is 20 points.
371.b. Impact Adjustment
There is no separate impact adjustment for Activity 370. It is expected that the community
will evaluate flood insurance needs for all properties that are exposed to flooding.

372 Elements
372.a. Flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA)
The maximum credit for this element is 15 points.
FIA credit is provided for the first step in the flood insurance promotion process—assessing
the community’s current level of flood insurance coverage and identifying where coverage
needs to be improved. Incorporating this element into the assessments needed for a Program
for Public Information (PPI) credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) or floodplain
management plan credited in Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) is
recommended, but not required.
Credit Criteria
For FIA credit, the flood insurance coverage assessment must follow these steps:
(1) Identify target areas. First, the community’s flood problem areas are determined.
These include both Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) and areas outside the SFHA.
During this step, the committee delineates different target areas based on different
flooding or development conditions. This may have been done as part of its floodplain
management planning. The CRS Community Self Assessment, described in Section 240,
is an online tool that can help identify target areas and audiences.
Another documented process may suffice, provided that it includes an evaluation of the
flood hazard(s) and the buildings exposed to the hazard(s), and identifies flood-prone
target areas. This step can also be done in association with Step 2 in developing a
Program for Public Information (see Section 332.c).

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The result of the assessment is a map with one or more
target areas subject to various flooding conditions and
a description of each target area. The latter may be
done in tabular form. (Note that some communities,
e.g., a small town or barrier island that is substantially
flood-prone, may have only one target area.)
Communities are encouraged to develop accurate
counts of “insurable buildings” in their target areas,
because other (uninsurable) structures may appear on
the local geographic information system (GIS) layer.
Section 301 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual provides
guidance on “insurable buildings” and how buildings
are counted for CRS credit. Note that communities are
to provide building counts as part of their annual
recertification (see Section 213.a), so the building data
that are needed to prepare the assessment should be
readily available.

The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private
property, including repetitive loss
properties, are subject to the
Privacy Act. Information such as
the names of people and
addresses of properties that have
received flood insurance claims
and the amounts of such claims
MAY NOT be released to the public
or used for solicitation or other
purposes. Such information should
be marked “For internal use only.
Protected by the Privacy Act of
1974.”
Generic information, such as
total claim payments for an area or
data not connected to a particular
property MAY be made public.

(2) Map flood insurance coverage. Next, the community
reviews the current flood insurance policies in the
community. This information is provided annually to
all CRS repetitive loss communities or it can be
obtained from the ISO/CRS Specialist in a Microsoft Excel® file. The file incudes the
address and amount of coverage for each policy listed under the community’s National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) number. A file listing all past insurance claims can
also be obtained.

The policies’ addresses are plotted on a map so the number of insured buildings can be
compared to the number of buildings in each target area. Each individual policy does not
have to be plotted by address in large communities if alternative GIS techniques are
used to determine the level of coverage in an area.
(3) Determine level of coverage. For each target area, the level of flood insurance
coverage is determined. Level of coverage includes
(a) The number of buildings with structural coverage compared to the number of
buildings exposed to the flood hazard (note that the number of buildings in the
floodplain is tallied and updated each year for the Program Data Table (Section
213.a));
(b) The number of buildings with contents coverage compared to the number of
buildings exposed to the flood hazard; and
(c) The average amount of coverage compared to the amount of expected flood damage
from a base flood. For example, many people may only have coverage equal to the
remaining balance of their mortgage, which may not be sufficient to cover the
amount of damage that could result from a 100-year flood. Many communities have

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used Hazus-MH, which is a tool that can help estimate expected flood damage (see
www.fema.gov/hazus).
(4) Correct errors. If the assessment identifies errors in the Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) data, such as an inaccurate address, the community
should submit the correct data to its ISO/CRS Specialist. If the assessment finds that a
grandfathered X-Zone policy is actually in the SFHA, it should be counted as a policy in
the SFHA.
(5) Prepare the document. An assessment document is prepared that
(a) Explains the process followed;
(b) Provides summary data, such as a table with the numbers for each target area; and
(c) Concludes with a narrative summary of the current coverage and recommendations
about where improvements would help. Examples of improvements include, but are
not limited to
o Increasing the number of buildings insured in one or more areas,
o Increasing the number of properties with contents coverage,
o Increasing the number of rental properties with contents coverage,
o Having higher levels of coverage where the expected amount of damage from
a base flood is less than the average amount of coverage, and
o Increasing the number of Preferred Risk Policies in areas remapped from an A
Zone to an X Zone.
The assessment document may be a stand-alone document or it may be prepared and
published as part of a Program for Public Information (credited in element PPI under
Activity 330), a floodplain management plan (credited under Activity 510), or a flood
insurance coverage improvement plan (credited in the next section). If the community’s
floodplain management plan is a multi-jurisdictional plan, it must include this
information for each of the communities’ target areas.
(6) Submit to the governing body. The assessment document is submitted to the
community’s governing body. In the case of a multi-jurisdictional plan, each community
seeking this credit must submit the document to its governing body. No action needs to
be taken by the governing body for FIA credit.
(7) Reassess. Flood insurance coverage is re-assessed for every verification cycle visit.
This means that the target areas are reviewed to see if they are still appropriate and a
current list of policies is used to update the insurance coverage information. The
document is revised accordingly and submitted to the community’s governing body.
The community will be sent new insurance data each year. Communities are to keep
track of their building counts as part of their annual recertification (see Section 213.a),
so the data needed to update the assessment should be readily available.

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Credit Points
FIA = 15 points, for preparing the assessment document and
submitting it to the community’s governing body

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) An updated flood insurance coverage assessment document, and
(b) Documentation that the document was submitted to the community’s governing body
(e.g., a cover memo or a note in the governing body’s minutes).

372.b. Coverage improvement plan (CP)
The maximum credit for this element is 15 points.
CP credit is provided for the second step in the flood insurance promotion process—
preparing a plan to improve the coverage needs found in the FIA assessment. As with the
assessment, incorporating the coverage improvement plan into a PPI credited under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects) is recommended, but not required.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must receive credit for the flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA).
(2) The plan must be prepared by a committee of people from both inside and outside the
local government. The number of participants and their identities is determined by the
community, but the committee must
 Comprise at least five people;
 Include one or more representatives from the community’s floodplain
management office;
 Include one or more representatives from the community’s public information
office, if there is one;
 Have at least half of its members from outside the local government;
 Include one or more representatives from a local insurance agency; and
 Include one or more representatives from local lending institutions.
See Step 1 in Section 332.c. The community’s Program for Public Information or
floodplain management planning committee can suffice for this committee, provided it
has representatives from all of the groups listed above.
Communities are encouraged to have a larger group of stakeholders, especially residents
from the target areas. If there are no insurance or lending institutions in town, the
community can document participation by out-of-town institutions that normally do
business in the community.

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If the committee is a multi-jurisdictional planning group, it must meet the same criteria
as for a multi-jurisdictional Program for Public Information committee, found in Step 1
in Section 332.b. Having one insurance agency and one lending institution represented
on the multi-jurisdictional planning group is acceptable.
(3) The committee must prepare and recommend a coverage improvement plan. The plan
document must include the following:
(a) A list of the members of the committee and their affiliations;
(b) The flood insurance coverage assessment credited under FIA, with aggregate
insurance data, in accordance with the Privacy Act. A separate assessment does not
have to be published and provided to the governing body if it is included in the
coverage improvement plan;
(c) Current activities being implemented within the community to promote flood
insurance, including activities by FEMA, FloodSmart, Risk MAP, state and local
agencies, and insurance companies. This could be prepared as part of Step 2 of the
Program for Public Information process;
(d) Desired outcomes for coverage for each target area. The community may want to set
priorities and address one or two target areas first. This could be prepared as part of
Step 3 of the Program for Public Information process;
(e) A description of each project designed to increase coverage in the target areas, who
will do it, and when it will be done. Projects can encourage people to maintain their
coverage. This could be prepared as part of Step 4 of the Program for Public
Information process;
(f) At least one project must demonstrate that the
community’s elected leadership encourages people to
purchase or increase their flood insurance coverage.
Examples of such a project include a public forum or
event involving the community’s governing body or a
document sent to all residents and signed by the
mayor. Statements at a regular meeting of the
governing body are not sufficient;

FEMA and its
FloodSmart program can
provide information on
national efforts to promote
flood insurance and can provide materials to explain
flood insurance. For more
information see
www.FloodSmart.gov.

(g) The process that will be followed to monitor and
evaluate the projects, including a reporting procedure
or other technique by which the committee will make sure the projects are done. This
could be prepared as part of Step 7 of the Program for Public Information process;
and
(h) A copy of the draft plan must be sent to the FEMA Regional Office’s flood
insurance liaison. The liaison does not approve the plan. The purpose of the
submittal is to see if the Regional Office can provide assistance or useful
information.
The plan can be included in the community’s Program for Public Information (see
Step 6 under Activity 330) or floodplain management plan, instead of being a separate
document. If the community’s Program for Public Information or floodplain manage-

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ment plan is a multi-jurisdictional plan, it must include this information for each of the
communities’ target areas.
(4) The plan document must be submitted to the community’s governing body. In the case
of a multi-jurisdictional plan, each community seeking this credit must submit the
document to its own governing body.
(5) The coverage improvement plan must be adopted either through
 Formal approval by the community’s governing body, or
 Formal approval by another body or office of the community that has the
authority and funding to implement the plan, such as a flood control district.
Note that this is the same adoption criteria used for PPI credit under Activity 330.
(6) Continuation of this credit is dependent on preparation of an annual evaluation report,
similar to the annual report needed for a Program for Public Information or floodplain
management plan. As with those reports, the annual report evaluating the coverage
improvement plan must be submitted to the governing body and included in the annual
CRS recertification package.
(7) At each verification cycle, the plan must be updated, using data from the updated
assessment (see item 8 in the FIA assessment in the previous section). Preparation of the
updated plan follows the same process as the original plan, including sending a draft to
the flood insurance liaison in the FEMA Regional Office. The updated plan must be
submitted for adoption by the governing body or the original adopting office.
Credit Points
CP = 15 points, for preparing the coverage improvement plan and
submitting it for adoption

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) An updated flood insurance coverage improvement plan (Section 372.b, credit
criteria (3) and (7)).
(b) Documentation that the plan was adopted by the community (e.g., a cover memo or a
note in the governing body’s minutes) (Section 372.b, credit criterion (5)).
(2) With each annual recertification,
(a) A copy of the annual evaluation report (Section 372.b, credit criterion (6)).
(b) Documentation that the annual evaluation report was submitted to the governing
body (credit criterion (6)).
If the CP is part of the PPI, a separate evaluation report is not needed. CP credit is
dependent upon submittal of the PPI recertification documentation.

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372.c. Coverage improvement plan implementation (CPI)
The maximum credit for this element is 60 points.
CPI credit is provided for the third step in the flood insurance promotion process—
implementing the plan to improve coverage. As with the previous elements, including the
coverage improvement projects in the Program for Public Information that is credited in
element PPI under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) is recommended, but not required.
Each CPI project is scored the same way as are outreach projects (OP) in Activity 330
(Outreach Projects) with two exceptions. First, only the topic of flood insurance is credited
here. Second, because the community does a special evaluation of flood insurance coverage
needs and of the appropriate public information projects dealing with flood insurance, it is
expected that the Activity 370 outreach projects will be more effective. Therefore, they
receive twice the credit as projects under Activity 330. The same project cannot be credited
under both activities.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must receive credit for the flood insurance coverage assessment (FIA)
and credit for the coverage improvement plan (CP).
(2) The projects implemented for CPI credit must be listed in the coverage improvement
plan.
(3) The community must implement at least one project that demonstrates that the
community’s elected leadership encourages people to purchase or increase their flood
insurance coverage (see CP credit criterion (3)(f) in Section 372.b.
Credit Points
A maximum of 60 points is available for this element.
CPI = ∑ CPI#1 + CPI#2 + CPI#3 . . .
The value for each coverage project implemented, CPI#1, CPI#2,
etc., is the product of (A) x (B), i.e.,
(A) The number of points per topic, which is based on the type
of project: informational material (2 point), general outreach
(4 points), or targeted outreach (12 points)
multiplied by
(B) The number of times the project is delivered each year
A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel® is available to help in calculating
this credit.

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The values for each coverage project implemented (CPI#1, CPI#2, etc.) are added to
determine the total value for CPI.
Each project that is implemented receives the same points as if it were scored as an
outreach project (OP) under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), except that there is credit for
only one topic—flood insurance. If the community has a credited Program for Public
Information that includes the CPI project, the 40% PPI bonus is added. The 30%
stakeholder bonus (STK) can also be added. However, the maximum credit for CPI is 60
points, including any PPI and STK bonuses.
Credit points for CPI are separate from the points for OP, PPI, and STK under Activity 330.
If a community is implementing enough projects, it can obtain the maximum points
available for Activity 330 and receive up to 60 more points for CPI. A community can
receive credit for different projects that promote flood insurance under both Activity 330
and Activity 370. However, the same project cannot be credited under both activities.

Example 372.c-1.
A community’s coverage improvement plan recommends four
presentations to neighborhood associations to discuss flood insurance.
CPI = 4 x 4 = 16 (4 points for a topic delivered through general
outreach, multiplied by 4 projects)
If the planning committee that prepared the coverage improvement
plan is also the Program for Public Information committee (and the
planning committee meets the requirements in Sections 332.c and
372.b), and if the neighborhoods were identified as target areas in the
Program for Public Information document, then CPI = 12 x 4 = 48 (12
points per topic for a targeted outreach project). The project would also
receive a 40% bonus for being part of the Program for Public
Information.
If the presentations were done by insurance agents who are not
community employees, the project would receive an additional 30%
bonus for stakeholder delivery. In that case,
CPI = 48 + (48 x 0.4) + (48 x 0.3) = 48 + 19.2 + 14.4 = 81.6
The maximum points for this element are 60, so the community
receives 60 points.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification and recertification,
(a) Copies of flyers, presentations, brochures, etc. that have been produced and
disseminated as outreach projects. If an outreach project is a presentation to a group,
it can be documented with a copy of the meeting’s minutes or a memo to the file.

372.d. Technical assistance (TA)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
TA credit is provided for advising people who have questions about flood insurance. This
credit is modeled on the credit criteria for providing financial assistance advice (FAA)
under Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance).
This credit is separate from FIA, CP, and CPI. The community does not need to prepare a
flood insurance assessment or coverage improvement plan for this credit. However, the
coverage improvement plan should consider the costs and benefits of providing this
technical assistance as a way to encourage people to purchase, maintain, or improve their
coverage. If the service is credited under TA, it cannot also be credited as a CI or OP
project.
The advice and assistance on flood insurance provided for TA credit can be administered in
the same way as advice and assistance on property protection credited in Activity 360. The
community may have the same person(s) provide both types of assistance and may publicize
and document them together. The community would still receive credit for the two different
services under each activity.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must identify at least one person, office, or agency to provide flood
insurance advice. The person(s) could be a city employee, consultant, employee of a
county or regional flood control district, or an insurance agent. It need not be local staff
if another agency or organization has agreed to answer inquiries.
(2) The service must be publicized at least once a year. There are three publicity options:
(a) An annual notice that reaches everyone in the community, such as an article in a
newsletter or stuffer in a utility bill that goes to all properties;
(b) An annual notice directed to the areas with flooding and drainage problems, such as
a mailer to all properties in the floodplain; or
(c) An annual outreach project developed as part of a Program for Public Information
credited in element PPI under Activity 330, provided that the program document
identifies the audience for the service and discusses the best way to reach that
audience. There are no credit points under Activity 330 for simply publicizing the
service, but there is credit for explaining flood insurance (topic #2), and a notice of
the service would be useful as a part of that explanation.
(3) Records of the service must be kept and provided for credit documentation.

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Credit Points
TA = the total of the following:
15, for providing the technical assistance service,
plus
5, if the service is provided by an Associate in National
Flood Insurance (ANFI™)

More information on the ANFI ® certificate can be found at www.aicpcu.org/anfi.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) If the person is not a community employee, a letter stating that the person and/or
agency has agreed to do the work (Section 372.d, credit criterion (1)). If the service
provider covers several jurisdictions (e.g., a county flood control agency), a letter or
memo stating that the service is provided throughout its jurisdiction is sufficient.
(b) A copy of how the service is publicized (Section 372.d, credit criterion (2)).
(c) Records of the service provided (Section 372.d, credit criterion (3)). These can be
copies of written reports, memos, emails, work orders, letters to the property owners,
etc.

373 Credit Calculation
c370 = FIA + CP + CPI + TA

374 For More Information
a. Additional information and examples can be found at www.CRSresources.org/300, including a
spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel® ("330-370 Spreadsheets.xls") to facilitate calculating the
credit for this activity.
b. CRS Credit for Outreach Projects and Developing a Program for Public Information
can be found at www.CRSresources.org/300.
c. Details on flood insurance can be found in the manual for insurance agents, found at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=6393.
d. Information on the Associate in National Flood Insurance (ANFI®) can be found at
www.aicpcu.org/anfi. One does not have to be a licensed insurance agent to take the tests and
qualify for ANFI®.

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e. National Flood Insurance training is available for all NFIP stakeholders nationwide.
Check the following sources for online and classroom training:
 NFIP state coordinating agencies (for example, the Department of Water
Resources);
 The Association of State Floodplain Managers at www.floods.org;
 State floodplain management associations;
 NFIP Insurance Agent, Lender, and Adjuster Training at
www.nfipiservice.com/training; and
 The Emergency Management Institute at http://training.fema.gov/EMI. The
course, Advanced Floodplain Management Concepts II (E282), has a full day
module on flood insurance.

375 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates) encourages the community to collect and
maintain FEMA Elevation Certificates on properties in the SFHA and Activity 320
(Map Information Service) encourages communities to provide data from the Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to inquirers. Both of these services can provide the kind
of data needed to help an advisor explain to an inquirer how flood insurance policies
are rated.
These two services can also help insurance agents write policies. Such assistance
could encourage them to promote flood insurance among their current customers.
 Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) credits basic information on flood insurance. The
coverage improvement plan should be part of the PPI credited by Activity 330.
 Projects should publicize the community’s willingness to provide additional advice
and assistance to interested people. The publicity requirement for TA should be
coordinated with, and be part of, the community’s Activity 330 outreach projects.
 Similarly, the website credited in Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information) could
promote flood insurance and publicize the technical assistance (TA) service.
 Activities 610 (Flood Warning and Response), 620 (Levees), and 630 (Dams) have
outreach project prerequisites. The residents in areas threatened by floods, levee
overtopping, and dam failures would benefit by having flood insurance. The project
for Activity 620 (Levees) requires a discussion of insurance.

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400 MAPPING AND REGULATIONS
The Community Rating System (CRS) provides credit to communities that enact and
enforce regulations that exceed the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) minimum
standards, so that more flood protection is provided for new and existing development.
The activities in this series affect only certain portions of the community and, in some
cases, only portions of the delineated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Therefore, the
credit points are adjusted to reflect the area affected. These activities are also adjusted to
reflect the community’s growth rate as explained in Section 710.

Contents of Series 400
Section

Page

400 Mapping and Regulations ........................................................................ 400-1
401 Special Flood-related Hazard Areas ................................................ 400-3
402 Impact Adjustment for Areas........................................................... 400-4
403 Impact Adjustment Map .................................................................. 400-6
410 Floodplain Mapping................................................................................. 410-1
411 Background ...................................................................................... 410-2
412 Elements........................................................................................... 410-8
413 Impact Adjustment......................................................................... 410-27
414 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 410-29
415 For More Information .................................................................... 410-30
416 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 410-31
420 Open Space Preservation ......................................................................... 420-1
421 Background ...................................................................................... 420-2
422 Elements........................................................................................... 420-3
423 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 420-31
424 For More Information .................................................................... 420-32
425 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 420-32
430 Higher Regulatory Standards................................................................... 430-1
431 Background ...................................................................................... 430-2
432 Elements........................................................................................... 430-6
433 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 430-45
434 For More Information .................................................................... 430-46
435 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 430-47

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440 Flood Data Maintenance .......................................................................... 440-1
441 Background ...................................................................................... 440-2
442 Elements........................................................................................... 440-3
443 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 440-14
444 For More Information .................................................................... 440-14
445 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 440-15
450 Stormwater Management ......................................................................... 450-1
451 Background ...................................................................................... 450-2
452 Elements........................................................................................... 450-4
453 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 450-22
454 For More Information .................................................................... 450-22
455 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 450-22

List of Figures
400-1. West Bay’s impact adjustment map ................................................. 400-10
410-1.
410-2.
410-3.
410-4.
410-5.
410-6

FIRM terminology.............................................................................. 410-2
Example of a coastal DFIRM ............................................................. 410-3
FIRM terms for areas without base flood elevations ......................... 410-4
South Scottsdale’s DFIRM ................................................................ 410-5
South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 410 ........... 410-12
The standard approach to floodway determination .......................... 410-22

420-1. South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 420 ............. 420-9
420-2 An example of a form to inventory natural floodplain functions ...... 420-18
420-3 Alternative ways to develop a partially flood-prone property........... 420-21
430-1 South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 430 ........... 430-15
430-2 West Bay’s impact adjustment map.................................................. 430-36
430-3 Credit for inspections under regulations administration .................. 430-42

List of Tables
403-1. Impact adjustment maps ..................................................................... 400-7

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401 Special Flood-related Hazard Areas
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and many communities in the
United States have long recognized that the mapping and regulatory standards of the NFIP
do not adequately address all of the flood problems in the country. There are many special
localized situations in which flooding or flood-related problems do not fit the national norm
for riverine and coastal floodplain management. Therefore, there are situations in which the
minimum NFIP requirements do not adequately protect property from flood damage.
To encourage communities to address these hazards, the CRS provides credit throughout
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual for mapping, preserving open space, and regulating new
development in areas subject to seven special flood-related hazards:
1. Uncertain flow paths: alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, channel migration, and
other floodplains where the channel shifts during a flood.
2. Closed basin lakes: lakes that have a small or no outlet that may stay above flood
stage for weeks, months, or years.
3. Ice jams: flooding caused when warm weather and rain break up a frozen river. The
broken ice floats down river until it is blocked by an obstruction, such as a bridge or
shallow area, creating a dam.
4. Land subsidence: lowering of the land surface caused by withdrawal of subsurface
water or minerals or by compaction of organic soils.
5. Mudflow hazards: a river, flow, or inundation of liquid mud down a hillside,
usually as a result of a dual condition of loss of brush cover and the subsequent
accumulation of water on the ground, preceded by a period of unusually heavy or
sustained rain.
6. Coastal erosion: areas subject to the wearing away of land masses caused primarily
by waves on the oceans, Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes.
7. Tsunamis: large ocean waves typically caused by an earthquake, landslide, or
underwater volcano.
These special flood-related hazards are addressed in separate publications that discuss
credit points and impact adjustment and credit calculation formulae for each hazard (see
Appendix C or www.CRSresources.org).
The credit points for mapping, preserving open space, and regulating new development in
the areas affected by these hazards are calculated separately and added to the other
elements in each regular activity.

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402 Impact Adjustment for Areas
Many CRS activities are not implemented the same way throughout the floodplain.
Therefore, their credit points need to be adjusted to reflect how much of the floodplain they
do cover. In CRS credit calculations, this is called the “impact adjustment” (see
Section 222).
Some activities are adjusted based on the number of buildings that are affected and some
are adjusted based on the size of the area affected. This section reviews how the activity
and element credits are adjusted to reflect their impact on the area affected. Section 301
covers impact adjustments based on the number of buildings affected.
Most elements in the activities listed in Table 403-1 (see below) do not affect all of the
buildings that could benefit from them. For example, freeboard is often enforced only in
areas for which base flood elevations have been determined. A community’s credit for
freeboard and other elements is adjusted based on how much of the SFHA is affected. In
order to measure the impact of these activities, the community must determine the area
affected by each element and the area of the SFHA.
Some activities and elements do not have the impact adjustment step as part of calculating
the total credit points. These activities and elements are assumed to be effective throughout
the community. In some cases, credit is provided ONLY if they are implemented everywhere
within the community. For example, in Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) there is no
credit for ESC (erosion and sediment control regulations), or WQ (water quality) unless
those measures are enforced throughout the entire community.

402.a. Impact Adjustment Ratio
Impact adjustments are calculated by multiplying the points for an element by a ratio that
represents how much of the flood problem within the community is being addressed by the
element. Impact adjustment ratios are variables with a lower case “r” preceding the
acronym for the element.
The value of an impact adjustment ratio is determined by dividing the number of buildings
or the total area affected by an element (the numerator) by the appropriate denominator.
The number of buildings is designated by a lower case “b,” and the area affected is
designated by a lower case “a.”
The denominator for the elements in each activity is specified in the Impact Adjustment
section for the element. In most cases, it is the area of the community’s Special Flood
Hazard Area or “aSFHA.”

NOTE: The community’s aSFHA should be reviewed and updated each year for the
Program Data Table that is included in the annual recertification (see Section 213.a).

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Example 402.a-1.
In Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation), the credit for preserving
open space is adjusted based on its impact, i.e., how much of the
SFHA is preserved as open space. This is calculated by multiplying
the credit by the impact adjustment. The acronym for open space
preservation is “OSP.” The impact adjustment ratio for OSP is rOSP.
rOSP is the total area of the parcels that qualify for OSP credit (aOSP)
divided by the area of the community’s SFHA (aSFHA). The formula is
rOSP=

aOSP
aSFHA

For example, in a community with several parks and other properties
that qualify as preserved open space:
The total area of the qualifying parcels is 154 acres. aOSP = 154
The total area of the SFHA is 598 acres. aSFHA = 598
rOSP=

154 = 0.26
598

The community receives 26% of the maximum possible credit for OSP
because 26% of its SFHA is preserved as open space.

In some elements in Activities 410, 420, and 430, it is possible to receive an impact
adjustment ratio of up to 1.5. An example would be a community that enforces a higher
regulatory standard throughout its “regulatory floodplain” (see Section 120 (Glossary)) that
includes the SFHA and flood-prone areas outside the SFHA. Another example is the case in
which a community enforces the freeboard requirement throughout the SFHA and on
parcels that are partially within the SFHA. These communities may have numerators that
are larger than the area of the SFHA, so their impact adjustment ratios would be greater
than 1.0.

402.b. Optional Minimum Value
Some elements and activities have an optional minimum value that can be used in place of a
calculated impact adjustment ratio. In most cases the value is 0.1 or 10% of the maximum
possible. Using this minimum value is optional. It is normally used if
 The community does not want to develop the data needed to determine the numerator
or denominator in the impact adjustment ratio, or
 The calculated impact adjustment ratio is less than 0.1. In this case, the community
will receive more credit by using the optional minimum.

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The activities that use areas for their impact adjustments and the optional minimum value
that can be used are listed in Table 403-1, below.

402.c. Regulating Areas Preserved as Open Space
If a community applies for credit for Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation), it means that
certain areas are preserved from development. Higher regulatory standards have no impact
in those open space areas. Therefore, the impact adjustment ratios for the elements in
Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) cannot be 1.0 if the community regulates only
the SFHA and receives credit for open space preservation in Activity 420.
In other words, a community that applies for credit in both Activities 420 and 430 cannot
have the maximum impact adjustment ratio for either activity. The numerator in the impact
adjustment ratio formula for Activity 430 elements must account for this by excluding the
area of preserved open space (aOSP).

Example 402.c-1.
The community in Example 402.a-1 has a freeboard requirement
(FRB) for development throughout its SFHA. It can only receive FRB
credit for the areas where development may occur, i.e., areas that are
not counted toward preserved open space (OSP).
rFRB=

aFRB = aSFHA – aOSP = 598 – 154 = 444 = 0.74
aSFHA
aSFHA
598
598

The community receives 74% of the maximum possible credit for
freeboard because there will be no new buildings in the areas
preserved as open space. The freeboard regulation has no impact in
the 26% of the SFHA that is preserved as open space, which is
reflected in the impact adjustment.

403 Impact Adjustment Map
An “impact adjustment map” is needed to document and calculate the numerators and
denominators in the community’s impact adjustment ratios for certain CRS activities. All
appropriate areas for numerators and denominators for impact adjustment ratios must be
included with the impact adjustment map. The denominator is usually aSFHA
(Table 403-1), and the numerator is the area where each element is effective. For the 600
series of warning and response activities, impact adjustment maps delineate the areas
affected by the elements, but the impact adjustments are based on the number of buildings
in those areas.

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Table 403-1. Impact adjustment maps.
Affected Elements

Denominator

Optional
Minimum

MI3 – MI7

aSFHA

0.10

NS, SR, HSS, FWS

aSFT

0.10

OSP, DR, NFOS, LZ

aSFHA

none

OSI

aSFHA

0.10

NSP

total length of
shoreline

0.10

DL, FRB, FDN, CSI, LSI,
PCF, ENL, OHS

aSFHA

0.10

CAZ

aSFHA

0.5 / 0.1

440 (Flood Data Maintenance)

AMD

aSFHA

0.10

450 (Stormwater Management)

SMR, WMP

area of the watershed

0.15

CDR, PSM, CIP

number of drainage
components

0.10

SBM

number of storage
basins

0.10

FTR, EWD, FRO

number of buildings in
the SFHA (bSF)

none

LM, LFR, LFW, LFO

number of buildings
affected by a levee
failure (bLF)

none

DFR, DFW, DFO

number of buildings
affected by a dam
failure (bDF)

none

Activity
320 (Map Information Service)
410 (Floodplain Mapping)
420 (Open Space Preservation)

430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)

540 (Drainage System Maintenance)

610 (Flood Warning and Response)
620 (Levees)

630 (Dams)

aSFT is the area of the SFHA for the community at the time of adoption of a study.
Elements not listed do not have an impact adjustment calculation.
There is no optional minimum value for an impact adjustment for preserved open spaces or for impact
adjustments based on building counts.

An impact adjustment map may be prepared on any convenient base map or in a geographic
information system (GIS), as long as the scale is suitable for the determination of the areas.
If the FIRM or other floodplain map is not used as the base map, the boundaries of the
SFHA and the areas covered by each element must be drawn on the map with sufficient
accuracy that the area calculations can be verified.
No new studies are required to produce an impact adjustment map. The areas are identified
and marked on the map based upon the areas under the jurisdiction of the community’s
regulatory programs. Many communities have produced maps that do this for
their own management purposes.
Some communities have found the impact adjustment map they developed for CRS credit
helpful as a visual presentation of their floodplain management programs. It identifies

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where the problems are and where the community is dealing with those problems. If the
community completed the CRS Community Self Assessment (see Section 240), the impact
adjustment map should be compared to the map(s) developed during the Self Assessment.

403.a. Selecting a Base Map
Selection of an appropriate base map for an impact adjustment map depends on the size of
the community and the elements for which it is requesting credit.
 If a community is relatively small, a copy of the FIRM may be the best base map.
 If a community is large in geographic area and its FIRM includes many panels, it
may use a base map that fits on one sheet. The SFHAs may already be drawn on the
base map (e.g., a zoning map with the regulated areas shown), or they may have to be
shown on the base map.
 If the community is requesting credit for mapping or regulating areas outside the
SFHA shown on its FIRM, these areas must be shown on the impact adjustment map.
 If a community has a GIS that includes its flood data, it is encouraged to produce
maps and calculate areas using that system. Many communities now use their GIS to
store the data, perform the calculations, and prepare the maps necessary for credit
calculation.
 If a community is large and has different standards for urban and rural areas, maps of
differing scales may be needed.
 A community applying for credit under a number of different elements may choose to
use overlays or GIS layers to display the elements separately.
If a GIS is not used, choosing base maps depends upon the detail required and the overall
bulk of the maps. If maps other than the FIRM are used as bases, all appropriate NFIP
zones should be transferred from the FIRM to the base maps.
All base maps must include the scale of the map and a legend for all information provided
on the map.

403.b. Mapping aSFHA
The impact adjustment map must show the SFHA. If the FIRM or other floodplain map is
not used as the base map, the boundaries of the SFHA must be drawn on the map
with sufficient accuracy that the area calculations can be verified.
In general, it is to the community’s advantage to have a smaller denominator, or aSFHA,
for the impact adjustment calculation (the impact adjustment ratio will be bigger if the
denominator is smaller). Although the area of a community’s SFHA is a specific area (i.e.,
acres or square miles), some areas may be excluded from the aSFHA calculation.

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Three types of areas may excluded from the mapped and regulated areas, even if they are
within the SFHA shown on the FIRM.
1. Open waters larger than 10 acres, such as lakes, bays, and large rivers may be
excluded. To determine the extent of large water bodies, the shoreline shown on the
FIRM may be used. For large rivers, reaches where the average bank-to-bank width
shown on the FIRM exceeds 500 feet may be excluded.
2. Lands larger than 10 acres that are either owned by the federal government (e.g.,
military installations or national parks) or where development is prohibited by the
federal government, may be excluded. Federal land leased to private property
owners with the stipulation that the lessees obtain all required local permits are not
excluded.
3. At the community’s option, areas beyond the community’s regulatory jurisdiction
may be excluded. The community may include or exclude non-federal areas it does
not have the authority to regulate, including land owned by the state or another
community, and Indian reservations. These lands must be treated consistently. If they
are included in the SFHA for open space credit, they must be included in the SFHA
for all activities. If they are open space, the community usually will receive more
credit if they are included.
The impact adjustment map must show the areas of the SFHA that the community has
excluded from its impact adjustment calculations. These areas should be identified with a
distinctive shading or color.
Excluding water bodies and land over which the community has no regulatory control
usually will increase the community’s CRS credit because the denominator will be reduced.
However, if a community can document that non-federal land over which it has no
regulatory jurisdiction is eligible for CRS credit, it may include such areas. An example of
this would be a state park eligible for credit under Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation).
Large areas of federal lands and some Indian tribal lands are usually shown on a FIRM as
“Areas Not Included.” If these areas are shown with mapped SFHAs, and if they are larger
than 10 acres, they may be excluded from the impact adjustment map. Smaller parcels need
not be excluded—it is the community’s option, but the extra work probably will not
significantly affect the measurements or the credits.

Example 403.b-1.
West Bay is a fictitious community used for CRS examples. It is a
coastal town on the west side of Biloxi Bay. It is 100% flood-prone.
The County GIS office provides each community with a digital map that
shows streets and FIRM zones (see Figure 400-1).
West Bay’s corporate limits go to the middle of Biloxi Bay. Because
that area is larger than 10 acres, the Bay shoreline is used as the

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eastern limit of the SFHA for impact adjustment purposes. A note to
that effect is put on the impact adjustment map.
There is also a small state park with a beach in the town. The CRS
Coordinator concluded that there would be more credit if the state park
were counted as preserved open space than if it were excluded from
the area calculated as SFHA. Therefore, it is considered in the SFHA
for impact adjustment purposes.

Figure 400-1. West Bay’s impact adjustment map.

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403.c. Marking an Impact Adjustment Map
An impact adjustment map must show the areas affected by each element for which CRS
credit is requested. These are areas to be included in the numerator of the impact
adjustment calculations. Each area should be outlined or shaded, and labeled (e.g., with the
acronym for that element). However, in some cases, a note on the map or in the legend may
be simpler and clearer than shading. For example, if a community regulates all of its SFHA
for freeboard (FRB), it could use the note “aFRB = aSFHA.”
For many communities, the SFHA is the regulatory floodplain. Communities that regulate
other flood-prone areas outside the SFHA, in addition to the SFHA, should delineate the
area of the regulatory floodplain on the impact adjustment map.

Example 403.c-1.
See Figure 400-1 for an example of an impact adjustment map that is
marked to show areas of preserved open space (credited under
Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation)) and areas subject to coastal
A-Zone regulations (credited under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory
Standards)). It also has a note that the Biloxi Bay portion of the SFHA
shown on the FIRM is not counted as part of the town’s SFHA for
impact adjustment purposes.

403.d. Watershed Impact Adjustment Map
For credit for stormwater management regulations (SMR) and watershed master plan
(WMP), under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management), a watershed impact adjustment map
must be prepared. This map shows the area affected by the stormwater management
program and the watersheds that affect the community. This map and the information
needed to develop it are discussed in Section 452.a.

403.e. Calculating Areas
The size of areas delineated on the impact adjustment map(s) may be determined by any
method that yields reasonably accurate measurements. The community must document the
method or methods it used to determine the areas.
The areas will be recalculated at each cycle verification visit because the numbers can
change when there is a new map or if the community annexes land mapped as SFHA. This
is done in conjunction with updating the floodplain data table (see Section 214.a).

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Calculation Approaches: The community should not spend an inordinate amount of time
measuring areas solely for determination of CRS impact adjustment ratios. The following
approaches are acceptable:
 Geographic information systems;
 Mechanical or computerized planimetry;
 Areas computed by HEC-2 or other standardized step-backwater methods;
 Known property dimensions, such as those for a city park; or
 Use of a grid overlay. This is technique whereby a transparent grid is placed on the
map, the grid squares within an area are counted, and the map scale is used to
determine the actual area. Instructions on this approach can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
Units of Measure: All area calculations must use the same units, either acres or square
miles.
Smaller communities will probably find it easier to measure in acres, while a larger
community, such as a county, may prefer to use square miles. The following formulae may
be helpful:
 To convert acres to square miles, divide the number of acres by 640.
 To convert square miles to acres, multiply the number of square miles by 640.
 To convert square feet to acres, divide the number of square feet by 43,560.
 To convert square feet to square miles, divide the number of square feet by
27,878,400 (that is, 5,2802 ).

Example 403.e-1.
32 acres =

32
640

= 0.05 square miles

2.2 square miles = 2.2 x 640 = 1,408 acres
2,500 feet x 3,600 feet = 9,000,000 square feet
9,000,000 = 206.61 acres
43,560
1,000 feet x 2,142.5 feet = 2,142,500 square feet =
2,142,500
27,878,400

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403.f. Example Impact Adjustment Map
The following example discusses how the fictitious community of West Bay developed its
impact adjustment map for Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation). It shows
how the community selected a base map and used various methods to determine the areas
affected by the activity.

Example 403.f-1.
West Bay is a fictitious community used for CRS examples. It is a coastal
town on the west side of Biloxi Bay. The county GIS office provides each
community with a digital map that shows streets and FIRM zones (see
Figure 400-1).
The CRS Coordinator makes sure that the base map shows the corporate
limits and the SFHA. Because the town is applying for credit for open space
preservation and coastal A-Zone regulations, the impact adjustment map
shows the areas that qualify for preserved open space and the coastal A
Zone.
The CRS Coordinator used a grid overlay to calculate the area of SFHA
within the city (aSFHA, excluding Biloxi Bay) and the area of the coastal A
Zone, delineated by the slanted lines on the map in Figure 400-1.
aSFHA = 395.3

and

area of the coastal A Zone = 116.6

The CRS Coordinator obtained the acreage of the four open space areas
from the town parks department and the state park. Because they are all
entirely in the SFHA, their areas all qualify for OSP. These figures are
recorded in the table below.

Area

Acreage

OSP#1: open area preserved by the developer

1.2

Nolan Park

6.9

Biloxi Bay State Park

33.1

Municipal Beach

11.4

Total area of OSP (aOSP)

52.6

When the impact adjustment for open space preservation is calculated
for Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation), the area of preserved
open space (aOSP) is divided by the area of the SFHA (aSFHA). For
West Bay, the formula would be
rOSP = aOSP = 52.6 = 0.13
aSFHA 395.3

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The resulting ratio (represented by the lower case “r”) means that 13%
of West Bay’s SFHA is preserved as open space. This impact
adjustment ratio is used in the final step of calculating the credit.
Coastal A Zone regulations (CAZ) have no impact in areas preserved as
open space where no new buildings are allowed (see Section 402.c).
Therefore, the area where CAZ regulations have an impact is the area of
the coastal A Zone minus the area of open space (OSP) in the coastal A
Zone. A portion of Bay State Park (4.7 acres) is in the coastal A Zone, so
for credit purposes, aCAZ = 116.6 – 4.7 = 111.9 acres.
When the impact adjustment for coastal A Zone regulations (CAZ) is
calculated for credit under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards), the
regulated area (aCAZ) is divided by the area of the SFHA (aSFHA). For
West Bay, the formula would be
rCAZ =

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aCAZ = 111.9 = 0.28
395.3
aSFHA

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410  Floodplain Mapping—Summary 
Maximum credit:  802 points 

412  Elements 
Floodplain mapping (MAP) credit is based on 
a.  New study (NS):  Up to 290 points for new flood studies that produce 
base flood elevations or floodways. 
b.  Leverage (LEV):  The points for NS are multiplied by a ratio that reflects 
how much of the study was financed by non‐Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) funds. 
c.  State review (SR):  Up to 60 points for flood studies reviewed and 
approved by a state or regional agency. 
d.  Higher study standards (HSS):  Up to 160 points if the new study was 
done to one or more standards higher than the FEMA mapping criteria. 
e.  More restrictive floodway standard (FWS):  Up to 110 points, based on 
the allowable floodway surcharge used in the study. 
f.  Floodplain mapping of special flood‐related hazards (MAPSH):  Up to 50 
points if the community maps and regulates areas of special flood‐related 
hazards. 
g.  Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP):  Up to 132 points if the community, 
appropriate regional agency, or state has a signed, qualifying Cooperating 
Technical Partner agreement with FEMA. 

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 411.b. Each element has 
additional criteria specific to that element. 
a.  The area to be credited must be displayed on a map. 
b.  The community must use the new floodplain map or data in its floodplain 
development regulations. 
c.  The study must be based on a technique approved by FEMA or 
specifically approved by the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer. 
d.  A study or data that affects a length of stream or shoreline must be 
submitted to FEMA so that the local FIRM may be revised.  

Impact Adjustment 
The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 
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410 FLOODPLAIN MAPPING
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to improve the quality of the mapping that is used to
identify and regulate floodplain development.

411 Background
Development regulations need thorough and accurate mapping of Special Flood Hazard
Areas (SFHAs) and related flood hazard data. Most communities in the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) have a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) provided by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Most FIRMs have detailed data but
some communities still have flood problem areas for which detailed data were not provided
by FEMA. As a result, new development in those areas is often not well-protected from
flood damage.
Other communities have data not shown on their FIRM, want to prepare new maps for
unmapped areas or to a higher standard, or want to replace maps that no longer show the
current hazard. This activity encourages these communities to prepare new maps and/or
enter into cooperative mapping agreements with FEMA for the production of new maps.

411.a. Activity Description
This activity provides credit for developing
regulatory maps and flood data for floodplain
management purposes in areas where FEMA did
not provide such data, or for mapping to a
higher standard than that required by FEMA, as
well as credit for regulating areas based on
flood data not provided with the community’s
FIRM or for a flood study conducted to a higher
standard than FEMA’s Flood Insurance Study
criteria. Credit is also provided if the
community shared in the cost of a Flood
Insurance Study.
Three types of areas are shown on FIRMs:
 Areas with detailed mapping of the SFHA
(shown as AE, VE, etc., Zones)
 Areas with approximate mapping of the
SFHA (shown as A Zones), and
 Areas shown as being outside the SFHA
(depicted as B, C, D and X Zones).

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A FIRM with a detailed flood study shows
the SFHA as Zone AE or VE. The map
includes base flood elevations and a
floodway (shown with the slanted lines).
X Zones designate areas outside the SFHA.

Figure 410-1. FIRM terminology.

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Figure 410-2. An example of a coastal FIRM.

The difference between detailed mapping and approximate mapping for FIRMs is that
detailed maps include the base flood elevations needed to set minimum protection levels for
new buildings. In most riverine situations, NFIP detailed mapping also includes floodway
delineations (Figure 410-1). In coastal areas, detailed mapping may include delineation of a
velocity or VE Zone (Figure 410-2). The maps in Figures 410-2 and 410-4 provide
examples of detailed, digital FIRMs (DFIRMs).
The NFIP’s regulations for areas with approximate mapping, also known as “unnumbered A
Zones” (44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §60.3(b)), are not as effective in reducing
flood damage as the regulations for areas with detailed map data (Figure 410-3). Because
no base flood elevations have been developed for areas with approximate mapping, many of
the regulatory requirements are left to the judgment of community officials. Flood
elevations are required only for large subdivisions or in areas for which a flood study has
already been done. These areas are often on the urban fringe and therefore can be subject to
development before FEMA can provide the needed data.
Flood hazard areas that were not mapped as SFHAs during the preparation of the
community’s FIRM (i.e., B, C, D, and X Zones) have no floodplain management
requirements under the NFIP. Additional mapping may have been prepared by or for the
community for several reasons:

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 New delineations were necessary because
conditions changed since the Flood
Insurance Study was done; or
 The community wanted to regulate areas
that were not mapped by FEMA because
they did not meet the NFIP mapping criteria
(e.g., the drainage area was less than 1
square mile); or
 Areas that may or may not have been
mapped as part of the Flood Insurance
Study have hazards that were not
adequately mapped (e.g., alluvial fans or
areas subject to subsidence).
This activity credits the adoption of new maps or
floodplain data that are not provided under the
normal activities of the NFIP. This activity
neither credits nor supplants the minimum
requirement of the NFIP that a participating
community submit new or revised map
information to FEMA when it becomes available
(such as for a bridge replacement), as required by
44 CFR §65.3.

FIRMs do not provide base flood
elevations in B, C, D, X and approximate or
“unnumbered” A Zones. This CRS activity
provides credit to encourage communities to
obtain flood elevations in those areas and
ensure that new development is protected
from the base flood.

Figure 410-3. FIRM terms for areas
without base flood elevations.

The regulation at 44 CFR §65.3 requires a community to submit a Letter of Map Revision
(LOMR) any time it undertakes or permits a project that changes the limits of the SFHA,
the base flood elevations, or the floodway limits. Therefore, a LOMR submitted to comply
with the above requirement (e.g., bridge replacements or
channel modifications) is not credited under this activity.
All higher-standard mapping receives credit, even if it is
included in the community’s FIRM. For example, several
states require that floodway regulations be based on
criteria more restrictive than the NFIP mapping standard.
In those states, any Flood Insurance Study that meets the
state requirements and the higher-standard mapping can
be credited under this activity (see Section 411.d).
Credit is calculated for this activity based on the areas of
the SFHA that are mapped and managed to higher
standards than those required by the NFIP. Each
floodplain mapping (MAP) area that receives Activity 410
credit is marked on an impact adjustment map and
designated “MAP#1,” “MAP#2,” etc. This is explained
more fully in Sections 402 and 412.

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The regulation at 44 CFR §65.3
states:

A community's base flood
elevations may increase or
decrease resulting from physical
changes affecting flooding
conditions. As soon as practicable,
but not later than six months after
the date such information becomes
available, a community shall notify
the Administrator of the changes
by submitting technical or scientific
data in accordance with this part.
Such a submission is necessary so
that upon confirmation of those
physical changes affecting flooding
conditions, risk premium rates and
flood plain management
requirements will be based upon
current data.

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South Scottsdale is a fictitious community used for CRS examples. There are no mapped floodplains in
the north, so this map only shows the southern part of the city. The DFIRM shows four different Special
Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs):
AE Zone: Indian Bend Wash flows from the northwest to the south corporate limits
AE Zone: McCormick Creek flows from the northeast to Indian Bend Wash
A Zone: Tributary A flows from the southeast to Indian Bend Wash
A Zone: Tributary B flows from the south to Indian Bend Wash
The aerial photo base map is helpful for locating and counting buildings and other features. However, to
simplify the presentation, the CRS Coordinator uses a GIS-based map that shows the SFHA and street
layers for the rest of the South Scottsdale mapping examples (see Figure 410-5).

Figure 410-4. South Scottsdale’s DFIRM.

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Credit is provided as long as the community regulates based on the study’s data until the
study is superceded by a more up-to-date analysis. If a new FEMA-funded study produces a
lower base flood elevation, the community has the option of adopting it or keeping its
higher regulatory flood elevations. If it adopts the new study, it loses its 410 credit. If it
keeps enforcing its own higher elevations, it keeps the credit.

Example 411.a-1.
Examples of areas that could be identified on the impact adjustment
map and marked “MAP#1,” “MAP#2,” etc. include the following.
▫

Unnumbered A or V Zones for which the community has base flood
elevations and regulates new construction using those elevations.

▫

A riverine SFHA where FEMA did not define a floodway, but the
community has mapped and adopted one.

▫

Unnumbered A or V Zones within which the community calculates
or requires developers to calculate base flood elevations and/or
floodways for their sites as a condition for all floodplain permit
approvals.

▫

A special flood hazard area in a B, C, D, or X Zone that the
community has mapped and regulates using base flood elevations.

▫

Areas covered by studies that have been reviewed and approved
by the state.

▫

A floodplain mapped on the FIRM with a technique that exceeds
FEMA’s guidelines, e.g., using future-conditions hydrology.

▫

Any flood hazard data that are based on a technique that results in
regulations more restrictive than FEMA’s minimum standards, e.g.,
a floodway based on a smaller surcharge than FEMA’s one-foot
standard, or a regulatory flood elevation based on high-water marks
from the flood of record where it is higher than the base flood
elevation shown on the FIRM.

▫

An SFHA mapped on the FIRM, if the community helped pay for the
mapping.

▫

An area for which additional flood mapping was done to account for
one of the special flood-related hazards, listed in Section 401, such
as migrating stream beds.

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MAP is the sum of the points for the elements in Activity 410. The points are based on
 The scope of the new study (element NS, scored in Section 412.a),
 The original FIRM zone where the new study was conducted (element NS, scored in
Section 412.a),
 Whether a riverine study included a floodway delineation or a coastal study included
a velocity zone (element NS, scored in Section 412.a),
 How much of the study costs were provided by non-FEMA funding sources (element
LEV, scored in Section 412.b),
 Whether the study received an independent quality control review by a state agency
(element SR, scored in Section 412.c),
 Whether the study was conducted using a higher study standard than required by
FEMA (element HSS, scored in Section 412.d),
 The floodway mapping standard used (element FWS, scored in Section 412.e),
 Whether the study mapped one of the special flood-related hazards, such as coastal
erosion or subsidence (element MAPSH, scored in Section 412.f),
 Whether the community or its state or a regional agency is a Cooperating Technical
Partner (element CTP, scored in Section 412.g), and
 How much of the community’s SFHA is affected by the new study (scored in Section
412, Impact Adjustment).

411.b. Activity Credit Criteria
To receive any credit under this activity, the community must meet the credit criteria
below. These criteria ensure that the Community Rating System (CRS) credits floodplain
maps and data that are properly prepared and are used in the community’s regulatory
program.
(1) All studies and data that the community requests for credit must be displayed on a map.
This map may be either digital or paper. This criterion does not apply to studies done
for a single site at the time of development.
(2) The community must use the floodplain map or data for which credit is requested in its
floodplain development regulations. The community either must have
(a) Amended its floodplain regulations to adopt the new floodplain map or data, or
(b) Authorized a local official, such as the community’s engineer, to approve new maps
or data in unstudied areas. There must be a record showing that the new study has
been approved and utilized by the official.
A study that has no impact on floodplain development is not credited. The CRS does not
credit studies conducted for drainage improvements or the design of a flood control
project if they are not used for regulatory purposes.

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(3) The study must be based on a FEMA-approved technique or specifically approved by
the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer.
(4) If the study affects a length of stream or shoreline, it must be SUBMITTED to FEMA to
revise the community’s FIRM. This criterion can be met even if FEMA does not
immediately publish the map revision.
The criterion does not apply to studies done for a single site at the time of development
and similar small-scale studies. However, studies that would revise existing base flood
elevations, floodways, or FIRM zone boundaries must be submitted for a FIRM revision
as required by 44 CFR §65.3.

412 Elements
There are seven elements in this activity. Some elements have impact adjustments, so each
floodplain mapping (MAP) area for which the community requests credit must be marked
on an impact adjustment map and designated “MAP#1,” “MAP#2,” etc. MAP is the sum of
the points for each designated MAP area. The points depend upon how the map was
prepared and the community’s level of participation in the map preparation.

412.a. New studies (NS)
The maximum credit for this element is 290 points.
The total NS credit varies according to two factors: the study scope and the previous flood
zone as shown on the community’s FIRM in effect at the time the new study was adopted
(see the table in the Credit Points section, below). Different levels of credit are provided
for each of four levels of detail in a flood study.
(1) The first level is for delineating an approximate A or V Zone in a B, C, D, or X Zone.
This would designate a regulatory floodplain where the FIRM does not show one. For
approximate A and V Zones, base flood elevations are not provided. Credit is also
provided if an approximate A or V Zone is remapped without the publication of base
flood elevations.
(2) More points are provided if the community ensures that flood elevations are obtained
for a single site at the time of development for all development. Many SFHAs without
base flood elevations have low development potential and do not warrant extensive,
detailed studies. Many communities regulate these areas by requiring developers to
perform an engineering analysis to calculate a flood elevation for the site at the time of
application for a development permit. Simplified techniques, such as contour
interpolation as described in FEMA-265, are not acceptable for credit in this activity.
Some communities will require a new regulatory flood elevation to be determined using
higher standards for areas that already have a base flood elevation provided by FEMA.

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These requirements are also eligible for HSS credit, provided that the new flood
elevations are higher than the elevations on the FIRM.
NS credit for flood elevations at the time of development is based upon the regulatory
requirement. If the appropriate language is in the community’s ordinance, the credit is
provided, even if the areas have not yet been studied. What counts is that a regulatory
flood elevation will be provided before the areas are developed. Additional credit is
available if the community’s ordinance requires a floodway analysis to be performed in
addition to the determination of flood elevations at the time of development.
The calculations may be done by the community, another agency, or the developer, as
long as a regulatory flood elevation becomes available in time to have new buildings
protected to a level at or above the base flood elevation. In some cases the community
has the developer provide some data, such as a topographical survey, and then a
municipal engineer or other person calculates the base flood elevation for the site. This
is a creditable approach.
There is no credit for meeting the minimum NFIP requirements to “. . . obtain, review
and reasonably utilize available data . . .” or for requiring developers of subdivisions
larger than 5 acres or 50 lots to provide flood elevation data. These are minimum
requirements of the NFIP (44 CFR §60.3(b)(3) and (4)). To receive credit for NS, the
ordinance must require the data for all development permits to build or substantially
improve buildings in the regulated floodplain.
(3) More points are obtained if the elevations are provided for a large area in advance of
development. Typically this provision would be in the form of a profile prepared for a
relatively long reach of a stream, elevations for a length of shoreline, depths for AO
Zones, and elevations for AH Zones. For this credit, the area is studied before an
application for a development permit and the study covers a larger area.
To receive this higher credit, the community must adopt the study and regulate development to the same standards as in an SFHA for which FEMA provided base flood
elevations (e.g., as if the area were an AE or VE Zone, or numbered A, V, or AO Zone)
and provide the data to FEMA.
(4) There is approximately a 30% increase in the credit for the development of a profile
when the study includes the delineation of a floodway. If the floodway delineation is
based on a higher standard than the NFIP’s one-foot allowable surcharge, then
additional credit is provided in Section 412.e. There is a similar increase in credit if a
coastal study includes a coastal high hazard area, similar to a V Zone or LiMWA.
Studies not credited. The following studies are not eligible for credit under NS:
 Studies done to meet the minimum requirements of the NFIP, even if they result in a
LOMR or map revision, including
o When required for developments greater than 50 lots or 5 acres;

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o When done in response to the requirement to “obtain, review and reasonably
utilize” available base flood elevation and floodway data; or
o When done to prepare a certificate of no-rise or maximum one-foot
cumulative rise.
 When the base flood elevations or floodway are not adopted for regulatory purposes;
 When there is no engineering study to include an area as regulatory floodplain. For
example, “the regulated floodplain includes the SFHA and all adjacent lands lower
than two feet above the base flood elevation.” In these cases, credit can be provided
for OHS under Activity 430; and
 When a new study produces a base flood elevation lower than the base flood
elevation shown on the FIRM (see credit criterion (2), below).
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 411.b must be met.
(2) If the credit is for a small-scale study (such as for a single lot) at the time of
development, the study must be based on a FEMA-approved technique or specifically
approved by the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer and it must produce regulatory flood
elevations where there are none, or elevations higher than those shown on the FIRM in
effect at the time of the study.
(3) In order to receive NS credit, studies must
(a) Produce a base flood elevation in a B, C, D, X, or approximate A Zone where there
was no elevation shown on the FIRM at the time of the study; or
(b) In AE and VE Zones and numbered A and V Zones, produce a base flood elevation
higher than that shown on the FIRM in effect at the time of the study.
This criterion prevents the duplication of flood insurance premium reductions that can
result from new flood studies that lower the base flood elevation. Properties in areas
that are remapped so the new FIRM shows them outside the SFHA benefit twice from
the flood insurance rating system. First, they do not have a mandatory NFIP insurance
purchase requirement. Further, if the owners choose to purchase NFIP insurance, the
premiums are based on the lower X-Zone rates. Therefore, the CRS does not provide a
duplicate premium reduction.
The new study must either provide flood elevations where there are none shown on the
FIRM or provide higher regulatory flood elevations than shown on the FIRM. There
may be cases in which a new profile is higher than the old base flood elevations in some
areas and lower in others. In such cases, the reaches that qualify for credit must be
identified on the impact adjustment map and scored accordingly. The reaches with new
base flood elevations that are lower than the old ones are not credited under NS or SR.

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Credit Points
NS = as shown in the following table, based on the study scope
and the original FIRM zone, not to exceed the maximum of 290
points for this element
Original FIRM Zone
Study Scope
1. Delineation of an approximate
A Zone

B, C, D, or
X

AE,
VE, A#

A or V

70

60

−

100

80

45

130

105

65

3. New profile or length of shoreline,
base flood elevations/depths in AH
and AO Zones.

225

175

110

4. New profile with floodway, length of
shoreline with coastal velocity zone
delineation, or converting coastal
A Zones to V Zones

290

230

140

2. a. Flood elevations for a site at time
of development
b. Flood elevations and floodway for
a site at time of development

Example 412.a-1.
South Scottsdale is a fictitious community used for CRS examples
(see Figure 410-5). The City received its first FIRM in 1978. At that
time only the largest stream, Indian Bend Wash, had a detailed study,
with base flood elevations and a floodway delineation. Because the
Indian Bend Wash study was funded by FEMA, there is no CRS credit.
The City knew it had flooding problems along McCormick Creek. With
funding support from the state, it conducted a detailed study of that
area. The resulting floodplain and floodway delineation were used by
FEMA when the FIRM was revised in 2004. That study is marked as
MAP#1 in Figure 410-5 and is designated as New Study #1 for 410
credit.
NS#1: New study, with base flood elevations and floodway
delineation, when the original FIRM zone was an X Zone.
NS#1 = 290
There are two approximate A-Zone areas known as Tributaries A and
B. In these areas, the City requires applicants for permits to conduct a
study to develop a base flood elevation. Since both tributary areas
have the same study standard, they are both marked as MAP#2 in
Figure 410-5. They are both designated NS#2 for 410 credit.
NS#2: Flood elevations for a site at time of development when the
original FIRM zone was an approximate A Zone.
NS#2 = 80

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MAP#1

MAP#1

MAP#2

MAP#2

Regulated Area
Indian Bend Wash (AE Zone)
McCormick Creek (AE Zone)
Tributary A (A Zone)
Tributary B (A Zone)
Total area of the SFHA (aSFHA)

Credit
MAP#1
MAP#2
MAP#2

Size (acres)
277.6
129.6
68.9
28.3
504.4

Figure 410-5. South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 410.

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Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment is calculated based on the size of the area to which the MAP study
applies as a percentage of the area of the SFHA in the community at the time of adoption of
the study. The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the study and the study’s floodplain map. The ISO/CRS Specialist should
be advised whether these are available online or in a published Flood Insurance
Study or FIRM.
(b) The local law or ordinance that adopts the flood study for regulatory purposes or
that requires site-specific flood elevation or floodway studies to be conducted at
the time of the permit application.
(c) Development permit records showing how the new data are used.
(d) The map showing the area covered by each NS study with the appropriate
MAP acronym (“MAP#1,” “MAP#2,” etc.) marking the area affected by the new
study. The impact adjustment map is explained in Section 413. Different areas
mapped to the same standards may all be marked with the same acronym.
(e) [For Credit Points lines 1, 3, and 4] Evidence that the study, if done for a length of
stream or shoreline, has been submitted to FEMA or FEMA is aware that the study is
available. This may be a copy of the Flood Insurance Study, a LOMR, or a letter
from FEMA.
(f) [For Credit Points line 2a and 2b, flood elevations and floodway delineation for a
site at time of development] A statement that the technique used in the study or the
ordinance language is listed as acceptable in Guidelines and Specifications for Flood
Hazard Mapping Partners. As an alternative to this statement, the community may
submit a description of the technique for the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer to
determine whether it is equivalent to an acceptable technique.
(g) Documentation showing how the area of the SFHA at the time of adoption of the
study (aSFT) and the areas of NS were calculated.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may review a sample of permit records and visit some new
building sites to verify use of the new study data in the floodplain management
regulations.

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412.b. Leverage (LEV)
To determine the community’s cost share or level of participation in the flood study, a
multiplier known as “LEV” is used.
LEV is a ratio with a range of 0 to 1.0. If the study was funded entirely by non-FEMA
resources, LEV = 1.0. Non-FEMA resources include the community, the state, a regional
agency, the property owner, a developer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, or any agency or organization other than FEMA or a
FEMA-funded program.
If the community is a Cooperating Technical Partner, there should be readily available
figures on what the study cost and what amounts were paid by FEMA, the community, and
other involved agencies. If the Cooperating Technical Partner agreement is for the
community to contribute 30% of the cost of a new study, then LEV = 0.3 for the new study
if appropriate documentation is provided.
If the community, state, or other agency made an in-kind contribution, such as an old but
still valid study, or base maps, it can be converted to a dollar value on the Cooperating
Technical Partner Mapping Activity Statement using FEMA “Blue Book” values. If the
effort cannot be converted to dollars, then LEV = 0.27 for better topography or 0.22 for
other significant contributions. If the documented dollar value results in a ratio lower than
the above, then the pertinent value above can be used.
Flood Insurance Studies or restudies cost shared with a state agency, the Corps, the
Tennessee Valley Authority, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or other federal
agency are credited, provided that FEMA did not pay the agency for the work. However,
many studies are conducted by a state or federal agency under contract to FEMA, and in
such cases LEV = 0, and there is no credit for NS.
Credit Criteria
(1) To receive LEV, the community must receive NS credit.
Credit Points
This element is a multiplier of the new study credit (NS) to determine the community’s
share of the floodplain mapping study.

LEV = EITHER
0, if the study was fully funded by FEMA
OR

LEV = Non-FEMA share of the study cost ,
Total cost of the study

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provided that the community has data on the study costs
OR

LEV = the total of the following:
(a) 0.27, if a better topographic map was contributed
to the study effort
(b) 0.22, if other significant contributions were made to the
study effort, if the community does not have financial data
on the study costs

Communities do not receive NS or LEV credit for Flood Insurance Studies and FIRMs that
are fully funded by FEMA.
Better topographic mapping can be LiDAR or contour maps with a smaller contour interval
than used by FEMA in the previous study or required to meet FEMA standards at the time
of the new study. There are two ways a community can use better topographic mapping.
 If the study used the better topographic mapping in the hydraulic analysis, then both
LEV and HSS credit is provided.
 If the study used the better topographic mapping only to plot more accurate
floodplain boundaries using flood elevations or a profile from an earlier study, then
only HSS credit is provided. There is no new study (NS) for LEV to modify.

Example 412.b-1.
One-half of the cost of the McCormick Creek study was paid by South
Scottsdale and one half was cost shared with the state. There were no
FEMA funds involved in the study.
LEV#1 = 1.0 because there was no FEMA funding involved
Developers pay for calculating base flood elevations in the A Zones
along Tributaries A and B.
LEV#2 = 1.0

Example 412.b-2.
A community signed a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement with
FEMA to restudy a river. The agreement states that the community is
funding $50,000 toward the study and contributing its GIS contour

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map. These contributions are calculated to equal $300,000. The total
cost of the study is $500,000.
LEV =

$ 300,000 = 0.6
$ 500,000

The community’s efforts equate to 60% of the cost of the river restudy.
The values for NS for this study are multiplied by 0.6, resulting in 60%
of the credit for those elements. Note that the community will not
receive this credit for the restudy until it is completed and adopted in
the community’s floodplain management regulations.

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the community’s determination of how LEV was determined. This may
be a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement and documentation that the agreement
has been completed. Note that many flood insurance studies and restudies were
conducted by federal agencies and private consulting firms under contract to FEMA.
LEV credits only the share of a study that FEMA did not fund.

412.c. State review (SR)
The maximum credit for this element is 60 points.
Under SR, a study receives additional credit when
an independent quality assurance review,
typically by a state agency as required by a state
law, has been completed.

Some states already have review
procedures that are eligible for SR credit.

The types of reviews that qualify for SR credit
include a review by a state or regional
organization whose review program has been
designated as qualifying for CRS credit. Note that
the existence of an approved review program does
not mean the community will automatically
receive this credit. Each study credited must have
been reviewed and approved by the review
program, and the review must not be paid for by
FEMA. There may be studies that were conducted
before the program began and there may be some
types of studies that the state or regional agency
does not review.

Indiana —Full credit for riverine studies,
partial for coastal

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New Jersey—Full credit for riverine
studies, partial for coastal

Michigan—Full credit for riverine studies,
partial for coastal
Minnesota—Full credit for all studies
Wisconsin—Full credit for all studies
Illinois—The northeast portion of the state
receives full credit for river and partial for
coastal, and the rest of the state receives
partial credit.

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To obtain credit if elevations are provided for a single site at the time of development,
either each study must be reviewed and approved or the study technique must have been
reviewed and approved.
There are three possible quality assurance/quality control reviews: hydrology, hydraulics,
and mapping. As shown in the table below, the credit for a study that has passed all of these
reviews is approximately 20% of the credit for a new study. If only part of the study
process was reviewed (e.g., the state review only approves the hydrology), the credit for SR
is prorated.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 411.b must be met. There are no additional credit
criteria for this element.
Credit Points
SR = as shown in the following table, based on the study scope and
the original FIRM zone, not to exceed the maximum of 60 points
for this element
Original FIRM Zone
Study Scope

B, C,
D, or X

A or V

AE, VE,
A#

1. Delineation of an approximate A Zone

−

−

−

2. Flood elevations for a site at time of
development

20

20

10

3. New profile or length of shoreline, base
flood elevations/depths in AH and AO
Zones.

45

35

20

4. New profile with floodway, length of
shoreline with coastal velocity zone
delineation, or converting coastal A
Zones to V Zones

60

45

25

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Documentation that the state or other agency reviewed and accepted the study or
analysis techniques for which credit is being requested. This will usually be a letter
from the responsible agency, stating that the review was done and/or that the data
were approved.

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412.d Higher study standards (HSS)
The maximum credit for HSS is 160 points.
HSS credits the use of study standards higher than those required by FEMA at the time of
the study. A community may receive credit for HSS in areas where it does not receive
credit for NS. For example, credit can be provided if the FIRM (or a later map adopted for
regulatory purposes) was based on future-conditions hydrology, provided that the
community’s floodplain development regulations use base flood elevations based on future
conditions.
HSS credit is provided for the following higher study standards:
 Using a factor of safety when calculating the 100-year discharge,
 Using better topographic data,
 Using future-conditions hydrology (including sea level rise), and
 Showing 500-year flood elevations and the boundaries of the 500-year floodplain.
Additional higher study standards may be submitted by the community. The ISO/CRS
Technical Reviewer will determine if they warrant credit for HSS.
The use of unsteady or two-dimensional flow models is not credited because these are
commonly used by FEMA when warranted. Some of the higher standards are discussed
below.
Using a factor of safety when calculating the 100-year discharge: Hydrologic studies
produce “estimates” of peak flows. The estimates used are the “best” estimates, meaning
they are high 50% of the time and low 50% of the time. Using a factor of safety means that
the estimates will be too high more often and too low less often. To receive this credit, the
predicted 100-year discharge used in the study must be increased by a minimum factor of
safety of 25%.
For example, the State of New Jersey requires all riverine flood studies to use a factor of
safety of 25%. Communities in New Jersey need to show that their studies were completed
using that standard in order to receive this credit.
Using better topographic data: This credit is for providing a base map that has better
topographic data than what are available from the U.S. Geological Survey or that exceed
the NFIP standards in effect at the time.
Using future-conditions hydrology: Future-conditions hydrology means that flood
discharges associated with a fully developed watershed are used. These discharges are
created without consideration of projected future construction of flood detention structures
or hydraulic modifications within a stream or other waterway, such as bridge and culvert
construction, fill, or excavation. When the hydrologic study is based on future land use

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conditions, discharges will be higher than those from a study based on current development
conditions.
To receive this credit for coastal studies, the community must use an estimate of the sea
level rise anticipated by the year 2100 or later. The study used to determine the sea level
rise must have been developed by FEMA, the Corps, the U.S. Geological Survey, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or through a regional study that
produced higher base flood elevations. Regional studies may be submitted to the ISO/CRS
Technical Reviewer for consideration if the estimates were not provided by a federal
agency. In all cases where a high and low estimate were developed, the mean estimate or
higher must be used to obtain credit.
Credit Criteria
(1) HSS credit is provided for the following higher study standards:
(a) Using a factor of safety when calculating the 100-year discharge,
(b) Using better topographic data,
(c) Using future-conditions hydrology (including sea level rise), and
(d) Showing 500-year flood elevations and the boundaries of the 500-year floodplain.
The use of unsteady or two-dimensional flow models is not credited because these are
commonly used by FEMA when warranted.
(2) Additional higher study standards may be submitted by the community. The ISO/CRS
Technical Reviewer will determine if they warrant credit for HSS.
Credit Points
HSS = as shown in the following table, based on the study scope
and the original FIRM zone. Credit is cumulative for each
applicable higher study standard (credit criterion (2)), not to
exceed the maximum of 160 points for this element
Study scope

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

Original FIRM Zone
B, C,
A or AE, VE,
D, or X
V
A#, V#

Max
per
Study

1. Delineation of an
approximate A Zone

20

15

−

60

2. Flood elevations for a site
at time of development

30

20

15

90

3. New profile or length of
shoreline

80

60

40

160

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The points for HSS are cumulative for up to three higher study standards, provided that the
maximum credit in the “Max per Study” column for the study scope is not exceeded.
For example, a new profile (line 3) in an X Zone that used future-conditions hydrology and
better topographic data would receive 80 + 80 = 160 points for HSS. If the study also
developed and mapped boundaries for the 500-year event, the total for HSS would exceed
the maximum allowed per study and the points would be capped at 160. However, where
flood elevations are currently provided, if a new profile were developed using futureconditions hydrology, better topographic data, and providing a map of the boundaries of the
500-year flood, the community would receive 40 + 40 + 40 = 120 points, because it
performed three eligible activities and did not exceed the maximum credit allowed per
study.

Example 412.d-1.
(See Figure 410-5.) Because South Scottsdale expected that a large
proportion of its drainage areas would be urbanized, its McCormick
Creek study (MAP#1) used a base flood discharge based on full
watershed development (future-conditions hydrology). Credit is based
on line 3 and the original FIRM zone was “X.” HSS#1 = 80 points.
The City’s floodplain management ordinance requires developers in
approximate A Zones (MAP#2) to use future-conditions hydrology.
Credit is based on line 2 and the original FIRM zone was “A.”
HSS#2 = 20 points

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for HSS is calculated based on the size of the area to which the
MAP study applies as a percentage of the area of the SFHA at the time of adoption of the
study. The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) EITHER a copy of the relevant text from the community’s Flood Insurance Study
describing the higher study standard if the information was utilized by FEMA, OR
the ordinance adopting the higher standard and examples of the data created by
using the higher standard.
(b) The map showing the area covered by the HSS study with the appropriate MAP
acronyms marking the areas affected by the higher study standard. The impact
adjustment map is explained in Section 413. Separate areas mapped to the same
standards may all be marked with the same acronym.

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412.e. More restrictive floodway
f
standard (FWS)
The maximum credit for this element is 110 points.
Figure 410-6 shows the standard approach to
determining the mapping limits of a floodway. Many
times a floodway study prepared according to the
minimum NFIP guidelines produces a floodway
surcharge of less than 1.0 foot at some cross sections.
The fact that the average floodway surcharge is less
than one foot does not qualify the community for FWS
credit. The floodway surcharge must be reduced by a
mapping standard that can be documented by the
community. In most cases this will be a state-mandated
standard.

NOTE: Credit for FWS should
not be confused with the
minimum NFIP requirement that
new development in the
floodway may not result in any
increase in flood heights. The
FWS credit is for using a more
restrictive standard to delineate
and map the floodway.

If the floodway was based on the FEMA surcharge standard of 1.0 foot, then there is no
credit for this element no matter what increase is shown on the floodway data table. If a
floodway map is based on some other standard (such as a limitation on velocity or a change
in velocity) to determine more restrictive floodways, the community must determine the
actual reduction in floodway surcharge that results. Since floodway analysis is almost
always performed by the step-backwater method, the data provided for each cross section
should be used to determine the actual average floodway surcharge.
Because the entire SFHA benefits from the implementation of a more restrictive floodway
surcharge, aFWS includes the entire width of that reach of the SFHA, not just the area of
the floodway. A higher floodway standard helps prevent development within the SFHA,
thereby reducing increases in flood elevations on existing structures. FWS credit is only
provided for a floodway that has been mapped and adopted.
“No rise” floodways: FWS credit is only provided for a floodway that has been mapped
and adopted. If the mapping standard was zero rise, then FWS = 110. FWS credit is not
provided for an ordinance requiring each development to conduct a no-rise floodway
analysis as a condition of receiving a permit.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 411.b must be met.

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Figure 410-6. The standard approach to floodway determination.

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Credit Points
FWS = 110, if the floodway delineation was based on less than 0.11
feet of rise in the base flood elevation, OR
FWS = 90, if the allowable rise was from 0.11 to 0.25 feet, OR
FWS = 50, if the allowable rise was from 0.26 to 0.5 feet, OR
FWS = 25, if the allowable rise was from 0.51 to 0.99 feet

FWS credit is based on the allowable floodway surcharge used to prepare the floodway
map. Currently eight states have floodway standards more restrictive than those of the
NFIP. In these states, riverine studies in which floodways were delineated to the state
standards are eligible for this CRS credit:
Ohio, Montana, New Jersey, and Colorado: 50 points
Indiana: 90 points
Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin: 110 points
Studies done in other states may be eligible for credit and should be submitted so that the
ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer can assess them.

Example 412.e-1.
Wisconsin’s state law requires that all floodway delineations be based
on a 0.01-foot allowable floodway surcharge. In areas with floodways
delineated according to this standard, FWS = 110.
This standard was used in the study for the Rock River in Janesville
(MAP#1). FWS#1 = 110

Example 412.e-2.
(See Figure 410-5.) South Scottsdale’s ordinance requires site-specific
analyses to calculate base flood elevations in approximate A Zones
(MAP#2). The permit applicant must also conduct an encroachment
study to see if the applicant’s project (and all similar projects) will
increase flood heights more than 0.10 foot. FWS#1 = 110

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Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for this activity is described in Section 413.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the appropriate floodway data table and text from the community’s
current Flood Insurance Study or other regulatory floodplain study describing the
standards used for delineating the floodway.
If the study and map used for regulation are not included in the current Flood
Insurance Study, the community must provide the map, the standard, the ordinance
establishing the standard, and the ordinance adopting the standard.

412.f. Mapping for special flood-related hazards (MAPSH)
The maximum credit for MAPSH is 50 points.
MAPSH credit is provided for mapping and regulating any of the special flood-related
hazards listed in Section 401 as described in Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual, CRS Credit for Managing Tsunami Hazards, and CRS
Credit for Managing Coastal Erosion. These publications can be downloaded free from
www.CRSresources.org or can be requested from the ISO/CRS Specialist. The credit points
for mapping these areas are calculated separately. The resulting credit points, MAPSH, are
then transferred to this activity.
Credit Criteria
The activity credit criteria in Section 411.b must be met.
Credit Points
The calculation for scoring the mapping of areas subject to the special flood-related hazards
is described in the separate CRS publications on special flood-related hazards listed in
Appendix C.
Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for MAPSH is described in the special flood-related hazards
supplements listed in Appendix C.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A map of the special flood-related hazards,
(b) A copy of the ordinance adopting the map for regulating the special flood-related
hazard, and

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(c) An engineer’s statement that that the community’s special flood-related hazard area
maps and related data still reflect current conditions.

Example 412.f-1.
Appropriate adoption language could read:
The areas of mudflow hazard subject to the management
requirements of this ordinance shall be as shown on the
Geologic Hazard Maps produced by the State Geological Survey
and dated July 17, 2010.

412.g. Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP)
The maximum credit for this element is 132 points.
CTP credit is provided to communities that enter into a Cooperating Technical Partner
agreement with FEMA that formalizes their contribution and commitment to flood
mapping. The objective of the Cooperating Technical Partners program is to maximize
limited funding by combining resources and also to help maintain consistent national
standards.
Cooperating Technical Partners are communities, tribes, regional agencies, or states that
have the interest and capability to be active partners in FEMA’s flood mapping program.
Regional agencies active in floodplain mapping, such as regional or county drainage, water
management, or flood control districts could also qualify. However, there is no credit for
the community if the agreement does not affect a regulated floodplain in that community.
Each Cooperating Technical Partner enters into an agreement with FEMA, specifying what
mapping activities it will implement. These could be as varied as
 Refinement of approximate A-Zone boundaries,
 Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and floodplain mapping,
 DFIRM preparation,
 Redelineation of detailed flood hazard information using updated topographic data,
 Digital base map data sharing, or
 Provision of new topographic data.
CTP1 provides credit for participating in the Cooperating Technical Partners program.
When the program produces new studies or revises mapping standards, the community

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should receive credit under the other elements of Activity 410. CTP1 credit is for signing a
meaningful agreement. Credit can be provided even if the mapping activity has not been
completed and the community receives no other credit under Activity 410.
CTP2 increases the credit received for NS, SR, and FWS by 18% to recognize the extra
benefits of the Cooperating Technical Partner program. CTP2 is a multiplier of the total
points for each study or standard (MAP). If the study or standard was not done pursuant to
a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement, then the score is multiplied by 1.0 and does not
change.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 411.b must be met.
(2) EITHER: The community must have signed a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement
with FEMA that identifies shared mapping responsibilities and costs, OR
The community is in a regional agency or state that has signed a Cooperating Technical
Partner agreement with FEMA that identifies the community or one of its flood problem
areas as being studied.
(3) CTP1 credit is provided only for Cooperating Technical Partner agreements that relate
to new studies or study standards for floodplains in the community. No credit is provided
for agreements that only provide information on existing studies and data.
Credit Points
CTP1 = the total of the following
10 points, if the community is a Cooperating Technical Partner,
and
10 points, if the community is in a regional agency or state that
has signed a Cooperating Technical Partner agreement with
FEMA that mentions the community
CTP2 = EITHER 1.18, if the study was prepared pursuant to the
Cooperating Technical Partner program
OR

1.0, if the study was not prepared pursuant to the
Cooperating Technical Partner program or if it was prepared
before the community, regional agency, or state signed the
Cooperating Technical Partner agreement

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Impact Adjustment
(1) There is no impact adjustment for CTP1.
(2) The impact adjustment for this activity and for CTP2 is described in Section 413.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the Cooperating Technical Partner agreement, if not on the FEMA
website. A list of creditable Cooperating Technical Partner communities can be seen
at www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/scripts/ctp_list.asp.

Example 411.g-1.
Yakima County, Washington, signed a Cooperating Technical Partner
agreement with FEMA to restudy the Naches River. The state NFIP
coordinating agency also signed a Cooperating Technical Partner
agreement to update the DFIRM for the entire county.
CTP1 = 10 + 10 = 20
Yakima County can receive CTP1 credit now. After the restudy for the
Naches River is completed and adopted in the County’s floodplain
management regulations, CTP2 = 1.18. Yakima County’s points for the
restudy will then receive an 18% credit bonus.

413 Impact Adjustment
Credit for floodplain mapping (MAP) is adjusted according to the portion of the SFHA at
the time of the adoption of the study covered by each element (aSFT).

rMAPi = aMAPi , where
aSFT
aMAPi = the size of the area to which the MAPi study applies,
and
aSFT = the area of the SFHA for the community at the time of
adoption of the study

The impact adjustment is the ratio of aMAP to the area of the SFHA (aSFT) before the
development of the new data.

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If the total calculated impact adjustment is less than 0.10, then 0.10 may be used to
calculate the credit, but only for one area. If there is more than one set of standards for
MAP, the community should choose the area with the highest value if it does not want to
take the time to prepare an impact adjustment map or if it estimates that it would receive
more points by using the optional minimum value of 0.10.
Preparing an impact adjustment map is explained in Section 403. If there is more than one
area, each done to a different mapping standard, each area is marked separately, i.e.,
MAP#1, MAP#2, etc. If several areas were mapped or studied to identical standards, they
are marked with the same acronym and number (see Figures 410-4 and 410-5).
The area of the SFHA at the time of the adoption of the study (aSFT) is calculated based on
the SFHA of the FIRM in effect at the time the study was adopted. aSFT may be different
for different credits. For example, MAP#1 may be for a study conducted in 1995. aSFT#1
would be the area of the SFHA on the FIRM in effect in 1995. If FEMA used the new study
in the next FIRM revision, the impact adjustment for next new study (e.g., MAP#2) would
be based on the area of the SFHA in effect on the revised FIRM (aSFT#2).
The maximum value for the sum of all rMAPi = 1.5.rMAPi stands for the sum of all of
the impact adjustment ratios for MAP (i.e., rMAP#1 + rMAP#2 + rMAP#3 + . . .). The sum
of all rMAPi cannot be greater than 1.5. In this activity, an impact adjustment ratio greater
than 1.0 reflects the fact that the community has mapped and is regulating floodplain
development areas not identified on the FIRM. It is presumed that this will provide
significant savings in future flood damage and NFIP claims, so the impact adjustment ratio
for this activity may go up to 1.5.
NOTE: All areas marked MAPi must be mutually exclusive. If the community does not
regulate outside of the SFHA in effect at the time of adoption of the study, then rMAPi
cannot be greater than 1.0.

Example 413-1.
The SFHA for the McCormick Creek flood study is marked as “MAP#1”
on the city’s impact adjustment map shown in Figure 410-5.
The approximate A Zones for Tributaries A and B are marked as
“MAP#2.”
South Scottsdale’s CRS Coordinator used the community’s GIS to
determine the areas affected (in acres):
aMAP#1 = 129.6

aMAP#2 = 97.2

The denominator for the impact adjustment is based on the SFHA at
the time of the study (aSFT). When the McCormick Creek flood study
was conducted, the area was mapped as X Zone. The SFHA at the
time consisted only of the floodplains of Tributary A, Tributary B, and
Indian Bend Wash.

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aSFT1 = 97.2 + 277.6 = 374.8 acres
The studies for MAP#2 are conducted when a person applies for a
permit. Therefore, the denominator, aSFT2 is the current SFHA.
aSFT2 = aSFHA = 504.4
The impact adjustment ratios are calculated by dividing the area
affected (aMAP) by the area of the SFHA at the time of the study
(aSFT).
rMAP#1 = aMAP#1 = 129.6
aSFT1
374.8

= 0.35

rMAP#2 = aMAP#2 = 97.2 = 0.19
aSFT2
504.4
The total of the impact adjustment ratios cannot exceed 1.5.
rMAPi = rMAP#1 + rMAP#2 = 0.35 + 0.19 = 0.54

414 Credit Calculation
c410 = MAPi + (MAPSH x CTP2i) + CTP1, where
MAPi = ((NSi x LEVi) + SRi + HSSi + FWSi) x
rMAPi x CTP2i

Example 414-1.
(See Figure 410-5.) As seen in earlier examples, South Scottsdale
receives credit for the new study on McCormick Creek (MAP#1) and
for requiring base flood elevations in the approximate A Zones of
Tributaries A and B (MAP#2). The new studies are scored as NS#1
and NS#2.
NS#1 = 290

NS#2 = 80

The NS#1 new study was funded by the City and the state and the
NS#2 studies are funded by permit applicants. Because FEMA funds
were not involved, LEV#1 = 1.0
LEV#2 = 1.0
Both new studies receive credit for future-conditions hydrology. The
values are different because the study scope and original FIRM zones
are different. HSS#1 = 80 HSS#2 = 20

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The MAP#1 McCormick Creek study used FEMA’s floodway
encroachment standard of 1.0 foot, so there is no FWS credit for
MAP#1. The MAP#2 studies must use a higher encroachment
standard, 0.1 foot.
FWS#2 = 110
The impact adjustment ratios were calculated in Example 413-1.
rMAP#1 = 0.35

rMAP#2 = 0.19

Neither study receives credit for state review (SR), and no Cooperating
Technical Partners were involved (CTP). The first step in the final
credit calculation is to compute the total value for each study.
MAP#1
= ((NS#1 x LEV#1) + SR#1 + HSS#1 + FWS#1) x rMAP#1 x
CTP2#1
= ((290 x 1.0) + 0 + 80 + 0) x 0.35 x 1.0
= 370 x 0.35 x 1.0 = 129.5
MAP#2
= ((NS#2 x LEV#2) + SR#2 + HSS#2 + FWS#2) x rMAP#2 x
CTP2#2
= ((80 x 1.0) + 0 + 20 + 110) x 0.19 x 1.0
= 210 x 0.19 x 1.0 = 39.9
The second step is to add the totals for each MAP and the remaining
credited elements. South Scottsdale does not have credit for any
special flood-related hazards (MAPSH).
c410

= MAPi + MAPSH + CTP1
= MAP#1 + MAP#2 + MAPSH + CTP1
= 129.5 + 39.9 + 0 + 0 = 169.4

415 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
b. The following publications are available free. See Appendix C or www.CRSresources.org.


Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual



CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards



CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards.

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c. More information on FEMA mapping criteria can be found on the FEMA website,
www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-hazard-mapping.
d. More information on the Cooperating Technical Partner program can be obtained from
the FEMA Regional Office and from the website at www.fema.gov/cooperating-technicalpartners-ctp-program.
e. The following publications may be obtained from FEMA:
Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, Federal Emergency
Management Agency (2003). (Also available from FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2206.)
Use of Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Data as Available Data, FEMA Floodplain
Management Bulletin 1-98 (1998). (Also available from FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2231.)
Estimating the Value of Partner Contributions to Flood Mapping Projects “Blue Book,”
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (Also available from FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2473.)
FEMA’s “Numerical Models Meeting the Minimum Requirement of the NFIP” can be
found at http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-flood-hazardmapping/numerical-models-meeting-minimum-requirement-0.
The following can provide guidance on technical standards for studies in areas where base flood
elevations were not provided with the FIRM:
Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas, FEMA-265 (1995).
(Also available from FEMA’s website at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1526.)
f. Communities may check on past FIRMs and obtain background data by calling 1-877-FEMA
MAP. They can also submit a written inquiry through this link: https://msc.fema.gov.
g. Rural communities can request help on this activity from the U.S. Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Requests should be submitted to the local soil and water conservation
district, which is usually located in the county seat.

416 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 If a community maps other flood-related special hazards and receives credit in
Activity 410, it should also be receiving credit under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation) and/or Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards). The maps must be
adopted and the area regulated in order for the community to get the MAPSH credits.
 If a community uses future-conditions flood flows to map its flood hazard, it may be
eligible for credit under Activity 450 for managing stormwater if it prepared a
watershed management plan, or under Activity 430 for regulating areas outside of the
adopted SFHA.

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 Maps credited in this activity should be available for credit in Activity 440, and can
be used for outreach in Activity 330. These maps are commonly used in Activity 510
and Activity 610 for planning purposes. In addition, they can be useful for
determining credit for the entire 600 series.
 If a flood control project results in lower base flood elevations in an AE or VE Zone,
there is no Activity 410 credit. However, the community may be eligible for credit
for reducing the flood hazard under Activity 530 (Flood Protection).

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420  Open Space Preservation—Summary 
Maximum credit:  2,020 points 
Note that OSI and LZ are not counted toward the maximum credit because these 
two elements and OSP are mutually exclusive. 

422  Elements 
a.  Open space preservation (OSP):  Up to 1,450 points for keeping land 
vacant through ownership or regulations. 
b.  Deed restrictions (DR):  Up to 50 points extra credit for legal restrictions 
that ensure that parcels credited for OPS will never be developed. 
c.  Natural functions open space (NFOS):  Up to 350 points extra credit for 
OPS‐credited parcels that are preserved in or restored to their natural 
state. 
d.  Special flood‐related hazards open space (SHOS):  Up to 50 points if the 
OPS‐credited parcels are subject to one of the special flood‐related 
hazards or if areas of special flood‐related hazard are covered by low‐
density zoning regulations. 
e.  Open space incentives (OSI):  Up to 250 points for local requirements 
and incentives that keep flood‐prone portions of new development open. 
f.  Low‐density zoning (LZ):  Up to 600 points for zoning districts that 
require lot sizes of 5 acres or larger. 
g.  Natural shoreline protection (NSP):  Up to 120 points for programs that 
protect natural channels and shorelines. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
Each element has a separate section describing the impact adjustment. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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420 OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION
The

OBJECTIVES

of this activity are to

(1) Prevent flood damage by keeping flood-prone lands free of development, and
(2) Protect and enhance the natural functions of floodplains.

421 Background
Floods are natural processes and floodplains are necessary to every river and coastal
system. A floodplain has been defined as any land susceptible to being inundated by flood
waters. Floodplains can also be regarded as the land needed by a river or stream to convey
and store flood waters.
Preserving the floodplain as open space allows it to serve these primary natural functions
and many other important functions. Keeping the floodplain free of development—free of
buildings and infrastructure—means that there will be no flood insurance claims, no closed
businesses, no homeless residents, and that the community can return to normal quickly
after flooding occurs.

421.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 420 is 1,970 points (excluding the credit for special floodrelated hazards open space described under Section 422.d).
Credit is given for areas in a regulated floodplain that are permanently preserved as open
space. Additional credit is given for parcels of open space that are protected by deed
restrictions or that have been preserved in or restored to their natural state. Credit is also
given for measures that require or encourage less development in floodplains.
The first four elements provide credit for parcels that qualify as preserved open space. The
credit can be based on development restrictions placed by the property owners or those
found in local regulations.
(1) Open space preservation (OSP) provides credit for keeping vacant lands vacant through
ownership by a public agency, non-profit organization (such as a church camp), or
restrictive regulations. To qualify, a property must be open, meaning there are no
buildings, filling, or storage of materials.
(2) Deed restrictions (DR) provides extra credit for ensuring that parcels credited for OSP
will never be developed. This is done via a legal restriction that prevents subsequent
owners from changing the use of the property.
(3) Natural functions open space (NFOS) provides extra credit for parcels credited for OSP
that are preserved in or restored to their natural state. There are bonus credits for
additional attributes of the parcel.

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(4) Special flood-related hazard open space (SHOS) credits the preservation of open space
(OSP) parcels in areas subject to a special flood-related hazard. Special flood-related
hazards credits and points are described in separate publications, as noted below.
The next two elements credit local regulations that encourage minimal floodplain
development.
(5) Open space incentives (OSI) credits a community for having requirements and/or
incentives that keep flood-prone portions of new developments open through techniques
such as density transfers.
(6) Low-density zoning (LZ) provides credit for zoning districts that require lot sizes of
5 acres or larger, resulting in fewer buildings constructed in the floodplain.
(7) Natural shoreline protection (NSP) credits programs that protect natural channels and
shorelines, the areas most valuable for protecting the natural functions of floodplains.
The programs can be local policies that are adhered to on public lands and/or regulations
that govern development on private lands.
The seventh element credits programs that protect natural channels and shorelines. As
with the first four elements, this credit can be based on shoreline protection practices
put in place by property owners or on protection requirements embodied in local
regulations.
At the time of the verification visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist will review the documentation
and visit a sample of the parcels in the field.

422 Elements
422.a. Open space preservation (OSP)
The maximum credit for this element is 1,450 points.
OSP credits preserved open space in the floodplain. The objective of open space
preservation is to prevent or minimize development in the regulatory floodplain that
obstructs floodwaters; exposes insurable buildings to damage; or adversely affects water
quality, water quantity, or other floodplain functions.
Several different methods of preserving floodplain
lands as open space (OSP) are recognized. To be
termed “open space,” the land must be free from
buildings, filling, or other encroachment to flood
flows. To be considered “preserved,” there must be a
signed statement from a public or creditable private
owner or regulations that prohibit buildings, filling,
or other encroachments on flood flows.

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NOTE: A community does not need to
prohibit all use of private property to
obtain CRS credit. Communities are
advised to have their attorneys or
corporation counsels ensure that their
regulations that prevent construction of
buildings or the placement of fill in
hazardous areas do not constitute a
taking of private property.

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Open Space Preservation

Each parcel that qualifies as preserved open space is plotted on a map. The area of the
regulatory floodplain portion of the parcel is calculated. The total area of preserved open
space is divided by the total area of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) in the impact
adjustment step. The result is a ratio that is used to determine the total credit for OSP.
Credit Criteria
(1) The parcel must be located in the community’s regulatory floodplain, which means that
the parcel is located in either
(a) The SFHA as shown on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), or
(b) A floodplain outside the SFHA where the community enforces development
regulations similar to those enforced for new development in the SFHA. The
community must map the area and document its floodplain management regulations.
(2) The parcel must be “open space,” meaning there are no buildings, storage, filling, or
other encroachment to flood flows. Simply having vacant land in the floodplain does not
qualify for open space credit. Six types of properties in particular are NOT counted for
this activity:
(a) Properties not counted in any calculations for the 400 series of Community Rating
System (CRS) activities. This includes large bodies of water, federal lands, and other
types of property as explained in Section 403. When plotting open space lands, these
excluded areas should be marked on the impact adjustment map to ensure that they
are not mistakenly included in the calculations. See Section 403 for more
information.
(b) Areas with impervious surfaces. Parking lots and streets do not qualify. For example,
if a parcel such as a park has a parking lot, a paved tennis court, and a paved road,
those areas must be excluded from the area calculations in the impact adjustment.
Minor areas, such as sidewalks, trails, or pervious pavements, do not need to be
excluded.
(c) Areas with buildings on them. See Section 301 for a discussion of “buildings.”
Insurable buildings on parcels larger than 10 acres will not disqualify a lot, provided
that the building is “a necessary appurtenance” of the open space use. Open
pavilions and similar structures are not insurable buildings as defined in Section 301
and they do not disqualify a parcel for this credit. However, their roofs are
impervious surfaces and their area must be deducted from the parcel’s area
calculations.

Example 422.a-1.
1. If a large city park has a swimming pool, the park can be counted
as open space even though it may have a building with restrooms,
lockers, and clothes-changing areas. If it has a paved parking lot,
however, the area of that impervious surface must be deducted
from the credited area of open space.

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2. A 12-acre park that includes the first settler’s home or other
historical building that is an integral part of the park can still be
considered OSP.
3. A ranger’s cabin will not disqualify a state forest for OSP credit.
4. A school playing field can be credited if there are no insurable
buildings on it. Structures like bleachers or fences are not
“buildings” as defined in Section 301. The areas of any impervious
surfaces, such as a basketball court and parking lot, are deducted
from the total area of creditable open space.

(d) Parcels on which fill or other encroachments may be placed. One of the objectives
for preserving open space is to prevent increased flood damage from future
development. Even though insurable buildings may not be allowed, filling, dumping,
or storage on a lot still can aggravate flood problems on other properties.
For example, an open area that is used for temporary storage of rock or construction
materials does not qualify as open space. Plowing and other alterations of the ground
are not counted as filling, provided that they do not create obstructions to the flow or
loss of storage of flood waters.
Certain types of fill related to flood protection can be allowed without losing the
OSP credit. Examples include construction of sand dunes, beach nourishment, and
repairing or strengthening flood control levees. However, the properties on which
these activities take place would not be eligible for natural functions open space
credit (NFOS).
(e) Streets, pavement, parkway, railroad, levee, canal, ditch, and channel rights of way.
Such narrow, linear strips of utility easements or publicly owned property are
excluded from consideration as open space because they are necessary to serve the
development or use of an area.
Such properties with pervious surfaces may be included in the open space
calculation if they are an integral part of a larger open space area or a designated
public greenway. Narrow greenways that parallel a river or shoreline may be counted
as open space provided that they allow public access, even if they are recorded or
considered as drainage easements or channel rights of way. The CRS encourages
programs that bring people closer to the water so they learn to appreciate floodplains
and their natural functions.
(f) Publicly owned property that is not intended for open space use, such as a vacant lot
in an industrial park. One of the keys to the open space credit is the fact that the area
will remain open space, not just that it is owned by a public agency. Therefore, areas
set aside by a developer or a public agency only until future economic or other
conditions allow it to be developed, are excluded.

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(3) The parcel must be “preserved” as open space. This criterion may be met in one of
three ways:
(a) Public land, such as state and local parks and easements, can qualify if the owning
agency states in writing that the lands are intended to be kept as open space. As
noted in Section 403, there is no open space credit for federal lands. Examples of
such creditable open space parcels include, but are not limited to
o City and county parks and forest preserves,
o State parks and state forests,
o Publicly owned beaches or natural areas,
o School playing fields, and
o Floodplain easements dedicated to the community by developers.
(b) Private wildlife or nature preserves that are maintained for open space purposes can
qualify if the owner states in writing that they are intended to be kept as open space.
Examples of such creditable open space parcels include, but are not limited to
o Church retreats,
o Hunting club lands,
o Golf courses owned by nonprofit associations,
o Audubon Society preserves, and
o Boy Scout or Girl Scout camping areas.
A parcel set aside by a developer as a temporary “preserve” until the area develops is
not considered preserved open space.
(c) Open space areas subject to land development regulations that prohibit buildings and
filling can qualify for OSP. The credit criteria are the following:
o The regulations must prohibit construction of new buildings;
o The regulations must prohibit filling, grading, or other activities that obstruct
flood flows or remove flood storage in areas subject to riverine flooding;
o The area where the regulations are in effect must be mapped or defined by lots
or a legal description so it can be mapped. For example, a wetlands regulation
that is dependent upon site analysis to define whether a property is a wetland
is not acceptable;
o The maintenance of existing levees and engineered dune and beach
nourishment programs within the area is permissible;
o Credit is only given for such regulated lands that are vacant at the time of
application for CRS credit; and
o If an ordinance prohibits residential development in the V Zone, floodway, or
other portion of the floodplain, the community may request OSP credit for all
floodplain areas that are zoned for residential use only.

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Examples of such regulations include, but are not limited to
o State or local regulations that prohibit buildings and filling in the floodway,
o State or local regulations that prohibit buildings and filling in wetlands or
other designated natural areas,
o Coastal construction setback lines that prohibit buildings, and
o Streamside buffers and setback regulations (provided that they prohibit
buildings and filling).
Below are some examples of regulations that would
comprehensive list.

NOT

qualify for credit. This is not a

o The Coastal Barrier Resources Act is not acceptable because it does not
prevent construction of buildings; it only denies federal support for new
development.
o Florida’s Coastal Construction Control Line does not qualify because it does
not prohibit buildings, it only requires a state permit for buildings. However,
more restrictive local regulations could qualify.
o Ordinance language prohibiting structures that may cause obstructions in the
floodway is not credited because such a prohibition is a requirement of the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Most floodway regulations allow
buildings in the floodway if the applicants can show that they cause no
obstruction.
Open space subdivision design, cluster development, transfers of development rights, and
planned unit developments are regulatory approaches that can require or encourage
developers to set aside floodplains and other areas as dedicated open space. Unless the
regulations specifically identify certain undeveloped floodplains and mandate that they be
set aside, there is no OSP credit for these regulations because there is no assurance that the
developer will set aside specific areas. However, such regulations are credited under
Section 421.e, open space incentives (OSI). Once the parcel is set aside and preserved as
open space, it may qualify for OSP credit as publicly owned land.

Example 422.a-2.
In a strip of single-family lots along a stream, each lot has a house
situated in the floodplain fringe. There are no buildings in the floodway,
and the community’s regulations prohibit fill and the placement of new
buildings in the floodway. The open space area, the floodway, is
currently vacant and the regulations will keep it vacant, so it can be
credited.

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Credit Points
OSP = 1,450 points, based on the amount of the SFHA that is
preserved as open space

Impact Adjustment
OSP credit is adjusted based on the ratio of preserved open space areas in the regulatory
floodplain to the area of the SFHA. Section 403 has additional information on impact
adjustments for areas. The areas qualifying for OSP need to be marked on an impact
adjustment map.

rOSP = aOSP , where
aSFHA
aOSP = the size of the area(s) preserved as open space (OSP)
in the regulatory floodplain, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA shown on its FIRM

Since OSP can include areas of the community’s regulatory floodplain outside the SFHA, it
is possible that aOSP can be greater than aSFHA. In those cases, rOSP can be as large as
1.5. Note that studies done to delineate those regulated floodplains outside the SFHA can
generally be credited under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping).

NOTE: The community’s aSFHA should be reviewed and updated each year for the
Program Data Table that is included in the annual recertification (see Section 213.a).

Example 422.a-3.
South Scottsdale is a fictitious community used for CRS examples
(see Figure 420-1). The City has three areas that qualify for OSP:
Much of the north part of the Indian Bend Wash floodplain has been
purchased and cleared to form a string of parks. The property
boundaries of the park have been outlined in green and the areas in
the floodway and flood fringe are shaded in green on the map in Figure
420-1.
The area along the south part of Indian Bend Wash was owned by a
large development corporation. When the corporation wanted to
develop a 640-acre tract in another part of the City, the City offered to
allow a higher density of development on that tract if the corporation
set aside its Indian Bend Wash holdings. The corporation agreed. It
deeded the floodplain portion to the country club to which most of the
board members belonged. There is a

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Preserved Open Spaces

Credit

Indian Bend Wash Parks
South Scottsdale Country Club
Undeveloped floodway parcels
Total areas preserved as open space

OSP
OSP, DR
OSP
aOSP

143.2
55.3
44.4
242.9

OSI4, OSI5

88.7

Vacant areas subject to incentives

Size (acres)

Figure 420-1. South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 420.

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deed restriction that the area must forever remain as a golf course.
The corporation then developed the areas to the east and west and
received a higher price for the lots that backed up on the golf course
than it could have received for lots if the floodplain had been
developed.
3. Ten years ago, the City amended its floodplain management
regulations to prohibit new buildings, critical facilities, filling, or storage
of materials in the regulatory floodway. The areas that were not
developed at the time of the amendment are shaded in green on the
map in Figure 420-1. Most of these areas are along McCormick Creek.
All three types of preserved open space qualify for OSP credit.
OSP = 1,450 (before the impact adjustment)
The areas of these open spaces are shown in Figure 420-1.
aOSP = 143.2 + 55.3 + 44.4 = 242.9 acres
aSFHA = 504.4 acres (see Figure 410-5)
rOSP = aOSP = 242.9 = 0.48
aSFHA
504.4
The formula in Section 423, Credit Calculation, calls for multiplying the
value for preserving open space (1,450) by the ratio for rOSP, 0.48.
The credit for South Scottsdale’s open space, cOSP, is 48% of 1,450.
Note that if South Scottsdale enforced floodplain management
regulations throughout the SFHA and the shaded X Zone, then the
area calculations for the parks would include the X-Zone portions. This
would provide a larger numerator (aOSP), but the denominator
(aSFHA), would not change. The result would be a larger ratio and,
therefore, more points.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A description of the parcels preserved as open space. This could be a map or list that
notes which parcels also qualify for DR, NFOS, or SHOS credit.
(b) For each parcel that is preserved as open space because of ownership (Section 422.a,
credit criterion (3)(a) or (b)), documentation that the owner will keep the parcel
open.
(c) For each parcel that is preserved as open space because of a regulatory requirement
(Section 422.a, credit criterion (3)(c)), the ordinance language that prohibits
structures and fill in part or all of the regulatory floodplain. See also Sections 231.b
and c on documenting regulatory language.
(d) For each parcel that is preserved as open space outside the SFHA, documentation
showing that floodplain regulations are in effect in the area.

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(e) An impact adjustment map.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of the sites to verify that they meet the
element’s credit criteria.
Documentation can be hard copy or digital.

422.b. Deed restrictions (DR)
The maximum credit for this element is 50 points.
Just because an open space parcel is a city park today, that does not necessarily mean that
there is any legal restriction that keeps a city council from building on it or selling it for
development. This element provides additional credit for areas of the regulatory floodplain
that have the assurance that the parcel will always remain open: a deed restriction (DR).
Credit Criteria
(1) All parcels to be credited for DR must first qualify for OSP credit.
(2) There must be language attached to the deed for the parcel that prohibits new buildings.
The exact language for a legal arrangement or deed restriction will vary from state to
state and should be prepared by a local attorney. It should include three features:
(a) No new buildings may be allowed on the property;
(b) The restriction runs with the land; and
(c) The restriction cannot be changed by a future owner; rather, it can only be
amended by a court for just cause.
More common examples of deed restrictions include, but are not limited to
 Property donated by a person or family for park purposes often has the stipulation that it be used only for public recreation;
 Properties purchased with funds from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s (FEMA’s) mitigation grant programs qualify for this credit because
the titles have a deed restriction that prohibits construction of buildings on the
parcel in the future;
 Public lands that were improved with assistance from a state or federal open
space or recreational program often have a deed restriction requirement as a
condition of funding; and
 A community, other agency, organization, or owner may attach such a
restriction to its existing parks and other public open areas in order to receive
the deed restriction credit.
Regulatory requirements for easements or other dedications do not qualify for DR credit.
DR credit is a requirement that is filed or recorded with the deed, and cannot be removed by
ordinance or other action except by a court order. Although a subdivision ordinance

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requirement may qualify for OSI, to be eligible for DR credit, the parcel must have been
platted and the restrictions on developing it recorded.
After a subdivision is platted, some parcels may be set aside as a park, an easement,
retention basin, or other open space purpose. This does not automatically receive DR credit.
Documentation is needed that shows that the community or property owner (e.g., the
homeowners association) is not free to sell or build on the property.
Credit Points
DR = 50 points

Up to 50 points are provided for this element, based on the amount of the SFHA that is
preserved as open space with deed restrictions. Note that every parcel for DR credit must
have already qualified for OSP credit.
Impact Adjustment
DR credit is adjusted based on the ratio of preserved open space areas with deed restrictions
to the area of the SFHA. The areas qualifying for DR need to be marked on the impact
adjustment map prepared for OSP. Note that every parcel for DR credit must already
qualify for OSP credit.
rDR =

aDR , where
aSFHA

aDR = the size of the area(s) that qualify for deed restriction
credit (DR), and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA shown on its FIRM
rDR cannot be greater than rOSP

Example 422.b-1.
The South Scottsdale Country Club was deeded floodplain property
owned by a large development corporation. There is a deed restriction
specifying that the area must forever remain as a golf course. The area
qualifies for both OSP and DR.
DR = 50 (before the impact adjustment)

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The area of the floodplain portion of the South Scottsdale
Country Club is
aDR = 55.3 acres
aSFHA = 504.4 acres (see Figure 410-5)
rDR =

aDR = 55.3 = 11.0
aSFHA 504.4

According to Section 423, Credit Calculation, the value for deed
restrictions (50) is multiplied by the ratio for rDR, 0.11.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) For each parcel that has a qualifying deed restriction, a copy of the deed. The
language that qualifies must be marked. DR credit can only be documented with a
copy of the actual deed
restriction. An ordinance
Some Natural Functions of Floodplains
requiring deed restrictions or
dedication of easements is not
WATER RESOURCES
adequate documentation that
Natural Flood and Erosion Control
there is a permanent legal
- Provide flood storage and conveyance
restriction that prevents future
- Reduce flood velocities
owners from developing that
- Reduce peak flows
property.
- Reduce sedimentation
(b) The impact adjustment map used
for OSP credit, with “DR”
marked on the qualifying areas.

422.c. Natural functions open
space (NFOS)
The maximum credit for this element is
350 points.
The more commonly considered natural
floodplain functions are listed in the
box. There are three reasons why
preserving open spaces that support
these functions warrant the additional
credit available under this element.

Water Quality Maintenance
- Filter nutrients and impurities from runoff
- Process organic wastes
- Moderate temperature fluctuations
Groundwater Recharge
- Promote infiltration and aquifer recharge
- Reduce frequency and duration of low surface flows
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Biological Productivity
- Promote vegetative growth through rich alluvial soils
- Maintain biodiversity
- Maintain integrity of ecosystems
Fish and Wildlife Habitats
- Provide breeding and feeding grounds
- Create and enhance waterfowl habitat
- Protect habitats for rare and endangered species
− A Unified National Program for Floodplain Management
FEMA-248 (1994)

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(1) More and more studies are showing that natural open space can be more effective at
controlling or attenuating flooding and can be less expensive over the long run than
traditional manmade flood control structures.
(2) Local officials and their constituents who are aware of the benefits that naturally
functioning floodplains provide to their communities want to protect them. This can
generate a continuous level of interest to protect floodplains in order to support local
economies or improve recreational opportunities. This interest level persist between
infrequent floods, adding to the attention and resources available for flood loss
reduction efforts.
(3) Disrupting natural features has adverse impacts on the flooding regime.
Accordingly, NFOS credits areas preserved as open space (OSP) where the natural
floodplain functions are also preserved or restored. NFOS is credit in addition to OSP. Note
that other programs to support natural floodplain functions in the watershed (outside the
floodplain), such as low impact development and preserving natural flood storage areas,
such as wetlands, are credited under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management).
Credit Criteria
(1) For all NFOS credit:
(a) All parcels to be credited for NFOS must first qualify for OSP credit;
(b) Credit for NFOS1 is a prerequisite for the rest of the credits;
(c) The property must be managed to stay in the natural state or otherwise managed to
keep its designation; and
(d) The areas qualifying for each credit need to be marked on the impact adjustment map
prepared for Activity 420 .
(2) NFOS1: Credit is provided if parcels with OSP credit are in an undeveloped natural
state or have been restored to a natural
state.
The following types of open space in a
community’s regulatory floodplain can
receive NFOS1 credit.
 Areas in their undeveloped natural
state (i.e., areas that have not been
built on, graded, or farmed).
 Areas that have been farmed or
otherwise developed but have been
restored to a state approximating their
natural, pre-development conditions.
This includes restoration work, such
bioengineered channel stabilization,

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Surface waters, their floodplains, and
watersheds are parts of a broader, single system.
This interaction of land and water exists in a state
of dynamic equilibrium. If a component of the
natural system is disturbed, the entire system
works to readjust towards a new equilibrium. This
is true of riverine and coastal systems alike. The
effects of a system's readjustment are often felt far
from the original site of the disturbance and can
last for decades.
—The Natural and Beneficial Functions of
Floodplains: Reducing Flood Losses by Protecting and
Restoring the Floodplain Environment,
FEMA-409 (2002)

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removal of seawalls to allow beach erosion, wetland or riparian habitat restoration,
and moving levees back to allow channel meandering.
 Areas designated as worthy of preservation for their natural functions by a federal,
state, or nationally recognized private program. Examples of such programs include,
but are not limited to
o State sensitive-areas programs that place development restrictions on
designated properties;
o The Nature Conservancy’s Heritage Program Inventory; and
o The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Threatened and Endangered Species’
Critical Habitat Designations (some designations may also qualify the parcel
for credit under NFOS3).
The following types of open space usually would NOT receive NFOS1 credit, unless
additional information was supplied that showed that the above criteria are met.
o Areas designated only as “scenic,” as historically significant, or as outstanding
canoeing or boating streams.
o Areas developed and maintained for recreational uses, such as golf courses,
groomed beaches, and zoos.
o Forests where unrestricted commercial clear cutting is allowed (sustainable
forestry practices that preserve natural functions could be recognized).
o Dune and beach nourishment projects that involve filling, snow fences, or
other artificial constraints on natural dune migration or beach erosion.
(3) NFOS2: Credit is provided if parcels credited as NFOS1 are also designated in a plan to
protect natural functions. The plan must meet the criteria for a natural floodplain
functions plan (NFP) credited in Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning).
(4) NFOS3: Credit is provided if parcels credited as NFOS1 are designated as critical
habitat for threatened or endangered species or if the species is present. “Threatened or
endangered species” include those already on a federal or state list and those on an
official federal or state list of “species of concern” or “pending listing.”
(5) NFOS4: Credit is provided if parcels credited as NFOS1 are also in a designated open
space corridor or connected network. This credits a designated open space corridor or
connected network of wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, wilderness, and other
areas that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, and sustain air
and water resources. “Designated open space corridor” means the property has been
identified for its corridor or network value in an approved plan. Such a network
sometimes is called “green infrastructure.”
(6) NFOS5: Credit is provided if parcels credited as NFOS1 also provide educational
material on the site’s natural functions. This credit can be up to 20 points if the

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information is covered in the community’s Program for Public Information, credited
under Activity 330. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to
 A brochure that describes the property and its natural floodplain functions.
Copies of the brochure could be available in a box at the entrance to the site;
 Signs along trails that describe natural floodplain functions (signs that simply
identify the trees and plants would not qualify); and
 Conducting school field trips that explain the natural floodplain functions.
Credit Points
NFOS = the sum of the following
NFOS1 = 170 points, for having parcels that qualify as OSP in
or restored to their undeveloped natural state
NFOS2 = 50 points, for having parcels that qualify as NFOS1
designated in a natural floodplain functions protection plan
NFOS3 = 50 points, for having parcels that qualify as NFOS1
designated as critical habitat for threatened or endangered
species
NFOS4 = 60 points, for having parcels that qualify as NFOS1
also in a designated open space corridor
NFOS5 = the sum of NFOS5(a) + NFOS5(b), below
NFOS5(a) = the sum of the following public information
and/or education activities, up to a maximum of 15 points.
The activities must describe one or more of the property’s
natural floodplain functions and the parcel must qualify for
credit under NFOS1.
5 points, for having free written materials about the site
available to visitors
5 points, for having visitor signs posted on the property,
such as along trails
5 points, for having presentations to visitors, organizations,
field trips, etc.
5 points, for activities that involve the public in protecting
one or more natural floodplain functions, such as stream
cleanup day
NFOS5(b) = 5 points, if any of the NFOS5(a) informational
and/or educational activities is included in the community’s

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Program for Public Information, credit under Activity 330
(Outreach Projects)

Communities may submit alternative public information activities that are not listed under
NFOS5(a).
Impact Adjustment
NFOS credit is adjusted based on the ratio of preserved open space areas that qualify for
each sub-element (NFOS1, NFOS2, etc.) to the area of the SFHA.
rNFOS# = aNFOS# , where
aSFHA
aNFOS# = the size of the area(s) that qualifies for NFOS
credit (aNFOS1 is the area of all parcels that qualify for
NFOS1 credit, etc.) and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA shown on
its FIRM
rNFOS# cannot be greater than rOSP

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) For each parcel, documentation that supports credit under NFOS1 and any additional
credit requested. The document must describe the natural floodplain functions of the
parcel. The document can be
(i) A report or plan prepared by a qualified agency, such as a habitat conservation
plan, a natural areas inventory, green infrastructure plan, etc., that includes the
property to be credited, or
(ii) A memo or letter signed by a professional in a natural science such as botany,
biology, forestry, or landscape architecture. The sample natural floodplain
functions form shown in Figure 420-2 can also be used.
(iii) [For NFOS5] A copy or photograph of the educational material is sufficient.
(b) [For NFOS2] A copy of the plan and the resolution or other formal adoption action.
This is not needed if the plan is submitted for NFP credit under Activity 510
(Floodplain Management Planning).
(c) The impact adjustment map used for OSP credit, with “NFOS#” marked on the
qualifying areas.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of the sites to verify that they meet the
element’s credit criteria.

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Natural Floodplain Functions Form
Property name

Pettaway County Park

Property
location

1 mile northeast of Frenchford, on the Pettaway River
Pettaway Park was created in 1954 in order to protect
the area from the booming logging industry. The area
has never been developed or farmed.

Summary of
the habitat or
natural benefits
provided at
this property

It lies at the headwaters of the Pettaway River and
consists of bottomlands, ravines, white-oak forest
interspersed with marsh and meadows. It is a stop on
the Mississippi Flyway for migrating birds, including
sandhill cranes. In 2002, a white winged wood duck
(Cairina scutulata), an endangered species, was
spotted in the park.
The park’s Nature Center houses a variety of exhibits,
nature displays, maps, photographic studies, and a
research library. The Nature Center also offers a
variety of nature-oriented programs for families and
adults such as owl prowls and astronomy programs.

Name of
person
completing this
form

Jonathon Richards, ASLA

Signature

Jonathon Richards

Degree or
other
qualifications

Bachelor of arts from Wall State University in
landscape architecture, 1990.
Registered landscape architect.
Planner and then Director of natural area programs for
Delaware County since 1994.

Figure 420-2. An example of a form to inventory natural floodplain functions.

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422.d. Special flood-related hazards open space (SHOS)
The maximum credit f in Section 423, Credit Calculation, or this element is 50 points.
Credit for open space preservation and low-density zoning in areas subject to special floodrelated hazards is described in the appropriate CRS publications on special flood-related
hazards (see Appendix C to order copies). The credit points, cSHOS, are then transferred to
this activity. The publications are
 CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards,
 CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards, and
 Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
The Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement covers credit for the inland hazards of
uncertain flow paths (alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, channel migration), closed basin
lakes, ice jams, land subsidence, and mudflows.
Credit Criteria
(1) All parcels to be credited for SHOS must first qualify for OSP or LZ credit.
(2) The community’s special flood-related hazards credits must meet the credit criteria
described in the separate publications on those hazards. The special hazard must be
mapped and the area must be subject to development regulations that will help protect
future development from damage from that hazard, or meet other criteria specified in the
separate supplement.
Credit Points
The credit points for open space preservation and low-density zoning in areas subject to the
different special flood-related hazards are detailed in the separate publications.
Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustments for open space preservation and low-density zoning in areas subject
to the different special flood-related hazards are detailed in the separate publications.
Documentation Provided by the Community
The documentation needed for crediting open space preservation and low-density zoning in
areas subject to the different special flood-related hazards is detailed in the separate
publications.

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422.e. Open space incentives (OSI)
The maximum credit for this element is 250 points.
Most communities have undeveloped areas that are not preserved as open space through one
of the means recognized under OSP. The CRS recognizes that there are many tools that can
encourage the owners to keep the floodplain open when a site is developed. These can
include
 Density transfers,
 Transfers of development rights (TDRs),
 Bonuses for avoiding the floodplain or other sensitive areas,
 Planned unit developments (PUDs),
 Cluster development,
 Greenway and setback rules, and
 Open space ratio credits for open space in the floodplain.
The end results of these different approaches are similar. Examples are shown in
Figure 420-3.
A community can receive OSI credit for regulations that encourage developers to set aside
flood-prone areas as flowage easements and then, once a parcel is appropriately deeded, the
community can receive credit under OSP (or possibly DR) for that site.
These regulations do not have to be enacted for floodplain management purposes. Many
communities have adopted them for farmland preservation, protection of sensitive areas,
and even for economic reasons. For example, developments such as the example cluster
plan in Figure 420-3 have shorter streets, resulting in lower maintenance, cleaning, and
snow plowing costs for the community.
If a community’s program uses an approach to minimize development or disturbance in the
floodplain that is not described here, it should be submitted for scoring in accordance with
Section 113.d.
Most of the regulations credited for OSI address subdivisions and larger developments,
where the developer has the option of leaving some of the land vacant. If a community’s
regulatory program effectively prohibits all new buildings from the floodplain, the
community should apply for open space preservation credit under OSP.

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Traditional approach: Some new lots and
house sites are within the regulatory floodplain.

Building protection: All buildings are on high
ground, outside of the regulatory floodplain.
Portions of some lots are within the floodplain
and therefore still may be subject to development, filling, and grading that reduce natural
floodplain functions and increase flood risk.

Clustering: All buildings and lots are clustered
outside of the regulatory floodplain. The development has the same density as the first two
graphics, but with smaller lot sizes. All of the
land in the regulatory floodplain is preserved as
open space.

Transfer of development rights: The community provides the developer an incentive to dedicate the entire parcel for open space, such as
allowing a higher density development at another location, well away from the flood hazard
area.

Figure 420-3. Alternative ways to develop a property that is partially flood-prone.

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Credit Criteria
(1) OSI1: Credit is provided if the regulations set aside all of the regulatory floodplain in a
subdivision as open space (such as drainage or flowage easements or back yards) or
otherwise keep them free from development. Regulations that meet OSI1 criteria do not
qualify for OSP credit, because building still could take place on unsubdivided floodprone lands could still be built on. However, after a subdivision’s final plat is recorded,
the areas set aside could qualify for OSP credit.
Some variations to this credit include
 The credit can be prorated if smaller areas are set aside.
 If the community requires that 50% of the floodplain be kept open, then 50% of
the credit is provided.
 If the requirement is limited to one or two zoning districts, the credit can be
prorated accordingly.
(2) OSI2: Credit is provided if the regulations require that each lot in a new subdivision
provide a building site that is on natural high ground, out of the regulatory floodplain.
This credit is not provided if filling the floodplain (or cutting and filling) is allowed to
meet the building site requirement or if a Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMRF) is required.

Example 422.e-1.
Ordinance language might read:
If a parcel has a buildable site outside the Regulatory Floodplain, it
shall not be subdivided to create a new lot, tract, or parcel with a
building site plan that does not have a buildable site outside the
Regulatory Floodplain. This provision does not apply to lots set aside
from development and preserved as open space.

(3) OSI3: Credit is provided if the regulations state that TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE , each lot
in a new subdivision must provide a building site that is on natural high ground, out of
the regulatory floodplain. If a lot does not have a buildable site out of the regulatory
floodplain, all new structures, pavement, and other development must be sited where
they have the least impact on habitat. This can be done by locating the structures as far
from the water body as possible or placing the structures on the highest land on the lot.
(4) OSI4: Credit is provided if the regulations include transfer of development rights
language or a density bonus to encourage staying away from the floodplain. Fewer
points are provided for transfer of development rights or a density bonus within the
same development.

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Example 422.e-2.
Ordinance language might read:
The proposed subdivision should have one or more new lots in the
Regulatory Floodplain set aside for open space use through deed
restriction, easement, subdivision covenant, or donation to a public
agency. The density of the development in the portion of the
development outside the Regulatory Floodplain may be increased to
compensate for the amount of land in the Regulatory Floodplain
preserved as open space in accordance with _______( section of the
community’s zoning or other development ordinance that allows PUDs
and/or transfers of development rights).

(5) OSI5: Credit is provided for regulations that allow cluster development through a
planned unit development (PUD) or otherwise.
(6) OSI6: Credit is provided for a program that provides tax incentives to keep land open,
such as keeping farmland tax rates low when the owner signs an agreement to not
develop it or not to sell it for development. If the program results in permanent
preservation of open space, each qualifying parcel should be credited under OSP and, if
appropriate, DR.
(7) OSI7: Credit is provided if the community’s land use plan recommends open space use
or low-density development of flood-prone areas.
Credit Points
OSI1 = 250 points, for regulations that set aside all of the regulatory
floodplain in a subdivision as open space
OSI2 = 150 points, for regulations that REQUIRE each lot in a new
subdivision to provide a building site that is on natural high
ground, out of the regulatory floodplain
OSI3 = 65 points, for regulations that require that, TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE, each lot in a new subdivision provide a building site
that is on natural high ground, out of the regulatory floodplain,
or that otherwise does not adversely affect natural floodplain
functions
OSI4 = 70 points, for having regulations that provide for transfers of
development rights or density bonuses to encourage staying out
of the regulatory floodplain. This credit can be up to 50 points if
the bonus allows increased density within the same
development

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OSI5 = 25 points, for regulations that allow cluster development
through PUDs or other means
OSI6 = 25 points, for a program that provides tax incentives to keep
land open
OSI7 = 10 points, if the community’s land use plan recommends
open space use or low-density development of flood-prone
areas

Impact Adjustment
OSI credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the OSI regulation to the
area of the SFHA.
(1) The areas covered by the regulation(s) need to be marked on the impact adjustment map
prepared for OSP.
(2) The first four sub-elements (OSI1 through OSI4) are mutually exclusive. That is, a
community can only receive one of these credits for an area. However, a community
could receive credit for one of these four plus OSI5, OSI6, and/or OSI7 in the same
area.
(3) There is no impact adjustment for OSI7.
rOSI# = aOSI# , where
aSFHA
aOSI# = the size of the area(s) that qualify for OSI# credit
(aOSI1 is the size of the area that qualifies for OSI1 credit,
etc.), and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA shown on its
FIRM
Note that aOSI cannot include areas that are developed or are
credited under OSP.

Example 422.e-3.
A coastal county’s OSI4 regulations allowing the transfer of
development rights only affect inland riverine floodplains. This area is
calculated to be 14.64 square miles. The total area of the County’s
SFHA is 17.42 square miles.

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rOSI4 = aOSI4 = 14.64 = 0.84
aSFHA
17.42
If the county receives credit for a provision under OSI5 or OSI6, the
impact adjustment is calculated separately.

Example 422.e-4.
South Scottsdale has a provision to transfer development rights in
order to preserve natural, sensitive, and flood-prone areas. This
provision proved very successful when developable land was set aside
as the South Scottsdale Country Club (see Examples 422.a-3 and
422.b-1).
OSI4 = 70
The City’s code also authorizes cluster development.
OSI5 = 25
The city’s comprehensive plan calls for preserving all flood-prone
areas as open space, to the extent possible with a minimum of City
funding.
OSI7 = 10
The application of OSI4 and OSI5 is limited to undeveloped lands that
are not already preserved as open space. There are only two such
areas left in South Scottsdale—the floodplain for Tributary A and the
southern portion of Tributary B’s floodplain. They are so marked on the
impact adjustment map in Figure 420-1.
Area of Tributary A floodplain: 68.9 acres
Area of south part of Tributary B floodplain: 19.8 acres
aOSI4 = aOSI5 = 68.9 + 19.8 = 88.7 acres
aSFHA = 504.4 acres (see Figure 410-5)
rOSI4 = aOSI4 = 88.7 = 0.18
aSFHA 504.4
rOSI5 = aOSI5 = 88.7 = 0.18
aSFHA 504.4
According to Section 423, Credit Calculation, the values for OSI4 and
OSI5 are multiplied by their ratios, 0.18.
There is no impact adjustment for OSI7.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) For each regulatory requirement, the ordinance language. See also Section 231.c on
submitting ordinance language as documentation.
(b) The impact adjustment map used for OSP credit, with “OSI” marked on the
qualifying areas. It must show areas that are currently vacant and areas that are
credited for open space preservation (OSP).
(c) For extra credit for regulating flood-prone areas outside the SFHA, documentation
showing that floodplain regulations are in effect in these areas.
(d) During the verification visit, the ISO/CRS Specialist will need to see site plans and
final plats that will document how the regulation has been applied.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of new developments to verify that they
have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans.

422.f. Low-density zoning (LZ)
The maximum credit for this element is 600 points. There is additional credit for lowdensity zoning in areas subject to special flood-related hazards, as explained in
Section 422.d.
Credit is provided for zoning areas of the regulatory floodplain to keep them substantially
open. Zoning an area for agriculture, conservation, or large residential lots preserves more
open space than allowing more intensive development.
LZ credit is available for undeveloped land within low-density zoning districts, as well as
for areas developed in accordance with the density requirements within the regulatory
floodplain. “Low-density” means that that size of the lots is at least 5 acres. For this
element, it does not matter why an area is zoned for low density; what counts is the
minimum lot size and lot coverage allowed in the zoning district.
The credit for low-density zoning is based upon the traditional zoning approach of setting
minimum lot sizes for different zoning districts. The bigger the lot size, the less dense the
floodplain development and the more credit provided. The credit also factors in lot
coverage for non-residential zones.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must have a zoning ordinance that identifies different development
criteria and densities for different areas. Other types of regulations are not credited. For
example, a health ordinance that requires a minimum lot size to accommodate a septic
field is not credited. The area may be developed to a higher density if a sanitary sewer is
installed in the future.
(2) The lands to be credited for LZ must not qualify for OSP credit.

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Credit Points
LZ = up to 600 points, for zoning regulations
LZ#s = 60 points x s, where
s = the minimum lot size in acres

(1) For the credit calculation, density is measured in terms of acres per building. A zoning
district with a minimum lot size of 5 acres allows a density of 5 acres per building. For
this area, s = 5, and the area would be designated “LZ#5” on the impact adjustment map
used for OSP credit.
“s” may have any value from 5.0 to 10.0. The highest allowable density is a five-acre lot
(s = 5.0), and minimum lot sizes larger than 10 acres are credited as 10 acres (s = 10.0).

Example 422.f-1.
In a “rural estates” zoning district, the density is one unit per 5 acres.
s = 5, LZ#5 = 60 x 5 = 300 points (before the impact adjustment)

(2) For residential zones, density is based on the minimum lot size for one unit. Where
multi-family residential buildings are allowed, “s” is based on the number of units
allowed per parcel. For example, if duplexes are allowed in a district with a minimum
lot size of 10 acres, the density is credited as one unit per 5 acres, or s = 5.0.
(3) For non-residential zones, density is also based on the lot coverage allowed. For fiveacre lots, the maximum allowable lot coverage credited is 10%. For 10-acre or larger
lots, the maximum allowable lot coverage credited is 5%. Credited lot coverage is
prorated for other lot sizes.
(4) Different zoning districts with the same density requirement can be counted together as
one LZ#s.
(5) Where minimum lot sizes are in units other than acres, they must be converted to acres
to calculate the credit for this element.
Impact Adjustment
LZ credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the zoning district within the
regulatory floodplain to the area of the SFHA. The areas covered by each low-density
zoning district need to be marked on the impact adjustment map prepared for OSP. Note
that all areas for which LZ credit is requested must not qualify for OSP credit.

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rLZ # = aLZ# , where
aSFHA
aLZ# = the size of the area(s) that qualify for LZ# credit within
the regulatory floodplain (aLZ#5 is the size of the area that
qualifies for LZ#5 credit, etc.), and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA shown on its FIRM
Note that aLZ cannot include areas credited under OSP

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) For each LZ value, the zoning ordinance language that explains the density
requirement.
(b) The impact adjustment map used for OSP credit, with “LZ#” marked on the
qualifying areas. It must show the areas to be credited for LZ, areas that are credited
for open space preservation (OSP), and the SFHA. Only the portion that covers the
SFHA is needed.
(c) For extra credit for low-density zoning in flood-prone areas outside the SFHA,
documentation showing that floodplain regulations are in effect in these areas.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of new developments to verify that they
have been developed in accordance with the required density.

422.g. Natural shoreline protection (NSP)
The maximum credit for this element is 120 points.
Natural channels and shorelines are the areas most valuable for protecting natural floodplain functions. They are important places for aquatic and riparian habitat. NSP credit is for
allowing these areas to follow their natural processes, such as channel meandering and
beach erosion, and to encourage natural shorelines that provide water quality benefits for
runoff.
Note that a setback or buffer that prohibits buildings and filling can also qualify as OSP,
subject to the OSP impact adjustment. The larger the buffer zone, the greater the OSP
credit.
Two types of programs are credited in NSP.
(1) Programs to protect channels and shorelines in their natural state. These include
 Regulations that govern development and construction, such as an ordinance or
regulation that governs public and private construction activities; and

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 Local policies followed on public lands, such as a written community policy that
covers shorelines in city parks.
Protection credit is only available for channels or shorelines that are currently in their
approximate natural state, i.e., there is no concrete, rip rap, levees, armoring, beach
nourishment, dams, or other human intervention that constrains the natural processes of
the shoreline of the river, stream, lake, or ocean.
(2) Programs that restore channels or shorelines to their approximate natural state or to a
state that supports natural floodplain functions. Examples of the latter would be a “soft”
or “green” bank stabilization project for a stream channel. Regulations to require
restoration activities, such as mandating that a developer set aside a habitat corridor, are
credited under OSI.
Credit Criteria
(1) The regulation or program to protect natural shorelines must prohibit
 In channels and channel banks in riverine areas: Rip rap or armoring, channel
alterations, dredging, filling, grubbing, and removal of vegetation; and
 On shorelines of lakes or oceans: Filling or other alterations to a beach, including
beach nourishment projects; alterations to sand dunes; and construction of seawalls,
bulkheads, armoring, or other shoreline stabilization structures.
(2) The regulation or program may allow human alterations that benefit natural
floodplain functions, such as removing a levee, restoring habitat, reducing bank erosion
with bio-engineering techniques, or planting to preserve sand dunes, provided that the
projects do not prevent channel or shoreline movement or reduce other natural
floodplain functions.
Credit Points
NSP = up to 120 points, based on the length of the community’s
shorelines that are affected by the natural shoreline protection
regulations or programs

Impact Adjustment
(1) The impact adjustment is not related to the areas of the SFHA or channels in the SFHA.
It is based on the length of protected shorelines divided by the total length of all the
shorelines in the community. A channel has two shorelines, one on each side. It is
possible that only one side would qualify for NSP credit, so they are measured and
counted separately.
(2) Credit is provided in developed areas, undeveloped areas, and areas credited as
preserved open space (OSP). Communities are encouraged to take steps to protect
shorelines in parks and other public lands. Credit is provided even if the only creditable
activity is a community policy for parks and other public lands.

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(3) The community must prepare an impact adjustment map showing all streams, ditches,
and ocean or lake shorelines in the community. The length of these features is the value
for aSL. Armored or concrete channels, manmade ditches, hardened shorelines, etc., are
counted toward aSL, but not toward aNSP.
The map must be consistent with the impact adjustment map used for channel debris
removal (CDR) under Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance). Unlike the map for
CDR, however, the impact adjustment map prepared for NSP must show all streams in
both developed and undeveloped areas.
rNSP = aNSP , where
aSL
aNSP = the length of shoreline affected by the program, and
aSL = the total length of shoreline in the community’s SFHA

If less than 10% of all the community’s shorelines are affected by the regulations or
programs or the community does not prepare an impact adjustment map, the value of
rNSP = 0.1 can be used.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) [For credit for protection of natural shorelines] A copy of the regulations or policy
on which the credit is based.
(b) [For restoration credit] A description of the restoration program or projects.
(c) An impact adjustment map (not needed if the community is using the optional
minimum impact adjustment value of 0.1).
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of shoreline sites to verify that they qualify
for the credit.

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423 Credit Calculation
c420 = (OSP x rOSP) + (DR x rDR) + cNFOS +
cSHOS + cOSI + cLZ + (NSP x rNSP), where
cNFOS = (NFOS1 x rNFOS1) + (NFOS2 x rNFOS2) +
(NFOS3 x rNFOS3) + (NFOS4 x rNFOS4) +
(NFOS5 x rNFOS5), and
cOSI = (OSI1 x rOSI1) + (OSI2 x rOSI2) + (OSI3 x rOSI3) +
(OSI4 x rOSI4) + (OSI5 x rOSI5) +
(OSI6 x rOSI6) + OSI7, and
cLZ = ∑(LZ#s x rLZ#s)

Example 423-1.
South Scottsdale calculates its credit for Activity 420.
OSP = 1,540

rOSP = 0.48

DR = 50

rDR = 0. 11

OSI4 = 70

rOSI4 = 0.18

OSI5 = 25

rOSI5 = 0.18

OSI7 = 10
cOSI = (OSI4 x rOSI4) + (OSI5 x rOSI5) + OSI7
= (70 x 0.18) + (25 x 0.18) + 10 = 12.6 + 4.5 + 10
= 27.1
cSHOS = 0, cLZ = 0, cNSP = 0
c420 = (OSP x rOSP) + (DR x rDR) + cNFOS + cSHOS + cOSI +
cLZ (NSP x rNSP)
c420 = (1,450 x 0.48) + (50 x 0.11) + 0 + 0 + 27.1 + 0 + 0
= 696.0 + 5.5 + 27.1 = 728.6
This is rounded to the nearest whole number. c420 = 729

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424 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org.
b. Additional credit for open space in special hazard areas and coastal areas is discussed in the
appropriate publications. These free publications are needed to apply for CRS credit for
managing special flood-related hazards. See Appendix C or www.CRSresources.org.
Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards
CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards.
c. More information on planning and regulatory techniques to preserve floodplain open space can
be found in Subdivision Design in Flood Hazard Areas, Planning Advisory Service Report
#473. Copies can be ordered for $32 ($16 for APA members) from the American Planning
Association’s website at www.planning.org/apastore/.

425 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Activity 320 (Map Information Service) credits providing information about natural
and sensitive areas (MI7) and Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance) credits having
a data base or GIS layer of such areas. These should include the areas credited for
NFOS.
 The credit for educational materials for natural areas (NFOS5) is higher if the
materials are included in a Program for Public Information credited under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects).
 Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping) provides credit for regulating areas outside the
SFHA. If such areas include parks or other qualifying preserved open space, those
areas can be credited in this activity.
 The first element under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards), development
limitations (DL), provides credit for regulations that prohibit filling, buildings, and/or
storage of materials. If a community’s regulations do not qualify for OSP, they may
qualify for DL credit.
 A prerequisite for Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation) credit is that the
property that has been cleared must meet the OSP criteria for preserved open space.
All such properties should receive OSP credit. If the properties were cleared with
FEMA mitigation funds, they should also qualify for deed restriction (DR) credit.
Many other federal and state funding programs have similar deed restriction
requirements.

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430  Higher Regulatory Standards—Summary 
Maximum credit:  2,042 points 
Credit for FRB, FDN, ENL, and CAZ are not counted toward this total because those 
elements and DL credit are mutually exclusive. 

432  Elements 
a.  Development limitations (DL):  Up to 1,330 points for prohibiting fill, 
buildings, and/or storage of materials in the SFHA. 
b.  Freeboard (FRB):  Up to 500 points for a freeboard requirement. 
c.  Foundation protection (FDN):  Up to 80 points for engineered foundations. 
d.  Cumulative substantial improvements (CSI):  Up to 90 points for counting 
improvements cumulatively. 
e.  Lower substantial improvements (LSI):  Up to 20 points for a substantial 
improvement threshold lower than 50%. 
f.  Protection of critical facilities (PCF):  Up to 80 points for protecting facilities 
that are critical to the community. 
g.  Enclosure limits (ENL):  240 points for prohibiting first‐floor enclosures. 
h.  Building code (BC):  Up to 100 points for adopting and enforcing the 
International Code Series. 
i.  Local drainage protection (LDP):  Up to 120 points for ensuring that new 
buildings are protected from shallow flooding. 
j.  Manufactured home parks (MHP):  Up to 15 points for removing the 
elevation exemption for manufactured homes placed in existing 
manufactured home parks. 
k.  Coastal A Zones (CAZ):  Up to 650 points for enforcing V‐Zone rules and/or 
ENL enclosure limits inland from the V‐Zone boundary. 
l.  Special flood‐related hazards regulations (SHR):  Up to 100 points for 
enforcing appropriate construction standards in areas subject to a special 
flood‐related hazard. 
m.  Other higher standard (OHS):  Up to 100 points for other regulations. 
n.  State‐mandated regulatory standards (SMS):  Up to 20 bonus points if a 
regulatory standard is required by the state. 
o.  Regulations administration (RA):  Up to 67 points for having trained staff 
and administrative procedures that meet specified standards. 

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 431.b. Each element has 
additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for BC, LDP, MHP, SMS, or RA. The credit for all other 
elements is adjusted and explained in Section 431.c. For some elements, additional 
details are described in separate sections. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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430 HIGHER REGULATORY STANDARDS
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to credit regulations to protect existing and future
development and natural floodplain functions that exceed the minimum criteria of the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

431 Background
Current NFIP standards for regulation of
development in riverine areas require that new
residential buildings in the Special Flood Hazard
Area (SFHA) have their lowest floor at or above the
base flood elevation. Non-residential buildings may
be floodproofed to the base flood elevation. NFIP
coastal rules require that new buildings be above the
base flood elevation and, in V (velocity) Zones, be
built on engineered piles or columns. If an existing
building is improved or reconstructed and the value
of the project exceeds 50% of the building’s value,
the building must be brought up to the same
standards applied to new construction.

A separate publication, CRS Credit for
Higher Regulatory Standards, provides
additional information on the elements
credited here, including example ordinance language and documentation.
Communities are encouraged to obtain
and read the document before applying
for this activity.
To order a free copy, see
Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org/400.

Although the NFIP minimum standards provide a great deal of flood protection, damage can
still result for many reasons:
 Estimates of flood heights are subject to various errors and may be low, especially in
areas without long-term flood and rainfall records;
 Buildings may be damaged by floods that exceed the predicted 100-year flood;
 Urbanization and other changes in the watershed can increase the flood hazard and
flood frequency;
 Filling and other development in the floodplain can reduce storage and conveyance
capacity; and
 Filling and construction practices can damage or destroy valuable natural floodplain
functions.
For these reasons, and the fact that local situations vary, many communities adopt
development standards that are higher than or supplement the minimum NFIP criteria. This
activity provides credit for those regulatory standards.

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431.a. Activity Description
Under this activity, numerous higher regulatory approaches are credited that provide more
protection to new development, redevelopment, and existing development. Examples of
higher standards and the benefits that they can provide include
 Prohibiting fill and other ground-altering measures can protect existing development
and habitat, improve water quality, and maintain the flood attenuating benefits of
natural areas (credited under DL1a);
 Requiring compensatory storage preserves areas of the floodplain that can store flood
water and minimizes increases in flood heights due to development (credited under
DL1b);
 Requiring the lowest floors of residences to be higher than the base flood elevation
protects buildings from higher floods (credited under FRB);
 Protecting foundations reduces damage that results from scour and settling (credited
under FDN);
 Requiring full compliance with floodplain management regulations when proposed
improvements or repairs are less than 50% of a building’s value brings more
nonconforming buildings up to current flood protection standards (credited under CSI
and LSI);
 Protecting critical facilities to higher levels reduces damage to those facilities and
improves the community’s ability to respond to the needs of citizens during a disaster
(credited under PCF);
 Adopting and enforcing a building code improves the quality of construction of new
buildings and provides more staff support for floodplain management regulations
(credited under BC);
 Standards for protecting buildings from local drainage problems reduce flood losses
and flood insurance claims, especially outside the floodplain (credited under LDP);
 Requiring new manufactured housing in existing manufactured housing parks to meet
the same level of protection as is required for other new buildings reduces flood
losses and flood insurance claims (credited under MHP);
 Requiring new construction in the coastal A Zone to meet the same standards as VZone buildings protects it from a known, but unmapped, breaking wave hazard
(credited under CAZ);
 Adopting and enforcing construction rules tailored to special flood-related hazards,
such as coastal erosion and alluvial fan flooding, provides protection in ways that the
NFIP’s national minimum criteria cannot do (credited under SHR); and
 Having Certified Floodplain Managers (CFM®) and high-quality administrative
procedures and inspections can reduce errors and minimize problems during
construction (credited under RA).

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The element OHS (other higher standards), provides credit for regulations not listed in this
or other activities. As noted in Section 113.d, communities are invited and encouraged to
submit other regulatory provisions that are not part of the NFIP’s minimum criteria and/or
alternative approaches to the credits listed here.

NOTE: A community should not amend its ordinances solely to earn Community Rating
System (CRS) credit points, nor should it necessarily adopt the examples used in the CRS
Coordinator’s Manual. Ordinance language should be carefully written to support the
community’s own goals and the purposes of its regulatory program. All such language
should be reviewed by the community’s legal counsel before it is adopted.

431.b. Activity Credit Criteria
For all the elements except RA (regulations administration, Section 431.o), the community
must provide a legally enforceable regulation. In most cases, this will be in the form of an
ordinance adopted by the community’s governing body.
(1) Regulations adopted by a county, regional agency, or state that are enforced within the
community can be credited. Their implementation is verified in the same manner as a
community regulation and it is expected that the community will assist in the
verification. See also Section 231.d on uniform minimum credit.
(2) Regulations must have the force of law and meet the requirements of Section 231.b.
(3) If the legal authority for the regulatory language is not clear, the ISO/CRS Specialist
may request a letter from the community’s legal counsel that confirms that he/she will
defend the regulation in court if it is challenged.
(4) For CRS credit, the regulatory language must be adopted and in full force at the time
CRS credit is requested, e.g., at the verification visit.
(5) Credit for any element is prorated if the sampling done during verification finds
instances in which the element is not fully implemented. It does not matter why it is not
fully implemented. For example, if a review of Elevation Certificates finds that some
new buildings did not have the required freeboard because of legally issued variances,
the credit is still prorated.
See also Section 231 on documentation of regulations for CRS credit.

431.c. Activity Impact Adjustment
Impact adjustment ratios are part of the calculations for all elements in Activity 430 except
BC, LDP, MHP, SMS, and RA. They are explained in Sections 402–403.
(1) An impact adjustment map must be prepared when
(a) The acreage or square mileage of the areas qualifying for Activity 430 credit needs
to be determined for the impact adjustment ratio, or

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(b) The regulations are enforced outside the SFHA so that the impact adjustment ratio
can be greater than 1.0. If the impact adjustment ratio is greater than 1.0, the
community will receive more points than the maximum listed for the element. The
maximum ratio for this is 1.5 (i.e., the area regulated is 50% (or more) larger than
the SFHA).
(2) The areas affected by the regulation(s) must be marked on an impact adjustment map.
Marking each area with the appropriate acronym is a convenient shorthand. Section 402
has additional information about determining impact adjustments for areas.
(3) Areas to be credited for a higher regulatory standard must not include areas preserved as
open space (OSP) in Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation). Therefore, OSP credited
areas must be shown on the impact adjustment map used for Activity 430. There is no
Activity 430 credit for higher standards for fill or buildings in areas where fill and
buildings are not allowed (i.e., areas preserved as open space). This is explained in
Section 402.c.
(4) An impact adjustment map does not need to be prepared when a regulatory standard is
enforced throughout the entire SFHA. The impact adjustment ratio in that case is 1.0.
However, the community must be certain that a regulation is enforced throughout the
regulatory floodplain. For example, the ordinance may say that all new buildings must
be built to a freeboard level, but that rule may only apply in flood zones where a base
flood elevation is provided. In such cases, an impact adjustment map would be needed
to delineate and calculate the areas affected by the freeboard standard.
(5) An impact adjustment map does not need to be prepared when a regulatory standard is
enforced throughout the entire SFHA, but the community is receiving credit for
preserving open space (OSP) in Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation). If the only
adjustment to the impact of an element is for OSP, the impact adjustment ratio for the
430 element is the complement of the impact adjustment for OSP.

Example 431.c-1.
A community has 22% of its SFHA preserved as open space.
rOSP = 0.22. The community enforces its freeboard requirement
throughout the rest of the SFHA.
rFRB = 1 – rOSP = 1 – 0.22 = 0.78
There is no need for a separate impact adjustment map for Activity 430
in this instance.

(6) If less than 10% of the community’s SFHA is affected by the regulations or if the
community does not prepare an impact adjustment map, an impact adjustment ratio of
0.1 can be used (up to 0.5 for CAZ).

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Sections 402–403 provide guidance on impact adjustments and impact adjustment maps.
Additional criteria and clarifications may be included under each activity’s impact
adjustment section.
The community’s aSFHA should be reviewed and updated each year for the Program Data
Table that is included in the annual recertification (see Section 213.a).

431.d. Activity Documentation Provided by the Community
Most elements in this activity have the same documentation needs at the verification visit:
(1) The state or local law or ordinance language that adopts the regulatory standard. See
also Sections 231.b and 231.c on documenting regulatory language.
(2) The impact adjustment map. See Section 431.c.
(3) [For credit for regulating flood-prone areas outside the SFHA] Documentation that
shows that regulations are in effect outside the SFHA (i.e., the regulatory floodplain).
(4) Development plans and/or permit records that document how the regulation has been
applied.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that the land has
been developed and/or buildings have been constructed in accordance with the approved
plans.
Some elements have additional or different documentation requirements, as noted in the
separate documentation sections, below.

432 Elements
432.a. Development limitations (DL)
The maximum credit for this element is 1,330 points.
This element has three parts, crediting different aspects of the regulation of floodplain
development:
(1) Prohibition of fill (DL1) (maximum credit: 280 points). The use of fill to elevate
buildings has advantages that make it desirable for developers and homeowners.
However, there are problems with using fill: it reduces floodplain storage capacity and
it has an adverse impact on native vegetation, wetlands, drainage, and water quality.
All of the benefits of using fill accrue to the developer and to the property owner.
Conversely, all of the problems accrue to neighbors, taxpayers, the community, the
NFIP, or the environment. Because filling is therefore not a desirable floodplain
management activity, this element credits communities that prohibit fill.

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One method to offset the impacts of the use of fill is to require compensatory storage,
but compensatory storage does not compensate for the adverse impact on other natural
floodplain functions. Therefore, it is worth approximately half the credit. This credit is
for regulations that require new developments to provide compensatory storage at
hydraulically equivalent sites up to a ratio of 1.5 to 1.
(2) Prohibition of buildings (DL2) (maximum credit: 1,000 points). If the regulations
prohibit only certain types of buildings, such as residences, the points can be prorated.
(3) Prohibition of outdoor storage of materials (DL3) (maximum credit: 50 points). Credit
can be received under three sub-elements:
(a) Prohibition of all materials (DL3a): Full credit for DL3 is for prohibiting outdoor
storage of all materials in the SFHA.
(b) Prohibition of hazardous materials (DL3b): Partial credit is provided if only
hazardous materials are prohibited (indoors or outdoors).
(c) Storage of hazardous materials (DL3c): Credit is provided if hazardous materials are
allowed to be stored indoors in the floodplain, but must be elevated above the base
flood elevation.
If all three items (DL1, DL2, and DL3) are included in the community’s regulations and
there are still vacant areas in the regulatory floodplain, those areas would be effectively
preserved as open space. The community should submit those areas for the higher credit for
OSP in Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation). See Section 422.a(3)(c).
These regulations have their full impact in undeveloped areas. Therefore, the impact
adjustment map must identify areas credited for open space preservation (OSP) and areas
that are undeveloped, i.e., where there are no buildings on the parcels or the area is zoned
for conservation or agriculture with a minimum lot size of 10 acres or larger.
Credit Criteria
(1) Prohibition of fill (DL1):
(a) Prohibition of all fill (DL1a): This credit is for prohibiting all filling in the
regulatory floodplain.
This includes not approving Conditional Letters or Letters of Map Revision based on
Fill (CLOMR-F or LOMR-F). When a CLOMR-F or LOMR-F is applied for, the
community is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to
sign a Community Acknowledgment Form that states, in part, “the completed or
proposed project meets or is designed to meet all of the community floodplain
management requirements . . .” If a CLOMR-F or LOMR-F is issued for a property
in the community, then DL1 credit will be denied. This applies to CLOMRs and
LOMRs that include filling as part of the reason for requesting a map change.
Filling may be allowed where needed to protect or restore natural floodplain
functions, such as a part of a channel restoration project.

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The following regulatory approaches do not warrant credit for DL1:
 Regulations that prohibit loss of storage only if it adversely affects flood
heights on other properties. This credit is for prohibiting all filling, particularly
because of its adverse effect on natural floodplain functions.
 Subdivision regulations that do not apply to all new development.
 Regulations that apply to buildings or private development, but not to bridges,
highways, parking lots, and other floodplain uses.
 The standard NFIP language that prohibits increases in flood heights in
floodways. That standard does not prohibit fill—it allows filling that can be
shown by an engineering study not to increase flood levels. It reads
Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial
improvements and other developments unless certification (with
supporting technical data) by a registered professional engineer is
provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any
increase in flood levels during occurrence of the base flood discharge; . . .

(b) Compensatory storage (DL1b): This credit is for regulations that require new
development to provide compensatory storage at hydraulically equivalent sites up to
a ratio of 1.5:1. Credit is not provided for
 Compensatory storage requirements in floodways only or in V Zones only, or
 Stormwater management regulations that require a developer to compensate for
any increase in runoff created by the development.
(2) Prohibition of buildings (DL2): Full credit for DL2 is for prohibiting all new buildings
in the SFHA. If the regulations only prohibit certain types of buildings, such as
residences, the points will be prorated. If buildings are prohibited in parts of the SFHA,
such as the floodway, the impact adjustment will adjust the points. Prohibiting critical
facilities is credited in Section 432.f, Protection of critical facilities, not under DL2.
(3) Prohibitions on storage of materials (DL3) has no additional criteria.
Credit Points
(1) DL1 = EITHER:
(a) 280 points, for regulations that prohibit fill within floodplains,
including construction of buildings on fill,
OR

(b) 130 points x the ratio of compensation, for regulations that
require new development to provide compensatory
storage at hydraulically equivalent sites up to a maximum of
195 for a ratio of 1.5:1 or greater

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Example 432.a-1.
A community requires that for each cubic foot of fill placed in the
regulatory floodplain, the builder must remove a cubic foot of fill from a
hydraulically equivalent location. The compensation ratio is 1:1, so
DL1b = 130 x 1 = 130.
Gulf Beach County requires that for each cubic foot of fill placed in the
regulatory floodplain, the builder must remove 1.25 cubic feet of fill
from a hydraulically equivalent location. The compensation ratio is
1.25:1, so DL1b = 130 x 1.25 = 162.5.

(2) DL2 = 1,000 points, for regulations that prohibit buildings within
the regulatory floodplain

If the regulations only prohibit certain types of buildings, such as residences, the points will
be prorated.
(3) DL3 = one of the following:
(a) 50 points, for regulations that prohibit outdoor storage of
materials within the regulatory floodplain,
OR

(b) 20 points, for regulations that prohibit storage of hazardous
materials anywhere in the floodplain,
OR

(c) 10 points, for regulations that require hazardous materials to
be stored indoors, above the base flood elevation

DL3 credit is not cumulative. If the regulations govern storage of only certain kinds of
materials, the points will be prorated.
Impact Adjustment
DL credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the DL regulation to the area
of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment. The following
additional criteria apply:
(1) The areas affected by the DL regulation(s) must be marked on an impact adjustment
map that meets the criteria in Section 431.c. In addition to showing areas credited under
OSP, the map must also show developed and undeveloped areas. “Undeveloped” means

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that there are no buildings on the parcels or that the area is zoned for conservation or
agriculture with a minimum lot size of 10 acres (these areas may also qualify for LZ
credit).
(2) Areas credited for DL credit must exclude areas credited for OSP. However, if the DL
regulations are sufficient, vacant areas may qualify for OSP and the community should
receive the higher points under OSP (see Section 422.a(3)(c)).
(3) Only undeveloped areas are eligible for DL1a and DL2 credit, unless the regulations
clearly state that they apply to developed areas. For example, if DL2 regulations are
enforced in areas already developed and a building is substantially damaged, it cannot
be replaced and the site must be cleared and kept vacant. Note that if a DL2 regulation
prohibits all new buildings except farm structures, the value for DL2 can be prorated
and the credit can be applied to areas with farm structures.
(4) DL1b, compensatory storage, and DL3, prohibitions on storage of materials, can be
credited in developed areas.
rDL# =

aDL# , where
aSFHA
aDL# = the size of the area(s) that qualify for DL# credit
(aDL1a is the size of the area that qualifies for
DL1a credit, etc.), and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

cDL = (DL1 x rDL1) + (DL2 x rDL2) + (DL3 x rDL3)

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements listed in Section 431.d must be met.

432.b. Freeboard (FRB)
The maximum credit for this element is 500 points.
The NFIP requires that the lowest floor of residential structures be elevated to or above the
base flood elevation and that non-residential structures be elevated or floodproofed to or
above the base flood elevation. Attached garages and utilities (including electrical, heating,
ductwork, ventilating, plumbing, and air conditioning equipment) must also be protected to
the base flood elevation (44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §60.3(a)(3)). This can be
done by elevating them or using flood-resistant materials during construction.
A freeboard requirement adds height above the base flood elevation to provide an extra
margin of protection to account for waves, debris, miscalculations, or lack of data. A
freeboard requirement of one foot means that the level of protection for the lowest floor,
machinery and equipment, etc. is one foot above the base flood elevation.

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Credit Criteria
(1) Lowest floor, utilities, and garages: For FRB credit, freeboard must be applied to the
elevation of the lowest floor of the building or to the elevation to which a nonresidential building is dry floodproofed, and to all components of the building, including
all utilities, ductwork, and attached garages. All portions of the building below the
freeboard level must be constructed using flood-damage-resistant materials. If the
garage floor is below the freeboard level, the garage must meet the opening and wet
floodproofing requirements for enclosures.
Two references on these requirements are Protecting Building Utilities from Flood
Damage, FEMA-348, and Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements, Technical
Bulletin 2 (2008).
(2) The amount of freeboard is measured according to the following criteria:
(a) In A Zones, freeboard is measured from the top of the lowest floor. In V Zones, it is
measured from the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member. If the
ordinance uses “lowest horizontal structural member” or similar language instead of
“lowest floor” in areas outside of the V Zone or coastal A Zones where CAZ credit
applies, 1 foot is added to the amount of freeboard credited. For example, if the
community’s ordinance requires that buildings in the A Zones be elevated so the
bottom of the floor joists is at least 1.0 feet above the base flood elevation, the
ordinance is scored as requiring 2.0 feet of freeboard.
(b) For the purpose of calculating CRS credit, the 500-year flood elevation is considered
to be one foot higher than the base flood elevation, unless the community demonstrates that it is higher. For example, if the community’s ordinance requires that the
building be protected to at least the 500-year flood elevation, the ordinance is scored
as requiring 1.0 feet of freeboard.
(c) In AO Zones, base flood depths are provided instead of base flood elevations. Where
depths are not provided, the NFIP regulations require new buildings to be elevated
2 feet above the highest adjacent grade. Some communities misinterpret this
requirement as two feet of freeboard. Elevating 2 feet above the highest adjacent
grade in an AO Zone where no base flood depth is provided is a minimum
requirement of the NFIP and is not eligible for credit.
However, in AO Zones with depth numbers, the NFIP requires elevation above that
depth. Going higher than the specified depth warrants FRB credit, which is scored
the same as in an AE Zone.
(d) “Stem wall” construction involves constructing the foundation walls above grade,
filling the interior area, and pouring a slab over the fill. From the outside, the
building looks as though it is elevated on a crawlspace, but openings are not
required. Such buildings are categorized as Diagram 1.b in the FEMA Elevation
Certificate. This construction practice does not prohibit fill, but it limits the amount
of fill to the building footprint. If the regulations prohibit fill for new buildings, but
allow for stem wall construction, the credit is the average of the values in the “No

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filling restrictions” and “Compensatory storage required” columns in the table in the
Credit Points section, below.
(e) If the ordinance uses the encroached elevation using FEMA’s standard allowable
maximum rise of one foot, add 0.5 feet to the amount of freeboard. Detailed riverine
flood studies that produce a floodway provide a flood elevation based upon the
floodway encroachment. In a Flood Insurance Study, these elevations are listed in
the “With Floodway” column in the Floodway Data Table. They are generally higher
than the “Without Floodway” or “Regulatory” flood elevations. For example, if the
community’s ordinance requires that the building be protected to at least one foot
above this encroached elevation, the ordinance is scored as requiring 1.5 feet of
freeboard.
(f) Many communities have focused on elevating the top of the lowest floor, but have
allowed utilities (especially ductwork) to hang below the floor joists, where it can be
flooded. Flooded ductwork can add thousands of dollars to an insurance claim. This
is primarily a concern for buildings on crawlspaces. Buildings on slab foundations,
on pilings, and in V Zones typically have the utility facilities waterproofed or
elevated to a sufficient height.
To receive full credit for this element, electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and
air conditioning equipment and other service facilities (including ductwork) must be
elevated or waterproofed to the base flood elevation plus freeboard. If the
community requires that electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air
conditioning equipment and other service facilities (including ductwork) be elevated
or made of flood-resistant materials above the base flood elevation, but does not
require these facilities to be elevated or protected to the freeboard level, then the
value for freeboard in the table is considered to be 75% of the elevation requirement.
If the utilities and ductwork are not required to be elevated, floodproofed, or
otherwise protected to the base flood elevation, there is no credit for FRB.
Credit Points
FRB = as shown below, based on the required freeboard
Freeboard

No filling
restrictions

Compensatory
storage required

Fill prohibited

1 foot

100

110

120

2 feet

225

250

280

3 feet

375

440

500

(1) More points are provided if the community prohibits buildings on fill (e.g., they must be
constructed on piers, pilings, or flow-through crawlspaces) or requires compensatory
storage if filling is used.

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(2) The values for freeboard levels not shown are extrapolated from the credit points table.
For example, the value for 1.5 feet of freeboard where compensatory storage is required
is the average of the values for 1.0 foot and 2.0 feet: (110 + 250) ÷ 2 = 180 points.
(3) If a community has more than three feet of freeboard, the regulations will be reviewed
for special credit higher than the points shown in the credit points table, above. The
community will need to provide additional information to warrant the higher credit, such
as a demonstrated expectation of new growth in the area.
(4) Other adjustments to the scoring are explained in the section on credit criteria, above.
Impact Adjustment
FRB credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the freeboard requirement
to the area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment. The
following additional criteria apply.
(1) Areas requested for FRB credit must exclude areas credited for OSP or DL2.
(2) There are instances in which a community may have different freeboard requirements in
different areas, such as
 The community does not require freeboard where there are no base flood elevations,
such as in approximate A Zones and AO Zones;
 Freeboard is only required for elevated buildings (non-residential buildings may be
floodproofed to the base flood elevation without freeboard);
 Manufactured homes have a different elevation requirement; or
 There is higher freeboard in a V Zone or a floodplain subject to deeper flooding.
In these cases, the formulae should use FRB#1, FRB#2, etc. to calculate the appropriate
values for the different areas.
rFRB =

aFRB , where
aSFHA

aFRB = the size of the area(s) that qualifies for FRB credit, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

Example 432.b-1.
South Scottsdale is a fictitious community used for CRS examples
(see Figure 430-1). The City requires that all new buildings and
substantial improvements be elevated two feet above the base flood
elevation. To minimize floodplain encroachments, the City also
requires that all new buildings be constructed either (1) without fill on

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flow-through foundations, such as piers or crawlspaces with sufficient
openings, or (2) on slab foundations with compensatory storage
required for any filling.
FRB = 250
These regulations apply throughout the SFHA. In the approximate
A Zones of Tributaries A and B, buildings must be elevated two feet
above the base flood elevation calculated by the permit applicant
(which is credited in Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping)).
These regulations only have an impact where new buildings and
substantial improvements can be constructed. As noted in Section
431.c(4), areas set aside from development as preserved open space
are excluded from the impact adjustment calculations.
aFRB = the size of the area(s) that qualify for FRB credit, i.e., the
SFHA not credited for OSP under Activity 420 (Open
Space
Preservation)
aSFHA = 504.4
aOSP = 242.9
aFRB = aSFHA – aOSP = 504.4 – 242.9 = 261.5
rFRB =

aFRB = 261.5
aSFHA
504.4

= 0.52

According to Section 433, Credit Calculation, the value for two feet of
freeboard with compensatory storage (250) is multiplied by the ratio for
rFRB, 0.52. The total credit for South Scottsdale’s freeboard
requirement, cFRB, is 52% of 250.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.

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Freeboard (FRB): All AE and A Zones, except preserved open spaces
Protection of critical facilities (PCF): All floodway areas except preserved open spaces

Figure 430-1. South Scottsdale’s impact adjustment map for Activity 430.

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432.c. Foundation protection (FDN)
The maximum credit for this element is 80 points.
The element FDN credits protection against differential settling as well as scour and
erosion.
See also Ensuring that Structures Built on Fill in or near Flood Hazard Areas are
Reasonably Safe from Flooding, FIA-TB-10, 2001 (also available at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1723).
Credit Criteria
(1) For FDN1 credit, ALL new buildings in the
regulatory floodplain
(a) Must be constructed on foundations that
are designed and sealed by a registered
design professional as complying with
the requirements of the International
Building Code, the International
Residential Code, or ASCE 24, and
(b) Must not be constructed on fill.

FDN1 requires foundations to be “designed and
sealed by a registered design professional.”
This is a higher standard than that specified in
the minimum NFIP criteria.
Many ordinances have language like the
following, which are minimum NFIP criteria and
DO NOT qualify for FDN credit:
“Certificate from a registered design
professional that the non-residential
floodproofed building will meet the
ordinance’s floodproofing criteria”

(2) For FDN2 credit, ALL new buildings
constructed on fill in the regulatory
floodplain
(a) Must be constructed on properly
designed and compacted fill (e.g., fill
that meets the criteria of (1) Section
1803.5.8 and Section 1804.4 of the
International Building Code, (2) Section
2.4 of ASCE 24, or (3) their equivalent);

“Requirements for an engineering
certificate for foundations in V Zones”
“Having an engineer certify opening
standards that differ from the one square
inch per one square foot of floor area.”

(b) Must be on fill that has appropriate
protection from erosion and scour; and
(c) Must meet a compensatory storage requirement (for the building and fill) that meets
the credit criteria of Section 432.a., Development Limitations (DL1a).
(3) For FDN3 credit, all new buildings built on fill in the regulatory floodplain
(a) Must be constructed on properly designed and compacted fill (e.g., fill that meets the
criteria of (1) Section 1803.5.8 and Section 1804.4 of the International Building
Code, (2) Section 2.4 of ASCE 24, or (3) their equivalent), and
(b) Must be on fill that has appropriate protection from erosion and scour.

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Credit Points
FDN = one of the following. These points are not cumulative.
(a) FDN1 = 80 points, for engineered foundations and
no buildings on fill
OR

(b) FDN2 = 60 points, for buildings on compacted fill,
protected from erosion and scour, with compensatory
storage
OR

(c) FDN3 = 35 points, for buildings on compacted fill,
protected from erosion and scour, but no compensatory
storage

Impact Adjustment
FDN credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the foundation protection
regulation to the area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment.
The following additional criteria apply:
(1) Areas delineated for FDN credit must exclude areas credited for OSP or DL2.
(2) There is no credit for FDN in V Zones because the NFIP requires all new buildings in
V Zones to have engineered foundations (44 CFR §60.3(e)(4)) and prohibits fill from
being used for structural support (see §60.3(e)(6)). Therefore V Zones must be excluded
from aFDN unless the community has higher foundation protection standards than those
in §60.3(e).
rFDN = aFDN , where
aSFHA
aFDN = the size of the area(s) that qualify for FDN credit, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.

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432.d. Cumulative substantial improvements (CSI)
The maximum credit for this element is 90 points.
The NFIP allows improvements valued at up to 50% of the building’s pre-improvement
value to be permitted without meeting the flood protection requirements for buildings
located in the SFHA. Over the years, a community may issue a succession of permits for
different repairs or improvements to the same structure. This can greatly increase the
overall flood damage potential to that building as well as the insurance liability to FEMA.
CSI provides credit to a community that ensures that the total value of all improvements or
repairs permitted OVER TIME does not exceed 50% of the value of the structure. When the
total value does exceed 50%, the original building must be protected according to the
ordinance requirements for new buildings.
Under some circumstances the NFIP flood insurance policy may pay a portion of the cost of
bringing a substantially flood-damaged building into compliance with the community’s
floodplain management ordinance. If the community has a more restrictive definition of
substantial damage, the provision may still apply. More information on Increased Cost of
Compliance coverage can be found at www.CRSresources.org/400.
If a community does not regulate for cumulative substantial improvements, it may still
receive credit for regulation of additions. Additions within the footprint of the original
building would have to be to a floor above the base flood elevation. Additions outside the
footprint of the original building would have to be elevated (non-residential structures
could be floodproofed) above the base flood elevation.
Credit Points
Up to 90 points are provided for tracking improvements cumulatively.
CSI = the total of the following points, not to exceed 90 points
(1) EITHER:
(a) 40 points, if the regulations require that improvements,
modifications, and additions to existing buildings are
counted cumulatively for at least 10 years
OR

(b) 20 points, if the regulations require that improvements,
modifications, and additions to existing buildings are
counted cumulatively for at least 5 years
(2) EITHER:
(a) 40 points, if the regulations require that reconstruction
and repairs to damaged buildings are counted
cumulatively for at least 10 years
OR

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(b) 20 points, if the regulations require that reconstruction
and repairs to damaged buildings are counted
cumulatively for at least five years
(3) 20 points, if the community adopts regulatory language that
qualifies properties for Increased Cost of Compliance
insurance coverage for repetitive losses
(4) 20 points, if the regulations require that any addition to a
building be protected from damage from the base flood

Impact Adjustment
CSI credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the cumulative substantial
improvement regulation to the area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an
impact adjustment.
rCSI =

aCSI , where
aSFHA
aCSI = the size of the area(s) that qualify for CSI credit, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of all permits for building improvements or repairs in the regulatory floodplain
that have been issued since the last visit. The list must include both substantial
improvements and permitted projects that were not substantial improvements.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will review permit records that document how the
regulation has been applied. The records need to track permits by parcel number or
address, so that the history of improvements or repairs to a particular structure is
checked before the next permit is issued.

432.e. Lower substantial improvements threshold (LSI)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
The NFIP allows improvements valued at up to 50% of the building’s pre-improvement
value to be permitted without meeting the flood protection requirements for buildings
located in the SFHA. LSI credits having a threshold that is lower than 50%.
LSI has the effect of requiring more structures to come into compliance if the owners want
to improve them or if they are damaged. Since any community that participates in the NFIP

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already has a threshold (50%), it is only necessary for the community to change the number
specified in its ordinance or regulations. A community must be sure that a minimum
threshold is not set by state law before it adopts a different standard.
There are alternative ways to receive credit under item (2) in Credit Points, below:
(a) Instead of basing the substantial improvement determination on the value of the
building and the cost of the project, half credit is provided for limiting expansions of
the building to no more than 25% of the square footage of the lowest floor.
(b) Half credit is provided if the lower threshold applies to either improvements or to
repairs to damaged buildings, but not both. Full credit is provided under (1) for both.
Under some circumstances the NFIP flood insurance policy may pay a portion of the cost of
bringing a substantially flood-damaged building into compliance with the community’s
floodplain management ordinance. If the community has a more restrictive definition of
substantial damage, the provision may still apply. More information on Increased Cost of
Compliance coverage can be found at www.CRSresources.org/400.
Credit Points
LSI = EITHER:
(1) 20 points, if the regulatory threshold for determining if a
building is substantially improved or substantially damaged is
less than 50%
OR

(2) 10 points, if EITHER
(a) The regulatory threshold is no more than 25% of the
square footage of the building’s lowest floor, OR
(b) The regulatory threshold applies to either improvements,
modifications, and additions or reconstruction and
repairs, but not both

Impact Adjustment
LSI credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the lower substantial
improvement threshold to the area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact
adjustment.
rLSI = aLSI , where
aSFHA
aLSI = the size of the area(s) that qualify for LSI credit, and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of all permits for building improvements or repairs in the regulatory floodplain
that have been issued since the last visit. The list must include both substantial
improvements and permitted projects that were not substantial improvements.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will review permit records that document how the
regulation has been applied.

432.f. Protection of critical facilities (PCF)
The maximum credit for this element is 80 points.
For CRS credit purposes, critical facilities are defined in Section 120. There are usually two
kinds of critical facilities that a community should address:
 Facilities that are vital to flood response activities or critical to the health and safety
of the public before, during, and after a flood, such as a hospital, emergency
operations center, electric substation, police station, fire station, nursing home,
school, vehicle and equipment storage facility, or shelter.
 Facilities that, if flooded, would make the flood problem and its impacts much worse,
such as a hazardous materials facility, power generation facility, water utility, or
wastewater treatment plant.
PCF credit is provided for regulations that either prohibit critical facilities or set higher
standards for protecting them from flood damage. Full credit is for a prohibition on new
critical facilities in the 500-year floodplain.
It may not be feasible for some communities to locate critical facilities outside the 500-year
floodplain, but they may be able to take some steps towards reducing future risk to these
facilities, so partial credit is provided for regulations that allow new facilities in the
floodplain, but set higher protection standards for them. If the standards only apply to some
facilities or some parts of facilities, the credit will be prorated. For example, partial credit
would be provided if the regulations addressed only one type of critical facility, such as
hazardous materials sites or critical facilities owned and managed by the community.
Credit Criteria
(1) Credit is provided only if there is regulatory language that protects critical facilities.
The fact that there are currently no critical facilities in the regulated floodplain may
indicate community policy, but adopted regulations are required for PCF credit.
(2) To receive full credit for this element, the regulations must be enforced in the 500-year
floodplain (note that the 500-year floodplain includes the entire SFHA plus other land
that is lower than the 500-flood elevation). On newer Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMs) with AE and X Zones, the 500-year floodplain is shown as the SFHA plus the
shaded X Zone.

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(3) The impact adjustment is based on the 500-year floodplain rather than aSFHA, the area
of the SFHA.
Credit Points
(1) PCF = 80 points, where new critical facilities are prohibited
from the 500-year floodplain
OR

(2) PCF = 40 points, where new critical facilities are protected to
at least one foot above the 500-year flood level

Partial credit for PCF is provided for regulations that allow new facilities in the 500-year
floodplain, but set higher protection standards. If the standards only apply to some facilities
or some parts of facilities, the credit will be prorated.
Impact Adjustment
PCF credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the PCF regulation to the
area of the 500-YEAR FLOODPLAIN. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment.
rPCF = aPCF , where
a500
aPCF = the size of the area(s) that qualifies for PCF credit,
and
a500 = the size of the community’s 500-year floodplain

If there is no available map that shows the 500-year floodplain, the SFHA is considered to
be 70% of the 500-year floodplain. Therefore, if the regulation credited under PCF is
enforced throughout the SFHA, rPCF = 0.7.

Example 432.f-1.
South Scottsdale prohibits new buildings, critical facilities, and
substantial improvements in the floodway. The ordinance specifically
includes critical facilities so facilities other than buildings, like pumping
stations, cell towers, and electrical substations, are also prohibited.
PCF = 80
Full credit for PCF is dependent on enforcement throughout the 500year floodplain. South Scottsdale’s regulation is only enforced in the
floodway. Credit is limited to those portions of the floodway that are not
credited as preserved open space (OSP) (see Section 431.c(4)).

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The area affected by the critical facilities prohibition, aPCF, is the area
of the floodway minus the areas credited as OSP. The City’s GIS office
provided the area calculations. The area of the floodway is 287.2
acres, of which 208.3 are credited as OSP. Therefore
aPCF = 287.2 – 208.3 = 78.9
The area of the 500-year floodplain is the area of the SFHA (504.4
acres) plus the area of the shaded X Zone (440.3 acres).
a500 = 504.4 + 440.3 = 944.7
rPCF = aPCF = 78.9 = 0.08
a500
944.7
According to Section 433, Credit Calculation, the value for prohibiting
critical facilities (80) is multiplied by the ratio for rPCF, 0.08. The total
credit for South Scottsdale’s requirement, cPCF, is 8% of 80. In other
words, only 8% of the 500-year floodplain is affected by this regulation.
The regulation is limited to the mapped floodway and most of that is
already preserved as open space.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) An impact adjustment map, showing the 500-year floodplain.
(b) [For extra credit for regulating floodprone areas outside the 500-year floodplain]
Documentation that shows that floodplain regulations are in effect in these areas.

432.g. Enclosure limits (ENL)
The maximum credit for this element is 240 points.
Regulations to limit enclosures below the base flood elevation have two objectives. First,
they protect the structural integrity of the building from wave action or hydrostatic
pressure. Second, they discourage property owners from finishing the area below the base
flood elevation and storing valuable or hazardous items in that area.
These regulations are particularly useful in V Zones and other coastal areas subject to wave
damage and in places where projected flood depths result in lowest floors constructed 8 feet
or more above grade. For the second objective, over time there is a tendency on the part of
property owners to enclose the lower areas and convert them to bedrooms, family rooms, or
other finished areas, in violation of floodplain management regulations.
ENL credits regulatory standards that prohibit the enclosure of the building’s area that lies
below the base flood elevation. Credit is also available for communities that execute

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nonconversion agreements, whereby owners agree not to modify the enclosed area to make
it more susceptible to flood damage.
Credit Criteria
(1) Breakaway walls are enclosures and must be prohibited in order to receive full credit.
Screening and open lattice-work are not considered enclosures. Some communities have
language to require that there be “no obstruction” in the lower level of a building. Such
language might allow breakaway walls or slanted louvers. This does not qualify for ENL
credit. What counts for ENL credit is whether one can SEE THROUGH the lower part of
the structure from the street. Lattice-work and insect screening are permitted, as long as
the line of sight is not blocked.
(2) The community may opt to enforce these enclosure limits only where the lowest floor is
more than four feet high. Where the lowest floor is less than four feet high, a crawlspace
with the proper openings may be more appropriate than an open area elevated on
columns or piles. With less than four feet of height, the lower area is not likely to be
improved or modified into a livable space, so the enclosure limits are not needed.
(3) Partial credit is provided for a nonconversion agreement whereby the owner agrees not
to modify the enclosed area in a way that would make it more susceptible to flood
damage. Because this area is not visible from the street, the full credit of 90 points
(under credit points (3), below) is provided only if the agreement allows the community
the right to enter the property and inspect the inside of the enclosure periodically.
The nonconversion agreement must be filed with the deed and other property records, so
that it will be effective as ownership of the property changes in the future. A sample
nonconversion agreement is posted at www.CRSresources.org/400. As with all legal
documents, the community should have such an agreement approved by its attorney
before it is used.
Credit Points
ENL = EITHER (1) OR the total of (2) + (3)
(1) 240 points, if regulations prohibit any building enclosures,
including breakaway walls, below the base flood elevation,
OR

(2) 100 points, if regulations prohibit breakaway walls and
enclosures of areas of greater than 299 square feet below
the base flood elevation, and
(3) If regulations require that the owner of a building sign a
nonconversion agreement that is filed with the deed and
other property records, then
(a) 90 points, if the community will inspect the enclosed
area at least once a year, OR

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(b) 60 points, if the community is granted the right to inspect
the enclosed area at any time, OR
(c) 30 points, if the agreement does not mention
inspections

Impact Adjustment
ENL credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the enclosure limitation to
the area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment. The
following additional criterion applies:
(1) Areas requested for ENL credit must exclude areas credited for OSP or DL2.
rENL = aENL , where
aSFHA
aENL = the size of the area(s) that qualify for ENL credit,
and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) Elevation certificates, copies of nonconversion agreements, and other permit records
that document how the regulation has been applied.
(b) [For credit for (3)(a) and (3)(b)] Copies of inspection records.

432.h. Building code (BC)
The maximum credit for this element is 100 points.
Many communities meet their NFIP obligations through a stand-alone floodplain
management ordinance that may be administered by the zoning, planning, engineering, or
other office, separate from the building department and the building code. A floodplain
management program can work without a building code, but implementation of the
construction requirements may not be as effective.
The International Code Series (I-Codes) includes provisions that incorporate all NFIP
minimum floodplain construction requirements and a number of provisions that exceed the
NFIP minimum requirements. The NFIP requirements related to the actual construction of
buildings are contained in the bodies of the International Building Code and International
Residential Code. Requirements related to building utilities are contained in these codes

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and in the International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel
Gas Code, and International Private Sewage Disposal Code.
The other NFIP requirements, such as administrative provisions and requirements that apply
to floodways, subdivisions, and manufactured homes, are contained in Appendix G of the
International Building Code. Communities that adopt the I-Codes have the option of either
adopting Appendix G or addressing these other requirements through a companion ordinance or regulation. Note that floodplain land use regulations (e.g., avoiding construction in
the regulatory floodplain) are not included in the I-Codes, therefore it is important that
community floodplain managers and the building officials coordinate their efforts.
Coordinating floodplain management with a local building code has several advantages.
Some, but not all, of those are listed below.
 There is better coordination with permitting the construction of new buildings and
repairs and improvements to existing buildings;
 More staff and more knowledgeable staff can better enforce floodplain building
construction standards, such as foundation protection and placement of mechanical
equipment;
 Experienced inspectors can check compliance in the field; and
 There is more frequent observation of construction progress and quality of
construction.
Building codes help reduce losses from other natural hazards, which is one of FEMA’s
prime objectives. For more information on the links between the I-Codes, the NFIP, other
natural hazards, and CRS credit, see Reducing Flood Losses Through the International
Code Series.
Because of these advantages, the CRS provides credit for building codes in two ways:
 BC1 recognizes those communities that have adopted the current editions of the
appropriate codes, and
 BC2 credits the community’s Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule
(BCEGS) classification.
BCEGS was initiated by the insurance industry after determining that the catastrophic
losses from Hurricane Andrew were compounded by poor building code enforcement. It
was developed by the Institute for Building and Home Safety, the three legacy code groups,
the insurance industry, and the Insurance Services Offices, Inc. (ISO). The program
is administered by ISO.
BCEGS assesses the building codes in effect in a community and how a community
enforces them, with special emphasis on mitigation of losses from natural disasters. The
insurance goal is that the prospect of lessening catastrophe-related damage (and ultimately
lower insurance costs) provides an incentive for communities to enforce their building
codes more rigorously.

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In BCEGS, each community is assigned a grade of 1 (best) to 10. A class of 99 indicates
that the community does not qualify for the BCEGS program. Ratings are based on
community answers to an extensive mailed questionnaire and a follow-up community
verification visit with the building department by an ISO-trained field representative.
More information on BCEGS can be obtained from the ISO/CRS Specialists.
Credit Criteria
(1) The building code must be enforced throughout the community, not just the SFHA.
(2) I-Codes (BC1):
(a) To receive full credit, the entire I-Code must be adopted by the community. If the
following sections are not adopted or are adopted with amendments, the language
will be reviewed to determine the credit:
o International Building Code: Chapters 3−7, 14−18, and 21−24.
o International Residential Code: Chapters 3−6, 8, and 9.
(b) The version of the I-Code series must be no more than six years old.
(c) In some states, communities are required to adopt state codes or state versions of the
I-Codes. In those cases, the provisions of the mandated code will be compared to the
I-Codes and scored appropriately. The same provisions apply to the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) codes. If they are adopted with amendments, the
language will be reviewed to determine the credit.
(3) BCEGS (BC2): The credit for BC2 is based on the community’s BCEGS classification.
There are two BCEGS ratings for each jurisdiction: personal (residential) and
commercial. If they are different, the CRS prerequisite and this element’s credit are
based on the higher number of the two ratings. For example, if a community has a class
6 residential BCEGS rating and a class 5 commercial rating, the CRS considers it a
class 6 BCEGS community.
BCEGS ratings are provided for all communities that do code enforcement, whether it
be for themselves or for smaller jurisdictions. When a community’s code enforcement
program is administered by another jurisdiction or a third-party agency, the serviced
community will receive the provider’s classification.
If a community is in a state that has does not have a formal BCEGS program, a courtesy
review may be conducted to obtain an equivalent BCEGS class for CRS purposes.
Note that a community must have a BCEGS classification of 5/5 or better to qualify for
a CRS class 6 or better (see Sections 211.b and c).

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Credit Points
BC = BC1 + BC2
(1) BC1 = the sum of the following:
(a) 20 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Building Code or its equivalent
(b) 20 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Residential Code or its equivalent
(c) 3 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Plumbing Code or its equivalent
(d) 3 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Mechanical Code or its equivalent
(e) 2 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Fuel Gas Code or its equivalent
(f) 2 points, for adoption and enforcement of the
International Private Sewage Disposal Code or its
equivalent. If the community is fully sewered, it can still
receive this credit because a sewered community is
healthier than one dependent on septic systems.
(2) BC2 = one of the following. These points are not cumulative.
(a) 10 points, for a BCEGS classification of 5/5, OR
(b) 20 points, for a BCEGS classification of 4/4, OR
(c) 30 points, for a BCEGS classification of 3/3, OR
(d) 40 points, for a BCEGS classification of 2/2, OR
(e) 50 points, for a BCEGS classification of 1/1

If a community has two different BCEGS classes, the higher number is used to calculate
the CRS credit.

Example 432.h-1.
South Scottsdale has adopted of all the International Codes
(BC1 = 50) and has a BCEGS class of 3/3 (BC2 = 30).
BC = 50 + 30 = 80

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Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for BC. The building codes must be enforced throughout the
community.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) [For BC1 credit]
(i) The state or local law or ordinance language that adopts the building code. See
also Sections 231.b and c on documenting regulatory language.
(ii) Permit records that will document that the code is being enforced.
(b) [For BC2 credit] No documentation is required. The ISO/CRS Specialist will obtain
the community’s BCEGS classification directly from the ISO BCEGS office.

432.i. Local drainage protection (LDP)
The maximum credit for this element is 120 points.
Approximately 20% of NFIP claims are for properties located outside the SFHA. Some of
these claims are from flooding caused by local drainage problems. LDP credit is for
ensuring that new buildings are well above the street level or otherwise protected from
shallow drainage flooding.
The regulatory language is usually found in the building code, rather than in the floodplain
or stormwater management regulations. Sections 1803.3 and 1805 of the International
Building Code, for example, have a positive-drainage requirement that would receive some
credit.
Credit Criteria
(1) Credit is for regulations that ensure that every new building will be built so that it is
protected from local drainage flooding.
(2) A regulation that only addresses drainage plans in new subdivisions is not credited. The
key to this credit is that every building will meet some drainage protection standard at
the time of construction.
Credit Points
LDP = (LDP1 or LDP2 or LDP3) + LDP4, up to the maximum of
120 points

Items 1, 2, and 3 are not cumulative. Item 4 can be credited alone or added to the points for
items 1, 2, or 3, not to exceed the maximum points.

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(1) LDP1 = 40 x the number of feet that the lowest floor (including
basement) must be above the crown of the nearest street or the
highest grade adjacent to the building

For example, if the community requires the lowest floor to be 18 inches above the crown
of the street, LDP = 40 x 1.5 = 60. The highest adjacent grade or other datum may be
used as an alternative to the crown of the nearest street. If the street gutter is used, 0.5
feet is subtracted from the elevation requirement.
(2) LDP2 = 40 points, if the regulations require that, as a condition
of receiving a building permit, the applicant must prepare a site
plan that (a) accounts for street flooding and local drainage from
and onto adjoining properties, and (b) protects the building
from local drainage flows
(3) LDP3 = EITHER:
20 points, if the regulations require the applicant to provide
positive drainage away from the building site to an
approved point of collection that does not create a
hazard or problem on neighboring properties
OR

10 points, if the regulations require that the applicant provide
positive drainage away from the building site

The 10-point credit noted above is provided for enforcing the positive drainage
provision of the International Building Code, provided that the community can
document of its enforcement.
(4) LDP4 = 20 points, if the regulations require that the increased
volume of runoff due to the development (from the 100-year
storm) is kept on site, such as via a low-impact development
measure

LDP4 credit is prorated if the regulations are limited to smaller storms.
Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for LDP because it must be enforced throughout either the
entire community or throughout all the B, C, D, and X Zones.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.

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432.j. Manufactured home parks (MHP)
The maximum credit for this element is 15 points.
An “existing manufactured home park or subdivision” is a park or subdivision that was
established before the community adopted floodplain management regulations. The NFIP
regulations (44 CFR §60.3(c)(12)) allow communities to site manufactured homes in
existing manufactured home parks or subdivisions on reinforced piers or other foundation
elements that are not less than 36 inches above grade. In some cases this results in
manufactured homes’ being elevated above the base flood elevation, but where flooding is
deeper than three feet, it exposes them to substantial damage.
MHP credits regulations that do not differentiate between manufactured homes and
conventional “stick built” buildings or between existing and new manufactured home parks
and subdivisions. However, this credit is limited to those communities that have existing
manufactured home parks where the base flood is GREATER than three feet deep. In other
words, the credit is limited to those communities where these regulations will have an
impact. Because of this, there is no impact adjustment for this element.
This ordinance language was a requirement of the NFIP before 1989. When communities
were given the option of the 36-inch standard, many kept the higher standard and did not
revise their regulations. The creditable language is also included in the new I-Codes.
Therefore, it is possible that a community’s current ordinance already has the language that
is credited by this element.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must have regulatory language that is enforced in manufactured home
parks or subdivisions.
(2) The community must have one or more existing manufactured home parks or
subdivisions in its regulatory floodplain where the base flood elevation is more than
three feet above grade.
Credit Points
MHP = 15 points, for mobile home park regulations

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for MHP.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) Elevation certificates and anchoring records that document how the regulation has
been applied.

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(b) Documentation that shows that at least one manufactured home park has a regulatory
flood depth greater than three feet above grade (Section 432.j, credit criterion (2)).

432.k. Coastal A Zones (CAZ)
The maximum credit for this element is 650 points.
FEMA has concluded that its criteria for construction in A Zones do not provide adequate
protection in coastal A Zones, which are subject to wave effects, velocity flows, erosion,
scour, or combinations of these forces. Wave tank studies have shown that breaking waves
lower than the three-foot criterion used to designate VE Zones can cause considerable
damage. Post-disaster evaluations and insurance claims data also support this conclusion,
particularly for those buildings with enclosures below the elevated floor.
The term “coastal A Zone” refers to that portion of the coastal SFHA located landward of
the V Zone and seaward of the line known as the Limit of Moderate Wave Action
(LiMWA). The LiMWA is determined based on the landward limit of the 1% annual chance
coastal flood that can support a 1.5-foot wave. New coastal FIRMs will show the LiMWA
as an informational layer on the FIRM. CAZ credit is provided to a coastal community that
designates a coastal A Zone and enforces V-Zone and/or enclosure limitation regulations in
the designated area.
Additional technical guidance on mapping coastal A Zones can be found in Design and
Construction in Coastal A Zones, found at
www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/mat/coastal_a_zones.pdf. Guidance on construction standards
can be found in Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA-55) and Home Builder’s Guide to
Coastal Construction (FEMA-P-499). These references can be found at
www.fema.gov/residential-coastal-construction.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must have a coastal floodplain on the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico,
Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, or Great Lakes.
(2) To receive CAZ1 credit a community must map or otherwise delineate its coastal A
Zone. The coastal A Zone is the coastal SFHA that is not mapped as V Zone. A
community may declare all of its coastal SFHA inland from the V Zone as coastal A
Zone (as may be the case for a barrier island) or it may use some other standard, such as
identifying all areas where breaking waves are higher than one foot.
(3) Credit for CAZ2, prohibiting enclosures, is in addition to credit for enclosure limitations
(ENL).
(4) The credit criteria for CAZ1 are V-Zone requirements. These credits are not available in
a V Zone because they are minimum NFIP requirements in V Zones. A community can
still receive credit for CAZ2 in a V Zone in addition to credit for enclosure limitations
(ENL).

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Credit Points
CAZ = CAZ1 + CAZ2
CAZ1 = 500 points, if all new buildings in the coastal A Zone
must meet the requirements for buildings in V Zones and for
openings in A Zones (44 CFR §60.3(e) and §60.3(c)(5))

If only some of the V-Zone regulations are enforced in the coastal A Zone, the points are
prorated as follows:
(a) 225 points, if all of the following V-Zone foundation
standards (found in 44 CFR §60.3(e)) are required by the
community:
○

New construction and substantial improvements are
elevated on piles and columns (§60.3(e)(4));

○

The pile or column foundation and the structure attached
thereto are anchored to resist floatation, collapse, and
lateral movement due to the effects of wind and water
loads (§60.3(e)(4)(ii));

○

New construction and substantial improvements have
the space below the lowest floor free of obstruction or
enclosed with non-supporting breakaway walls, open
wood lattice-work, or insect screening (§60.3(e)(5)), and
have openings (§60.3(c)(5)); and

○

Use of fill for structural support is prohibited
(§60.3(e)(6)).

(b) 100 points, if the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural
member and the electrical and mechanical equipment
servicing the building must be elevated to or above the
base flood elevation (§60.3(e)(4)(i))
(c) 125 points, if a registered design professional
must develop or review the structural design, specifications,
and plans and certify that the designs and methods of
construction to be used meet accepted standards of practice
for meeting the provisions of §60.3(e)(4)(ii) and breakaway
walls (§60.3(e)(5))
(d) 25 points, provided all new construction is located landward
of the reach of mean high tide (§60.3(e)(3)). These
points are available only if the designated area includes
shoreline.

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(e) 25 points, if the community prohibits human alteration of any
sand dunes or mangroves that would increase flood
damage (§60.3(e)(7)). These points are available only
if the designated areas include sand dunes or mangroves
CAZ2 = EITHER:
(a) 150 points, if regulations prohibit any building enclosures,
including solid breakaway walls, below the base flood
elevation
OR

(b) 50 points, if regulations prohibit breakaway walls and
enclosures of areas of greater than 299 square feet that
are below the base flood elevation. The area enclosed must
still meet all NFIP requirements for openings, anchoring,
and flood-resistant materials

Impact Adjustment
CAZ credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the CAZ regulation to the
area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment. The following
additional criteria apply:
(1) Areas requested for CAZ credit must exclude areas credited for OSP or DL2.
(2) The credit criteria for CAZ1 are minimum NFIP requirements in V Zones. Therefore,
these credits are not available in a V Zone.
(3) A community can receive credit for CAZ2, in addition to credit for enclosure limitations
(ENL), in a V Zone.
(4) If the community has a LiMWA on its FIRM or has mapped an area using the same
mapping criteria and 100% of that area is covered by CAZ regulations, an impact
adjustment ratio of 0.5 may be used in lieu of the formula below.
(5) If the regulations apply to a community-defined “coastal A Zone” that does not meet
FEMA’s LiMWA mapping criteria, an impact adjustment ratio of 0.1 may be used.
rCAZ = aCAZ , where
aSFHA
aCAZ = the size of the area(s) that qualifies for CAZ credit,
and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

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Example 432.k-1.
West Bay is a fictitious coastal community used for CRS examples. Its
DFIRM has a LiMWA delineated and the GIS map in Figure 430-2
shows the coastal A Zone, i.e., the area between the LiMWA and the
V Zone.
West Bay has opted to enforce all V-Zone regulatory standards (and
the A-Zone opening requirement) in the delineated coastal A Zone.
CAZ = 500
West Bay’s CRS Coordinator calculates the area of the coastal
A Zone, minus the portion that is in the Biloxi Bay State Park (there is
no credit for CAZ standards for new construction in areas preserved as
open space, i.e., where new construction is prohibited). This area is
calculated to be 111.9 acres. The calculation of aSFHA is discussed in
Example 403.f-1 in Section 403.
rCAZ = aCAZ =
aSFHA

111.9 = 0.28
395.3

Because it is using the FEMA-delineated LiMWA, West Bay opts to
use 0.5 instead of the lower value from the formula.
rCAZ = 0.5
According to Section 433, Credit Calculation, the value for West Bay’s
CAZ regulations (500 points) is multiplied by the ratio for rCAZ, 0.5.
The total credit for West Bay’s regulation, cCAZ, is 50% of 500, or
250 points.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.
(2) At each verification visit,
(a) An impact adjustment map. The map is not needed if the community uses the impact
adjustment approach listed under Impact Adjustment items (4) or (5), above. If a
community-derived LiMWA is used, the data supporting the delineation must be
supplied to the ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer for approval.

432.l. Special flood-related hazards regulations (SHR)
The maximum credit for this element depends on the hazard. The maximum SHR credit for
higher regulatory standards in areas subject to coastal erosion is 370 points and 70 points
for tsunami hazard regulations. The maximum SHR credit for higher regulatory standards in
areas subject to the other credited special flood-related hazards is 100 points.

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Figure 430-2. West Bay’s impact adjustment map.

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SHR credit for higher regulatory standards in areas subject to special flood-related hazards
is described in the appropriate CRS publications on these hazards (see Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org). The credit points, SHR, are then transferred to this activity. The
publications are
 CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards,
 CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards, and
 Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
The Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement covers credit for the hazards of uncertain
flow paths (alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, and channel migration), closed basin lakes,
ice jams, land subsidence, and mudflows.
Credit Criteria
The community’s special flood-related hazards activities must meet the credit criteria
described in the separate publications. Most require that the special hazard be mapped and
the area be subject to development regulations that will help protect future development
from damage due to that hazard.
Credit Points
The SHR credit points for higher regulatory standards in areas subject to the different
special flood-related hazards are detailed in the separate publications.
Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustments for higher regulatory standards in areas subject to the different
special flood-related hazards are detailed in the separate publications.
Documentation Provided by the Community
The documentation needed for crediting higher regulatory standards in areas subject to the
different special flood-related hazards is detailed in the separate publications.

432.m. Other higher standards (OHS)
The maximum credit for this element is 100 points.
OHS provides CRS credit for regulatory approaches and standards that are not addressed in
the other elements of this or other activities. Each submittal for credit is individually
reviewed and scored. Examples of past credits include, but are not limited to
 Prohibiting floodproofing as a flood protection measure for any new building (i.e.,
requiring all new buildings, including non-residential buildings, to be elevated);
 Prohibiting installation of new septic systems in the floodplain;
 Requiring new streets in the floodplain to be at or above the base flood elevation to
provide access for emergency vehicles during a flood;

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 Requiring all new multi-family and commercial buildings to provide access to dry
land; and
 Requiring an evacuation plan for new residential subdivisions that exceed a certain
number of units.
Credit Criteria
Each regulation that has a higher standard than the NFIP criteria and that is not credited
elsewhere is submitted for review. The actual determination of the credit provided is made
by FEMA.
Credit Points
OHS = up to 100 points for higher regulatory standards that prevent flood losses or protect
natural and beneficial floodplain functions that are not otherwise credited in another
element. Communities have received from 5 points to 100 points.
Impact Adjustment
OHS credit is adjusted based on the ratio of the area affected by the OHS regulation to the
area of the SFHA. See Section 431.c on calculating an impact adjustment.
rOHS = aOHS , where
aSFHA
aOHS = the size of the area(s) that qualify for OHS credit,
and
aSFHA = the size of the community’s SFHA

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) The activity documentation requirements in Section 431.d must be met.

432.n State-mandated regulatory standards (SMS)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
This element recognizes the benefit received by the NFIP for a state-required measure that
is implemented in both CRS and non-CRS communities in that state. State-mandated
regulations also benefit from better staff training and state oversight than other regulatory
provisions.
A community should contact the ISO/CRS Specialist to obtain its SMS credit. The credit
may apply differently to different communities within a state, depending on the
requirement. For example, only coastal communities receive SMS credit for a state
requirement for a coastal setback line. See also Section 231.d on uniform minimum credit.

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Examples of past credits include, but are not limited to
 State floodway mapping standards (additional credit for FWS under Activity 410
(Floodplain Mapping));
 State coastal setback regulations (additional credit for OSP under Activity 420 (Open
Space Preservation));
 State-mandated freeboard (additional credit for FRB);
 State-mandated building code (additional credit for BC1); and
 State-mandated erosion and sedimentation control regulations (additional credit for
ESC under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)).
Credit Criteria
(1) Credit is added to the community’s credit for a regulation credited in the 400 series.
(2) The community’s credited element is verified locally and the community must receive
credit for the element before it gets the SMS bonus points. For example, if there is statemandated freeboard, but a review of the community’s Elevation Certificates shows that
the community does not get freeboard credit, then it does not receive the 10% SMS
bonus for the state-mandated freeboard.
(3) SMS credit for state-mandated erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC) or
water quality regulations (WQ) under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) is
provided only if the state mandate exceeds the requirements for a NPDES permit.
Credit Points
The credit is 10% of the credit for an element credited in the 400 series, up to a maximum
of 20 points.
SMS = 0.1 x the equivalent credit for each state-mandated
regulation credited in the 400 series of CRS activities. The
credit is calculated before the impact and growth
adjustments. The maximum value for SMS is 20 points.

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for SMS.
Documentation Provided by the Community
No documentation is needed from the community. The ISO/CRS Specialist works with the
State NFIP Coordinator to identify credited standards. Once they are confirmed and the
community’s credit for the element is verified, the SMS bonus credit is provided.

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432.o. Regulations administration (RA)
The maximum credit for this element is 67 points.
This element provides credit for the community’s procedures for administering its
floodplain management regulations. Credit can be provided even if the community receives
no other credit under Activity 430. There are five elements.
Credit Criteria
(1) Staff training (RA1) provides credit for trained
regulatory staff members.

EMI Classes Credited for RA1 Credit

(a) Credit for training is provided for each

E273—Managing Floodplain Development
through the NFIP

o Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM );
o Graduate of an approved four-day class
conducted at, or field deployed by,
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). The credited classes are
listed in the box; and
o Graduate of a home study version or
other equivalent training.

E194—Advanced Floodplain Management
Concepts I
E282—Advanced Floodplain Management
Concepts II
E284—Advanced Floodplain Management
Concepts III
E278—The Community Rating System
E386—Residential Coastal Construction

(b) Regulatory staff members may be
For more information, see
employees or contract permit officials who
http://www.training.fema.gov/emi
administer the community’s floodplain
management permits. An exception is that
credit for graduating from the CRS class
(E278) is provided for any community
employee, regardless of the office in which he or she works.
(c) The credit for training is based on the number of courses taken. If two people take
the “Managing Floodplain Development” course, it is counted two times. The same
credit is provided if one person took both the “Managing Floodplain Development”
and “Coastal Construction” courses. If a CFM  took the Coastal Construction
course, it is counted two times.
(d) There is no double credit for being both a CFM and a graduate from the basic NFIP
course (E273). This is counted once.
(e) This credit is removed if the staff person leaves the community or does not maintain
his or her certification.
(2) IAS accreditation (RA2): IAS is the International Accreditation Service, an arm of the
International Code Council. It has a program that reviews and accredits building
departments. The program is explained at
www.iasonline.org/Building_Department_Program.
A BCEGS classification of 5/5 or better is a prerequisite for RA2 credit. This ensures
that the community’s building department has a program that addresses natural hazards.

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(3) Detailed inspections (RA3): Credit is for conducting three detailed inspections for each
new building in the regulatory floodplain. Figure 430-3 explains what is needed for this
credit. There is no partial credit for two inspections or for doing less than what is listed.
(4) Reinspections (RA4), i.e., inspecting buildings when they are sold or rented to a new
tenant or application is made for a home improvement permit. For CRS credit, the
regulations must clearly state that the community’s inspector has the right to enter the
building at the designated occurrences (e.g., sale of the property) and will inspect for
compliance with the floodplain management permit that was previously issued.
Documentation of the inspections is needed at verification.
(5) Off-site record storage (RA5): In the past, hurricanes, fires, floods, and other disasters
have destroyed local permit offices and their files. This credit encourages communities
to safeguard their floodplain management permit records. Credit is given if copies of
such documents (in digital, scanned, or paper format) are stored at a site out of the
floodplain and at least one mile away. The records must be transferred or copied to the
off-site storage location at least once each year.
A “secure location” means a site protected from fire, theft, and natural hazards
(including a category 5 hurricane). The site must not be subject to a flood hazard, i.e., it
cannot be in a mapped SFHA, an X-Zone location subject to local drainage problems, or
a basement with a known sewer backup problem. The community may submit a site that
does not meet all of these criteria (e.g., it is less than one mile away) if it can
demonstrate that the site is secure from fire, theft, flood, and other natural hazards
(including a category 5 hurricane).
Credit Points
RA = the total of the following
(1) RA1 = EITHER


(a) 5 points, for each CFM or graduate of an approved

EMI class (up to 25 points for each CFM and/or
class graduate), OR
(b) 25 points, if all proposed development projects in the
floodplain and all final inspections and project

approvals are reviewed and approved by a CFM .
The credit is provided as long as no new floodplain
development project is used or occupied without the

review and approval of a CFM
(2) RA2 = 5 points, if the community’s building department
has been accredited by the IAS
(3) RA3 = 16 points, if the community conducts inspections
in accordance with the criteria in Figure 430-3

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Credit for Inspections under Regulations Administration (RA3)
There is no partial credit for two inspections or for doing less than what is listed here.
For credit, the community must conduct at least three inspections for each permitted development
project in the regulatory floodplain according to the following criteria:
1. The permit application records must include a site plan that shows
a. The site plan’s scale and north orientation arrow;
b. The parcel boundaries and the location and names of adjacent streets;
c. All watercourses on the parcel;
d. All floodplain, V-Zone, coastal A-Zone, and floodway boundaries that run through the
parcel;
e. All required buffer or setback lines from shorelines or channel banks;
f. All drainage and utility easements;
g. All areas to be cleared, cut, graded, or filled; and
h. The location of all existing and proposed fences, walls, and other structures.
2. If the permit includes a new building or an expansion of an existing building,
a. The site plan must show the footprint of all existing and proposed buildings and building
additions.
b. The permit application papers must include
○ The elevation of the lowest floor of the building (or addition) and of an attached
garage, including the elevation of the interior grade or floor of a crawlspace;
○ The location and elevation of all mechanical and utility equipment servicing the
building; and
○ For buildings with solid foundation walls and buildings with enclosures below the base
flood elevation, the total area of each enclosed area (in square feet) measured on the
outside, the location and specifications of all flood openings, and either the total net
open area (in square inches) of flood openings below the base flood elevation,
accounting for screens, louvers, faceplates, and grilles; or a statement of certification
if engineered openings are specified (see NFIP Technical Bulletin #1).
3. The first inspection is conducted when the site is staked out or otherwise marked. The
inspector checks that areas subject to special requirements are clearly marked on the ground.
For example, if the floodway, coastal A-Zone, or V-Zone line goes through the parcel or there
is a natural area that is not to be disturbed, it could be staked out. If there are no such areas,
then this inspection does not need to be conducted for CRS credit (however, it is still a good
idea to place stakes or other markings to show the building footprint in order to verify
setbacks and other code requirements).
4. The second inspection is conducted when the lowest floor is built for a building or building
addition. The builder provides the community with documentation of the surveyed lowest floor
elevation. The inspector checks that
a. The foundation or forms for the structure are correctly located on the site;
[continued on next page]

Figure 430-3. Credit for inspections under regulations administration (RA3)

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b. Where buildings have foundation walls or other enclosures below the base flood
elevation, the location and size of the openings are as specified on the approved
plans; and
c. In coastal high hazard areas (V Zones) and coastal A Zones, slabs placed under the
building are not connected to the foundation.
The inspection records must include a record that the elevation of the lowest floor was
surveyed and found to be compliant. This could be, but does not have to be, a FEMA
Elevation Certificate. At this point the inspector verifies that the lowest floor will be at or
above the required elevation. This inspection is not needed if the project does not involve
construction of a new building or a substantial improvement.
5. The third inspection is conducted when the project is finished, the Elevation Certificate is
submitted, and before or during the final building inspection. The inspector checks that
a. The foundation and floor elevation have not been altered since the second inspection;
b. All areas below the required elevation are constructed with materials resistant to flood
damage;
c. All required manufactured home tie downs are in place;
d. Where buildings have foundation walls or other enclosures below the base flood
elevation, the location and size of the openings are as specified on the approved plans
and recorded on the Elevation Certificate;
e. All electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning, ductwork, and other
equipment is located, elevated, or protected as specified on the approved plans and
recorded on the Elevation Certificate;
f.

There has been no alteration of the ground since the second inspection OR the ground
has been graded according to the approved plans (e.g., the lowest floor is at the
correct height above the highest adjacent grade);

g. V-Zone and breakaway wall certificates have been obtained, as appropriate, for new
and substantially improved buildings in V-Zone and coastal A Zone areas; and
h. Buildings with enclosures in coastal A Zones meet the A-Zone vent requirements.
6. The inspection records must include
a. A completed FEMA Elevation or Floodproofing Certificate, as appropriate, that has
been checked by the community for completeness and accuracy;
b. Photographs of all sides of the structure;
c. Close-up photographs of typical openings; and
d. Photographs of all mechanical and utility equipment located outside the building
showing (1) its relation to the building and ground and (2) its required anchoring.

Figure 430-3 (cont.). Credit for inspections under RA3.

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(4) RA4 = 16 points, if the community conducts
reinspections of buildings to ensure that they still comply
with the floodplain management requirements of their
earlier permits
(5) RA5 = 5 points, for storing key floodplain management
permit records at a safe and secure site

Example 431.n-1.
A small town has one person handling all floodplain management
activities. That person becomes and stays certified. RA1 = 25

Example 431.n-2.
A coastal county has five people involved in building and development
permitting. Two are certified. One CFM has been to the EMI coastal
construction course. A third employee has been to the EMI Managing
Floodplain Development class. Any of the five people can issue
floodplain permits. RA1 = 5 x 4 = 20

Example 431.n-3.
All floodplain permits in South Scottsdale are reviewed, inspected, and
permitted by a CFM. (RA1 = 25), the City conducts all the inspections
needed for RA3 credit (RA3 = 16), and the City scans all permit
records and backs them up weekly (RA5 = 5). RA = 25 + 16 + 5 = 46

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for RA.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) [For RA1 credit for having a graduate from an EMI class] A copy of the certificate
of course attendance.

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(b) [For credit for RA3 or RA4] Inspection records that show how each item was
checked. For RA3, the records must include copies of the photographs and elevation
surveys.
(c) [For CFM  and IAS accreditation] No documentation is needed from the
community. The status is verified by checking the names on the websites of the
Association of State Floodplain Managers and of the IAS.

433 Credit Calculation
c430 = cDL + (FRB x rFRB) + (FDN x rFDN) + (CSI x rCSI)
+ (LSI x rLSI) + (PCF x rPCF) + (ENL x rENL)
+ BC + LDP + MHP + (CAZ x rCAZ) + cSHR
+ (OHS x rOHS) + SMS + RA, where
cDL = (DL1 x rDL1) + (DL2 x rDL2) + (DL3 x rDL3)

NOTE: The total points for FRB, FDN, ENL, and CAZ (after the impact adjustment) cannot
exceed 1,000 points, the value for DL2. The CRS does not provide more points for applying
higher standards to new buildings than it does for prohibiting buildings in the floodplain.

Example 433-1.
South Scottsdale has the following credits:
Two feet of freeboard:
FRB = 250, rFRB = 0.52
Prohibition of critical facilities in the floodway:
PCF = 80, rPCF = 0.08
Adoption of all the I-Codes (BC1 = 50) and a BCEGS
class of 3/3 (BC2 = 30)
BC = 50 + 30 = 80
All floodplain permits are reviewed, inspected, and permitted by a
CFM (RA1 = 25), the City conducts all the inspections needed for
RA3 credit (RA3 = 16), and the City scans all permit records and
backs them up weekly (RA5 = 5).
RA = 25 + 16 + 5 = 46

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c430 = cDL + (FRB x rFRB) + (FDN x rFDN) + (CSI x rCSI)
+ (LSI x rLSI) + (PCF x rPCF) + (ENL x rENL)
+ BC + LDP + MHP + (CAZ x rCAZ) + cSHR
+ (OHS x rOHS) + SMS + RA
= 0 + (250 x 0.52) + 0 + 0 + 0 + (80 x 0.08) + 0 + 80 + 0 + 0
+ 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 46
= 130.0 + 6.4 + 80 + 46 = 262.4
This value is rounded to the nearest whole number, so c430 = 262

434 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
b. Most state NFIP coordinating offices have prepared model ordinances with provisions that
exceed the minimum NFIP standards. Additional help on regulatory provisions may be
available from state planning or community affairs agencies and regional planning
commissions.
c. A separate publication, CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards, provides additional
information on the elements credited here, including sample ordinance language and
documentation. Communities are encouraged to obtain and read this document before applying
for this activity. It will improve the quality of the application and reduce the need to provide
additional documentation later. For a free copy, see Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org/400.
d. To order free copies of the following publications, see Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org:
 Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual,
 CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards, and
 CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards.
e. FEMA has numerous publications on regulatory standards and administering floodplain
management regulations. See http://www.fema.gov/floodplain-management.
f. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is a FEMA training center located in
Emmitsburg, Maryland. Stipends to cover local officials’ travel, registration, and rooms are
usually available from FEMA. EMI also sponsors field-deployed and home-study or
“independent study” courses. For more information, call EMI at 1-800-238-3358 or the state
emergency management agency’s training office or visit the EMI website at
http://training.fema.gov/emi/.

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g. More information on the I-Codes can be obtained from the International Code Council at
www.iccsafe.org.
Reducing Flood Losses Through the International Code Series (2006 I-Codes with 2007
Supplement), 2000, was published jointly by the model code organizations, FEMA, the
Association of State Floodplain Managers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
See www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2094.
h. For more information on floodplain manager certification, contact the Association of State
Floodplain Managers at (608) 828-3000 or see www.floods.org.

435 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 If certain areas are subject to special regulations (such as the coastal A Zone), people
should be advised of the regulations when they make map information inquiries
(Activity 320 (Map Information Service)).
 Explaining permit requirements and regulatory standards is a credited topic for
outreach projects (OP and FRP) under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) and for
website pages (Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information)).
 Requirements that are filed with a property’s records, such as a nonconversion
agreement (ENL), are eligible for credit as other disclosure requirements (ODR) in
Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure).
 Regulatory requirements should be part of any discussion of property protection
measures (Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance)). For example, the community’s substantial improvement rules should be explained, especially when Increased
Cost of Compliance is discussed.
 If regulations are enforced in the regulatory floodplain outside the SFHA, there may
be some credit available under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping).
 If the standards for development limitations (DL) are restrictive enough, the areas
affected could qualify for preserved open space (OSP) under Activity 420 (Open
Space Preservation).

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440  FLOOD DATA MAINTENANCE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  222 points (not including credit for special flood‐related hazards) 

442  Elements 
a.  Additional map data (AMD):  Up to 160 points for implementing digital 
or paper systems that improve access, quality, and/or ease of updating 
flood data within the community.  
b.  FIRM maintenance (FM):  Up to 15 points for maintaining copies of all 
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that have been issued for the 
community.  
c.  Benchmark maintenance (BMM):  Up to 27 points for a program that 
maintains benchmarks so surveyors can find them and can depend on 
them to be accurate. 
d.  Erosion data maintenance (EDM):  Up to 20 points for maintaining 
coastal erosion data as described in CRS Credit for Management of 
Coastal Erosion Hazards. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for AMD is discussed in Section 442.a, and the impact 
adjustment for BMM is discussed in Section 442.c. There are no impact 
adjustments for FM or EDM.  

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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440 FLOOD DATA MAINTENANCE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to make community floodplain data more accessible,
current, useful, and/or accurate so that the information contributes to the improvement of
local regulations, insurance rating, planning, disclosure, and property appraisals.

441 Background
Outdated mapping hinders sound floodplain management. The map a community uses for
floodplain management can and should be updated frequently to account for annexations,
new subdivisions, site-by-site analyses, better ground elevation data, and incorporation of
new hazard data. To make the map more useful and easier to use, it should include detailed
topography, building footprints, natural features, and other data that can help relate the
floodplain information to conditions on the ground and to other programs.
The most important map to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). Many communities dispose of old FIRMs when new ones are
issued. However, old FIRMs, if they are made available, can enable some communities and
floodplain residents to review the history of the property (e.g., whether it was identified as
floodprone when it was purchased) and to verify whether a building had to meet flood
protection criteria when it was built.
Maintenance of benchmarks and support of global positioning system (GPS) surveying
techniques makes it easier and less expensive for developers and property owners to
determine ground, floor, and base flood elevations for construction and flood insurance
purposes. Maintenance of erosion data improves the implementation of coastal floodplain
management regulations.

441.a. Activity Description
Under this activity, credit is provided for putting the
FIRM and Flood Boundary and Floodway Map
delineations on a digitized mapping system or other
method that allows for quick revision, review, and
reprinting of a flood map (Section 442.a, AMD). This
activity also includes credit for adding or overlaying
additional data, such as sensitive areas, zoning
districts, assessor data, and other map layers used
regularly by the community’s staff.
A computerized parcel system or geographic
information system (GIS) is often easier to use than a
paper map. With a computerized system, a building
official, real estate agent, or anyone interested in the
flood hazard can quickly find information such as the

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Note that this activity only credits
maintenance of the community’s
special flood hazard data. The FIRM
published by FEMA is still the document used for flood insurance rates
and the mandatory purchase requirement. However, if the community’s
flood data maintenance program
finds an error in the FIRM, it should
be reported to FEMA so it can be
included in the next map revision. If
the error would remove a property
from the SFHA, it is assumed that the
owner will be motivated to request a
map amendment.

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flood zone, flood elevations, or the lowest floor elevation for parcels or buildings within or
near the floodplain.
Credit is also provided in this activity for


Keeping old FIRMs and making them available (Section 442.b, FM),



Maintaining accurate ground elevation data (Section 442.c, BMM),



Replacing damaged or moved benchmarks (Section 442.c, BMM),



Supporting GPS surveying systems (Section 442.c, BMM), and

 Erosion data maintenance in coastal areas (Section 442.d, EDM).

442 Elements
442.a. Additional map data (AMD)
The maximum credit for this element is 160 points.
AMD credits digital or other systems that improve access, quality, and/or ease of updating
flood and FIRM data.
Three different types of flood data maintenance systems are usually eligible for credit:
 A GIS, computer-aided design (CAD), or other digitized system that updates
information electronically and can display or print a current map.
 A data base management program for parcel records that maintains the appropriate
flood data for each property. Some communities have master parcel record systems
that can be accessed for building permit records, property tax information, FIRM
data, and other purposes. Sometimes these systems are tied into a GIS. Credit is
given if parcels in this system are designated as “in” or “out” of the floodplain.
 Map overlays, such as overlaying the SFHA on the zoning map, aerial photograph, or
more detailed street map; or using clear plastic sheets over the FIRM to record map
changes.
Data available from any of these three systems improve the community’s administration of
its floodplain management program.
Most of the credited items are important to provide the regulatory staff with the latest flood
hazard data and other information for a property. Users of the community’s system,
including tax assessors and property appraisers, should be encouraged to access the data to
be more aware of the flood hazard.

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Credit Criteria
(1) AMD1 credit is a prerequisite for any other AMD
credit.
(2) The map or data base must be used regularly by the
community’s regulatory staff. There is no credit for a
map system that is used only for planning drainage
projects or other non-regulatory purposes. Using the
system to provide map determinations for the permit
office is considered a regulatory purpose.
(3) New data, including annexations, new subdivision
maps, flood insurance restudies, Letters of Map
Revision, Letters of Map Amendment, and studies
performed for site-specific analyses must be added at
least annually to the data base or overlay map.
(4) Data from a digitized mapping or parcel system must
be made available annually to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) at no cost (if
requested). A fee may be charged to other requestors
based on the actual cost of retrieval or reproduction.

The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private
property, including repetitive loss
properties, are subject to the Privacy
Act. Information such as the names
of people and addresses of
properties that have received flood
insurance claims and the amounts of
such claims MAY NOT be released to
the public or used for solicitation or
other purposes. Such information
should be marked “For internal use
only. Protected by the Privacy Act of
1974.”
Generic information, such as total
claim payments for an area or other
data that are not connected to a
particular property, MAY be made
public.

Credit Points
AMD = the total of the following, based on the types of data
included in the data maintenance system
AMD1 = 20 points, for showing the SFHA boundaries, corporate
limits, streets, and parcel or lot boundaries (a data base
management program must show whether a parcel is in the
SFHA)
AMD2 = 26 points, for a GIS layer that shows buildings, building
outlines, or building footprints (a data base management
program must show whether the primary building on the lot
is in the SFHA), and the building information is kept up to
date to reflect new construction
AMD3 = 12 points, for showing floodways or coastal high
hazard areas (a data base management program must
show whether either the parcel or the primary building is in
the floodway or coastal high hazard area)
AMD4 = 12 points, for showing base flood elevations

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AMD5 = 10 points, for including FIRM zone attributes
(e.g., A3, VE, etc.)
AMD6 = 10 points, for showing the 500-year floodplain
elevations or boundaries (a database management program
would show whether the parcel is in the 500-year floodplain)
AMD7 = 12 points, for showing areas of the community subject
to other natural hazards, such as landslides, subsidence,
stream migration, and soils unsuitable for septic fields (a
data base management program would show whether the
parcel is subject to another hazard)
AMD8 = EITHER:
(a) 8 points, if the community’s GIS includes topographic
contour lines,
OR

(b) 10 points, if the system includes topographic contour
lines at a smaller contour interval than that provided on
available U.S. Geological Survey digital orthophoto
quarter quads (DOQQ). In those areas where there are
no DOQQs, the credit is provided if the contour interval
is smaller than that on the area’s USGS quadrangle
maps
AMD9 = 6 points, for including updated floodplain data in the tax
assessment data base
AMD10 = 6 points, for including overlays or layers for all FIRMs
in effect after the date of the community’s application to the
Community Rating System (CRS)
AMD11 = 8 points, for other overlays or data bases used for
regulation or mitigation programs, including incorporating
and maintaining layers from Hazus-MH (see Figure 510-2)
and the community’s repetitive loss areas (see Section 503)
AMD12 = 14 points, for areas with natural floodplain functions
(e.g., wetlands, designated riparian habitat, flood water storage
areas)
AMD13 = 14 points, for including building elevation data. The
data must be in digital format, not scanned pictures of
Elevation Certificates. The points are prorated in the same
manner as Elevation Certificates are prorated in WEB4
(Section 352.c)

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Example 442.a-1.
Pierce County, Washington, has a GIS that is used for regulatory,
development, and building permit purposes. The GIS contains
numerous layers for land development, zoning, critical areas, shoreline
review, and other data sets. They include the following information,
which can be credited:
(1) The SFHA boundaries, corporate limits, streets, and parcel
boundaries (AMD1);
(2) Building footprints (AMD2);
(3) Floodways and coastal high hazard areas (AMD3);
(4) Base flood elevations (AMD4);
(5) FIRM zone attributes (e.g., A3, VE, etc.) (AMD5);
(6) The 500-year floodplain elevations and boundaries (AMD6);
(7) Channel migration zones, landslides, and lahars (AMD7);
(8) Contour lines created from a LiDAR data base (AMD8);
(10) All FIRMs in effect after the date of the community’s application to
the CRS (AMD10); and
(12) Fish and wildlife areas and wetlands (AMD12).
All of the above items are used by the County for various floodplain
management and other community development programs.
AMD = 20 + 26 + 12 + 12 + 10 + 10 + 12 + 10 + 0 + 6 + 0 + 14 + 0
= 132

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment is calculated by dividing the area of the community’s SFHA for
which data have been entered into the computer (or added to the overlay map) by the total
area of the community’s SFHA (aSFHA):

rAMD = aAMD , where
aSFHA
aAMD = the area within the SFHA that is covered by the
additional map data, and
aSFHA = the area of the community’s SFHA

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The areas for aAMD and aSFHA must be in the same measurement—acres or square miles.
If the calculated value of rAMD is less than 0.10, then 0.10 may be used for rAMD.

NOTE: The community’s aSFHA should be reviewed and updated each year for the
Program Data Table that is included in the annual recertification (see Section 213.a).

Example 442.a-2.
Pierce County’s GIS covers the entire county and all its floodplains.
rAMD = 1.0

If a community has different digital mapping or data base systems for different areas of the
community, it should designate and score each one separately and the total credit points
will be corrected through the impact adjustment.

Example 442.a-3.
Gulf Beach County has a GIS for the developed area along the coast.
For inland rural areas, the staff refers to map overlays. The GIS would
be designated “AMD1” and the area not covered by the GIS would be
“AMD2.” The two systems would be scored and, if together they
covered the entire county, rAMD1 plus rAMD2 would equal 1.0.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Copies of the maps or data base that clearly show the items to be credited. For
example, printouts of some GIS screens could show all the attributes to be credited.
(b) [If the community calculates impact adjustment ratios for element AMD] The
impact adjustment map discussed in Section 403. Each area listed in Section 442.a
for which credit is being requested must be shown on the impact adjustment map.

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442.b. FIRM maintenance (FM)
The maximum credit for this element is 15 points.
Having old FIRMs on hand can help with tracking substantial improvement requirements,
compliance, and eligibility for grandfathered flood insurance premiums. Old maps can be
hard to obtain, so a community that keeps them provides a valuable service to its residents.
FM credit is provided for maintaining earlier editions of flood insurance maps. The maps
must be readily available and the community must allow inquirers access to them. Copies
of old FIRMs and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps may be available from the FEMA
Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov/).
Credit Criteria
(1) Copies of the maps produced by the NFIP must be maintained. Under this element,
credit is provided for maintaining copies of ALL FIRMs, Flood Insurance Studies, and
Flood Boundary Floodway Maps. “All FIRMs” means every FIRM that appears on the
list of FIRM revisions in the legend of each FIRM. If the community has only been
issued one FIRM, no credit is available under this element, because keeping the
community’s current FIRM is a minimum requirement of the NFIP. Note also that
maintaining copies of old FIRMs that have been in effect since 1999 (under Activity
320 (Map Information Service)), is a prerequisite to participating in the CRS. The FM
credit is for maintaining ALL FIRMs, not just those that are required by the NFIP or the
CRS.
(2) Additional credit is provided for maintaining copies of the Flood Hazard Boundary
Maps, i.e., the FEMA maps published before the community received its first FIRM.
(3) The maps and documents can be maintained in paper, microfilm, or electronic format.
They do not have to be part of the system credited under Section 442.a (AMD), but they
must be in the possession of the community and made available to the public when
asked.
Credit Points
FM = the total of the following:
(1) 12 points, for maintaining copies of all FIRMs, Flood
Insurance Studies, and Flood Boundary Floodway Maps
that have been issued for the community
(2) 3 points, for maintaining copies of all Flood Hazard
Boundary Maps that were issued for the community

There is no credit if the FIRM has never been revised.

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Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for FM.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The indexes from all past FIRMs and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps, and the
cover of each past Flood Insurance Study.

442.c. Benchmark maintenance (BMM)
The maximum credit for this element is 27 points.
BMM1 credits a program that maintains benchmarks so surveyors can find them and can
depend on them to be accurate. BMM2 credits a program that maintains a network of
stations that support GPS surveying.
Benchmarks: Accurate benchmarks are critical to surveyors when they are completing
Elevation Certificates or performing land surveys before a new structure is built. If the
benchmarks are not accurate, structures can be built too low, or perhaps even in the wrong
location.
The National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) is maintained by the National Geodetic
Survey (NGS) in the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is a compendium of vertical and
horizontal benchmarks for the country. This element provides credit if the community has a
sufficient number and density of benchmarks the meet the NSRS prerequisites. If the
community does not, it is encouraged to either survey new ones or submit the data
necessary to add qualifying existing benchmarks to the national system.
Any surveyor can create a NSRS benchmark. Surveyors must follow the guidelines of the
NGS for the type of monument set and the accuracy of the survey that establishes the
monument. After review by the NGS, these benchmarks are added to the NSRS data base,
which is available to surveyors and the public at www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/datasheet.prl.
GPS support: The NGS manages a network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations
(CORS) that provide Global Navigation Satellite System data in support of threedimensional positioning and geophysical applications throughout the United States.
Surveyors, GIS users, engineers, scientists, and others who collect GPS data can use CORS
data to improve the precision of their positions. CORS-enhanced, post-processed coordinates
are accurate to within a few centimeters relative to NSRS coordinates, both horizontally and
vertically.
The CORS sites are independently owned and operated. Each agency shares its data with the
NGS, and the NGS in turn analyzes and distributes the data free of charge. As of
November 2011, the CORS network contained over 1,800 stations, contributed by over 200
different organizations, and the network continues to expand.

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Having at least three CORS within 30 miles enables surveyors with portable GPS stations to
obtain elevations accurate enough for FEMA Elevation Certificates in near-real time. The
NGS provides a current map of CORS on its website (www.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS). This map
provides the distance to the three nearest CORS from any point on the map. A community
can use this map to see if it qualifies for BMM credit.
Credit Criteria
(1) There must be a list of the benchmarks and/or CORS and a description of the benchmark
and/or CORS locations.
(2) To receive credit, each benchmark must meet all of the following criteria:
(a) It must be a benchmark that is either in the NSRS data base, or a permanent
monument with key data posted in a reference system readily available to local
surveyors, such as a published book or the community’s website. The local system
must include key data, such as the location and
description of the benchmark, the elevation
Permanent Monuments
and datum, and when the benchmark was last
“Permanent monuments” are
recovered.
Some areas may not have any NSRS benchmarks. If the community has a network of
quality benchmarks that are permanent
monuments but are not entered into the NSRS,
it must provide a statement, signed by a
licensed surveyor, that each benchmark for
which credit is requested is a monument that
would qualify for addition to the NSRS if it
were submitted to the NGS.

engraved metal discs at least 2 inches
in diameter or similar markers that are
recognizable, durable, and immovable,
and set in concrete or on steel rods
driven to resistance. Chiseled squares
in sidewalks, parts of fire hydrants,
nails in telephone poles, “PK nails” in
pavement, etc., are NOT “permanent
monuments.”

(b) There must be a note that the benchmark has been recovered within the last five
years. “Recovered” means that the benchmark has been located and that it appears to
be undisturbed. If a benchmark has not been recovered in the last five years, a local
official or surveyor can locate the monument and report that it has been recovered.
A recovery note must be filed in the NSRS or where it can be accessed by local
surveyors.
In some cases, the community or local surveyors may need to recover all credited
benchmarks to maintain this credit at each cycle verification visit. Recovery can be
reported by any local official—it does not have to be a licensed surveyor. Recovery
can also be reported by surveyors in the private sector if the community maintains
the recovery notes. The NSRS website explains the process to report recovery.
(c) The benchmark must be a first- or second-order vertical control benchmark. The
“order” tells how close the results were when the surveyor who set the benchmark
completed a circuit back to the starting point. Lower-order vertical benchmarks are
not as precise in elevation.

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(d) It must have a stability rating of A or B. The NSRS describes whether a benchmark
is likely to move over time with the following system:
A = most reliable and expected to hold an elevation (e.g., bedrock);
B = probably will hold an elevation well (e.g., a massive bridge pier);
C = may hold, but of a type commonly subject to ground movement (e.g., a
building foundation); and
D = mark of questionable or unknown stability.
Some areas may not have any benchmarks rated A or B. If the community has an
alternative way to provide dependable elevation data, it may submit a description of
its alternative. An example would be a program that resurveys benchmarks every
few years. The community must demonstrate that its alternative method achieves
consistently accurate elevations over time.
(e) It must be within one mile of some part of the community’s SFHA. The community
must submit a map showing the location of the qualifying benchmarks and the
portion of the SFHA within one mile of a qualifying benchmark. Areas mapped as
approximate A Zones without elevations do not need to be included as part of the
SFHA unless the community is asking for credit under Activity 410 for flood
elevations for a site at the time of development.
(3) Credit can be provided for CORS as an alternative or in addition to the benchmarks that
meet credit criterion (2). There must be at least three CORS within 30 miles of the
credited portion of the SFHA. There is no credit for areas covered by only one or two
CORS.
(4) An impact adjustment map is required that shows the community’s SFHA, the locations
of the listed benchmarks or CORS, and the portion of the SFHA that is within one mile
of a qualifying benchmark or within 30 miles of a qualifying CORS.
Credit Points
BMM = BMM1 + BMM2, provided that the areas covered do not
overlap
BMM1 = 27 points, if the community has one or more
benchmarks that meet credit criterion (2)
BMM2 = 27 points, if there are three CORS within 30 miles
(50 km) of any portion of the SFHA

If a community has benchmarks for some areas of the community and CORS for others, it
should designate and score each one separately and the total credit points will be calculated
through the impact adjustment and credit calculation formula (Section 443).

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Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for BMM1 is based on the area of the community’s SFHA that is
within one mile of the benchmarks and the total area of the community’s SFHA.

rBMM1 = aBMM1 , where
aSFHA
aBMM1 = the area of the SFHA within one mile of a qualifying
benchmark and not counted as a part of aBMM2, and
aSFHA = the area of the community’s SFHA, in square miles

The impact adjustment for BMM2 is based on the area of the community’s SFHA that is
within 30 miles of at least three CORS and the total area of the community’s SFHA.

rBMM2 = aBMM2 , where
aSFHA
aBMM2 = the area of the SFHA within 30 miles of at least
three CORS and not counted as a part of aBMM1, and
aSFHA = the area of the community’s SFHA, in square miles

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The list of the benchmarks and/or CORS.
(b) The data for the creditable benchmarks that are in the NSRS or the community’s
publicly accessible data base. This must include key data, such as the location and
description of the benchmarks, their order and stability, the elevation and datum, and
when the benchmarks were last recovered.
The documentation can be in the form of either
(i) A printout of the NSRS datasheets, a photocopy of the relevant pages of the
community’s benchmark book, or the URL for the website data base, or
(ii) For those benchmarks that are not in the NSRS, a statement signed by a licensed
surveyor that states that they meet all five of this element’s prerequisites. The
surveyor’s statement does not need to be certified or sealed, but does need to
include the signatory’s license number.
(c) An impact adjustment map (see credit criterion (4)). See Section 403 on impact
adjustment maps. The BMM impact adjustment must show those SFHAs where base

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flood elevations are available, the locations of the benchmarks (for BMM1 credit),
or the locations of the CORS (for BMM2 credit). The NSRS retrieval maps do not
qualify because they do not show or name a sufficient number of features.

Example 442.b-1.
A small community has two vertical control benchmarks that meet the
prerequisites. One is listed in the NSRS and the other is posted on the
city engineering department’s website. All parts of the SFHA are within
one mile of one or the other benchmark.
The area of its SFHA is 396 acres or 0.62 square miles.
rBMM 1 = aBMM = 0.62 = 1.0
0.62
aSFHA

442.d. Erosion data maintenance (EDM)
The maximum credit for element EDM is 20 points.
EDM credit is for updating the rate of coastal erosion and the rates used for regulating
building setbacks. More information and credit point calculations can be found in CRS
Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards (see Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org).
Credit Criteria
The credit criteria are described in CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion
Hazards.
Credit Points
The credit points for EDM are calculated separately and transferred to this activity.
Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for element EDM.
Documentation Provided by the Community
Documentation is described in CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards.

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443 Credit Calculation
c440 = cAMD + FM + cBMM + EDM, where
cAMD = AMD x rAMD, and
cBMM = (BMM1 x rBMM1) + (BMM2 x rBMM2)

444 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
b. The following documents are available from
FEMA Distribution Center
P.O. Box 2010
Jessup, MD 20794-2012
1-800-480-2520
Fax: (301)-362-5335
Guidance for Preparing Draft Digital Data and DFIRM Databases (2003). Available at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2206
Flood Insurance Study Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners,
(2003). Available at www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2206.
c. Rural communities can request help on this activity from the U.S. Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Requests should be submitted to the local soil and water conservation
district, which usually is located in the county seat.
d. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide assistance with benchmarks and mapping
issues. Requests for assistance should be submitted to the Flood Plain Management Services
Coordinator at the appropriate District Office of the Corps.
e. Communities may check on past FIRMs and obtain background data by calling 1-877-FEMA
MAP. They can also find many of their old maps through https://msc.fema.gov, under Product
Catalog and Historic Flood Maps.
f. Information on the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) can be found at
www.ngs.noaa.gov. Benchmarks entered into the system are recorded on data sheets at
www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/datasheet.prl.

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445 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
This activity directly supports floodplain management to comply with the minimum NFIP
requirements, but it also supports a number of CRS activities.
 Activity 320 (Map Information Service)—Having copies of existing and old FIRMs
in an easily accessible format can facilitate credit under this activity. If more layers
are available, then information can also be provided for additional hazards.
 Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)—Maps of the existing SFHA, showing all the
additional detail credited in Activity 440, allow for a higher-quality outreach
program that addresses the specific issues in each neighborhood. Additional hazard
data and information on natural functions also help inform the outreach process and
help educate the public. If the community has a GIS or a data base management
program for parcel records, it should be able to prepare a printout or a disk with the
addresses of all the properties in the floodplain. This will facilitate mailing an
outreach project to floodplain residents.
 Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure)—Provision of good map data to insurance agents
and others allows them to better and more easily inform their clients about existing
hazards and natural resources and functions.
 Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance)—The more information the community
has in its system, the more support the community can offer quickly and easily.
 Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion)—Digital copies of maps, particularly
containing parcel and structure data, can help the community target its program to
promote the purchase of flood insurance by its residents. Structures for which
insurance is required can be identified and, if first-floor information is available,
estimates of the cost of flood insurance can be developed for the owners. If repetitive
loss areas are included, then they can be targeted for additional outreach or
prioritized within the program.
 Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping)—Integration of floodplain map information
provided by the community with FIRM map information and LOMRs can be
facilitated by having all of the information in a single data system, like a GIS.
 Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation)—Creating all the overlays or data bases for a
GIS can provide the information necessary to identify and calculate credit for open
space, including the bonus credit for natural functions.
 Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)—Having map and parcel data in one
system can facilitate rapid and accurate decisions regarding a number of community
regulations, including freeboard, enclosure limits, coastal A-Zone standards and
others. Having first-floor elevations available and mapped for credit can help verify
that the community is properly implementing its freeboard requirements. The maps
also can be used to determine the impact adjustment required for each element within
this activity and Activity 420. Benchmarks are necessary for ensuring that structures

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are properly elevated and having the location of the benchmarks easily available is
important.
 Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)—Having accurate topography available is
important for determining watershed boundaries and flow paths to ensure that new
developments are properly implementing stormwater management requirements.
Mapping of other sensitive areas can be credited under watershed master planning
and additional credit can be obtained if the maps are part of the system used for
regulation under this activity.
 Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning)—Planning requires good data.
Having all the data in an easily visible format is critical to good planning. Data
credited in 440 should be used during development of a community’s flood hazard
management plan, and any additional data developed during the process could add to
the credit in 440 if the layer was not previously available.
 Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation)—Having older maps showing parcel and
structure data can help target structures for acquisition or relocation and also
contribute to documenting completion of the project.
 Activity 530 (Flood Protection)—Having first-floor data available is important for
grant opportunities. When a community has all or most of the information credited in
this activity, it can identify which structures are of highest priority for retrofitting or
elevation. Once a project is completed, the maps can be used to verify the activity.
 Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance)—Mapping of natural functions and
structures can help a community decide where to target its channel maintenance
activities. Having all drainage facilities incorporated as part of its data base allows
for better planning for new development, better maintenance, and a way to determine
what maintenance standards should be required.
 Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response)—Maps of the SFHA, structures,
evacuation routes, other natural hazards, building elevations, and ground elevations
help the community determine how it will respond during a flood.
 Activity 620 (Levees)—Maps of areas that can be inundated after a levee fails are
crucial to planning how to respond. Maps of the SFHA, the 500-year inundation
boundaries, buildings and their first floors, and topography all help with this
planning.
 Activity 630 (Dams)—A community needs maps of areas that can be inundated after
a dam fails in order to plan how to respond. Maps of the SFHA, the 500-year
inundation boundaries, structures and their first floors, and topography all help with
this planning.

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450  STORMWATER MANAGEMENT—Summary 
Maximum credit:  755 points 

452  Elements 
a.  Stormwater management regulations (SMR):  Up to 380 points for 
regulating development on a case‐by‐case basis to ensure that the peak 
flow of stormwater runoff from each site will not exceed the pre‐
development runoff. SMR credit is the sum of four sub‐elements: 
(1)  Size of development regulated (SZ):  Up to 110 points. 
(2)  Design storms used in regulations (DS):  Up to 225 points. 
(3)  Low‐impact development (LID):  Up to 25 points. 
(4)  Public maintenance of required facilities (PUB):  Up to 20 points. 
b.  Watershed master plan (WMP):  Up to 315 points for regulating 
development according to a watershed management master plan. WMP 
is the total of eight sub‐elements. 
c.  Erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC):  Up to 40 points for 
regulations to minimize erosion from land disturbed due to construction 
or farming. 
d.  Water quality regulations (WQ):  20 points for regulations that improve 
the quality of stormwater runoff. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment
The credit points for SMR and WMP are adjusted by ratios reflecting the 
proportion of the watersheds affected by the regulations or the plan. There is no 
impact adjustment for elements ESC or WQ. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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450 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to prevent future development from increasing flood
hazards to existing development and to maintain and improve water quality.

451 Background
When unmanaged, stormwater runoff from new
development throughout a watershed can affect
floodplains by causing more frequent flooding, greater
flood depths, and longer-lasting floods. As forests,
fields, and farms are covered by impermeable surfaces,
such as streets, rooftops, and parking lots, more of the
rain runs off and it runs off at a faster rate. When an
area is urbanized, the rate of runoff and the volume of
runoff can increase five-fold or more.
This problem is compounded by
 Changes in the surface drainage system.
Stormwater runoff travels faster on streets and
in storm drains than it did under predevelopment conditions;

More Help on
Stormwater Management Credit
A separate publication, CRS Credit
for Stormwater Management, provides
an example of a community program
and appropriate documentation.
Communities are encouraged to obtain
and read this document before applying
for this activity. It will improve the quality
of the application and reduce the need to
provide additional documentation later.
To order a free copy, see Appendix C
or www.CRSresources.org/400.

 Armoring of channels, which can increase the velocity of flows and remove habitat
that is essential to many riparian species; and
 Sediment from disturbed ground, which can reduce the capacity of the drainage
system, adversely affect water quality, and destroy habitat for many species of
insects and the fish that depend on them.
People, buildings, and infrastructure are affected by these changed conditions.
Communities are affected by development that takes place upstream in their watershed, and
the community’s own development in turn can have an impact on downstream communities.
Consequently, watershed-based agencies have been created around the country to address
these issues on a broader scale. Communities are encouraged to cooperate with adjacent
communities to manage stormwater.
It is very important to regulate new development to ensure that the peak flow and volume
of stormwater runoff that leaves a development site will be no greater than the runoff from
the site before it was developed. Restrictions on individual developments can address many
watershed development problems, but to prevent unwanted consequences from development
as a whole, communities need to plan on a watershed-wide basis.
By completing watershed master plans, communities can examine the potential impact of
unmitigated development on streams and structures throughout the watershed. Once these
impacts are known, a comprehensive program, including more specific development

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regulations, can be created to prevent adverse impacts. This will prevent an increase in
flood damage or stream erosion, reductions in groundwater recharge or water quality, and
loss of habitat.

451.a. Activity Description
This activity credits four approaches to managing new development in the watershed.
(1) Stormwater management regulations (SMR): Regulating development on a case-bycase basis to ensure that the peak flow and volume of stormwater runoff from each site
will be no greater than the runoff from the site before it was developed. Other development regulations requiring developers to maximize a site’s ability to absorb site runoff
can be credited.
(2) Watershed master planning (WMP): Regulating development according to a
watershed management master plan that analyzes the combined effects of existing and
expected development on drainage throughout the watershed. A stormwater
management regulation credited under Section 452.a (SMR) helps to manage increased
runoff from a developing watershed, but it does not solve the problem entirely. The
flood peak at a point downstream in a watershed is a result of both the quantity of
upstream runoff and the time it takes for water to travel down the watershed.
Development within the watershed usually has an impact on both of these
characteristics.
The objective of watershed master planning under Section 452.b (WMP) is to provide
the community with a tool it can use to make decisions that will reduce the increased
flooding from development on a watershed-wide basis. Most communities have some
way of dealing with drainage problems, through a capital improvement plan, planned
flood control structures, or perhaps just by responding to complaints as they arise. A
watershed master plan, like other community plans, allows communities within the
watershed to consider future development as they work on current problems.
(3) Erosion and sediment control (ESC): Regulating activities throughout the watershed
to minimize erosion on construction sites that result could in sedimentation and water
pollution.
(4) Water quality (WQ): Requiring new developments’ stormwater management facilities
to improve the quality of stormwater runoff.

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452 Elements
452.a. Stormwater management regulations (SMR)
The maximum credit for this element is 380 points.
SMR credits the regulations used by the community and its neighbors in the watershed to
manage runoff from future development. SMR credit is provided if new development is
required to prevent or reduce the increase in runoff that results from urbanization. SMR
credit is only provided for regulation of runoff from a 10-year storm or larger. Additional
credit is available if the community addresses larger storms, and controls the total volume
of runoff from new development.
Because development typically results in an increase in the amount of runoff, stormwater
management usually requires that a volume of flood water be stored during the storm to
prevent increased frequency and severity of flooding. It is released after the runoff subsides
(stormwater DETENTION ). A developer may store this excess runoff for a short time so that
it may be used for irrigation or groundwater recharge or to reduce pollution (stormwater
RETENTION ). When retention is used for stormwater management, the retained runoff is not
discharged to the stream system.
Detention does not reduce the amount of water flowing downstream; rather, it simply lets it
out over a longer period of time to reduce the peak flow. This can still cause flooding
problems farther downstream and the extra flows can destabilize channel banks and cause
other problems. Therefore, stormwater retention or extended detention is preferable to
simple detention for peak flows. If stormwater retention is used, the community must
ensure that adequate storage is again available within a reasonable time in case another
storm occurs.
Other approaches, such as low-impact development regulations, can be used to reduce the
runoff that leaves a site. These techniques help preserve a site’s ability to absorb its runoff.
Credit may be provided for other approaches to managing the impact of development on
runoff, if the community can show that there is no increase in flood damage downstream.
Maintenance of these facilities is vital—if they silt in or become clogged, they provide no
flood protection benefits. Therefore, there are separate credits for maintaining storage
facilities.
SMR credit is the sum of the credit for four sub-elements:


Size of development (Section 452.a(1), SZ),



Design storm used (Section 452.a(2), DS),



Low-impact development regulations (Section 452.a(3), LID), and

 Requirements for public inspection and maintenance of all facilities constructed to
comply with the ordinance (Section 452.a(4), PUB).

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Communities are encouraged to check with their state or regional stormwater management
agency to see if they can apply for “uniform minimum credit,” i.e., credit based on the
stormwater management program implemented by the state or regional agency.
Credit Criteria
(1) The watershed must be subject to a regulation that requires the peak runoff from new
development to be no greater than the runoff from the site in its pre-development
condition.
(2) A community must have credit for size of development (SZ) and design storm (DS) in
order to receive credit for SMR.
(3) For SZ credit, the community must, at a minimum, regulate parcels of 5 acres or more
or increases in impervious area of 20,000 square feet or more.
(4) For DS credit, the community must require management of at least a 10-year storm. A
regulation designed to retain or detain only the “first flush,” the first inch of rainfall, or
less than a 10-year storm, is not credited under SMR. However, it may qualify as a
water quality regulation (WQ) and be credited under Section 452.d.
(5) For DS credit, the community’s regulations must require pre- and post-development
hydrology calculations and post-development runoff must be limited to pre-development
levels.
Sub-elements
(1) Size of development (SZ):
The maximum credit for this sub-element is 110 points.
Maximum credit for SZ is provided if the regulations clearly state that all development,
including single-family residences, is subject to the regulations. However, some SZ
credit can be provided for different types of development; for example, if the
community regulates commercial developments that are larger than one-half acre (SZ1 =
60 points) and residential developments larger than 5 acres (SZ2 = 15 points). An
impact adjustment must be used to reflect the percentage of land in each category.
Credit Points
(1) SZ = one of the following, based upon the minimum size
of areas regulated:
(a) SZ = 110 points, if all development is regulated, or
(b) SZ = 90 points, if all development is regulated except for
single-family residences, parcels of one-half acre or less, or
increases in impervious area of 5,000 square feet or less, or

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(c) SZ = 60 points, if all development is regulated except for
parcels of 1 acre or less or increases in impervious area of
10,000 square feet or less, or
(d) SZ = 15 points, if all development is regulated except for
parcels of 5 acres or less or increases in impervious area of
20,000 square feet or less

If the regulations only affect development of parcels LARGER than 5 acres (e.g., 10-acre
developments) or increases in impervious area of more than 20,000 square feet, there is no
credit for SZ or credit for SMR.
Credit may be provided for requiring developers to pay fees in lieu of constructing
facilities, if the fees collected go toward construction of the necessary facilities.

Example 452.a-1.
As a condition of subdivision, planned-unit development, or other
permit approval, the community requires that all developments larger
than 1 acre ensure that the post-development stormwater discharge
will not exceed the amount of runoff under pre-development
conditions.
SZ = 60

(2) Design storms used in regulations (DS):
The maximum credit for this sub-element is 225 points, including the bonus for control
of volume.
Although the 100-year flood is the typical basis for floodplain management, many
communities use a lesser standard for stormwater management. A lower standard may
meet many community needs, but management of smaller storms does not necessarily
result in reduced peak flows or volume from a major storm. DS credit is based on the
size of the storm that is managed by the community’s program—more points are
provided for managing larger storms.
The maximum DS credit is provided if the regulation clearly states that all discharges
up to and including that from the 100-year storm must be released at rates not exceeding
the pre-development peak discharge. Bonus credit for controlling the volume of runoff
is provided (up to 75 more points) when the regulations require retention of all runoff.
The additional credit is also provided if the total volume of water released, measured
above half of the 2-year flow rate is no more than the pre-development condition.

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As an alternative to such a performance standard, the language may be based on criteria
designed to produce the same result on a regional basis (e.g., a standard allowable
discharge per acre based on a regional study). If such language is used, the community
must provide an estimate of the design storm controlled and a comparison of the predevelopment runoff and the permitted discharge. Note that if this is based on a regional
study, this may already have been documented by the regional agency or another
Community Rating System (CRS) community in the region.

Example 441.a-2.
Language for a volume control ordinance could read:
All new development within the Little River watershed shall be
designed to prevent any increase in peak flow, velocity, or
total runoff volume during the 5-year and 100-year rainfall
events. Before development, the developer must submit
hydrologic and hydraulic studies showing the nature and
extent of runoff under present conditions and with the
proposed development for those two rainfall events.

Credit Points
(2) DS = the total of the following for the storms used to measure
the impact of new development:
(a) DS1 = EITHER 14 points, if detention is designed for a
10-year storm, OR
21 points, if the volume is also controlled
(b) DS2 = EITHER 36 points, if detention is designed for a storm
larger than the 10-year but smaller than the 100-year
storm, OR
54 points, if the volume is also controlled
(c) DS3 = EITHER 100 points, if detention is designed for the
peak flow of the 100-year storm, OR
150 points, if the volume is also controlled

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The regulations must require pre- and post-development hydrology calculations and postdevelopment runoff must be limited to pre-development levels (credit criterion (5)). The
standard used may be peak flow, volume, or a combination of the two. If the volume of
runoff is controlled by retaining the runoff on site, infiltrating the runoff, or ensuring that
the volume of runoff during all storms greater than half of the 2-year event remains
constant, the credit is increased by 50%.

Example 452.a-2.
A community’s stormwater management ordinance used to require
regulation of the 2- and 10-year storms to prevent increases in runoff.
Under that ordinance, DS1 = 14, DS2 = 0, and DS3 = 0. Similarly, if
the ordinance had been based on the 25- and 50-year storms, DS1
would be 0, DS2 = 36 and DS3 = 0.
The community adopted an ordinance that requires determination of a
proposed development’s effects on the 10- and the 100-year storms to
ensure that downstream peak flows are not increased. Now, DS1 = 14,
DS2 = 0 and DS3 = 100.
DS = DS1 + DS2 + DS3 = 14 + 0 + 100 = 114

Example 452.a-3.
A Florida county has sandy soils and requires all new development
within closed basins of concern to retain on site the runoff from all
storms up to and including the 100-year storm.
DS = DS1 + DS2 + DS3 = 21 + 54 + 150 = 225

(3) Low-impact development (LID):
The maximum credit for this sub-element is 25 points.
LID credits the community’s regulatory language that requires the implementation of
LID techniques when new development occurs. LID techniques can significantly reduce
or eliminate the increase in stormwater runoff created by traditional development,
encourage aquifer recharge, and promote better water quality. Communities are
encouraged to use these techniques to minimize the need for more traditional
stormwater management.

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Low-impact Development (LID)
“By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the
impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed.
Applied on a broad scale, LID can maintain or restore a watershed's hydrologic and ecological
functions.
LID can be applied to new development, redevelopment, or as retrofits to existing development.
LID has been adapted to a range of land uses from high density ultra-urban settings to low-density
development.”
(www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines LID as
. . . an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature
to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles
such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features and minimizing
effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that
treats stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product.
Many practices have been used to adhere to these principles, such as bioretention
facilities, rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, rain barrels, and permeable
pavements. By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be
managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural
movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed. Applied on a broad scale,
LID can maintain or restore a watershed’s hydrologic and ecological functions.

Communities that require new development and redevelopment to implement LID in all
cases can receive 25 points.
Credit for LID is also provided if the community’s stormwater management ordinance
requires the use of “soft” techniques to reduce runoff to the maximum extent possible
before using detention. This can be thought of as a requirement to mimic natural
hydrologic runoff and minimize the impact of land development on water resources to
the maximum extent possible. The developers are required to control the runoff, but
detention ponds are discouraged in favor of on-site infiltration.
A community can receive partial LID credit for a stormwater management ordinance
that requires that all development (except a single-family residence) minimize runoff
using these techniques.

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Credit Points
(3) LID = up to 25 points, if all development is required to
give preference to the use of low-impact development
techniques (instead of pipes, channels, or detention) to
control the impacts of development on runoff

Example 452.a-4.
The following language is from Section 4.2 of the Stormwater
Management and Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance for
Berkeley County, West Virginia, and would receive LID credit.
Small scale stormwater management practices, non-structural
techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural
hydrologic runoff characteristics and minimize the impact of
land development on water resources must be implemented.
Only when it is absolutely necessary is the use of a structural
BMP warranted.
LID = 25

The full ordinance can be found at

www.berkeleycountycomm.org/pdf/planning/swmdraft.pdf.

(4) Public maintenance of required facilities (PUB):
The maximum credit for this sub-element is 20 points.
PUB credit is provided for establishing maintenance procedures and requiring that
owners of the new facilities abide by them. A community can receive PUB credit in one
of three ways.
(a) If the community requires that, at least once each year, the owners of all stormwater
management facilities constructed after the date of adoption of the regulation have
the facilities inspected by a licensed professional engineer and perform any
maintenance recommended by the engineer.
The owners must provide to the community a copy of the engineers’ annual
inspection reports and documentation of the maintenance performed. If the owner
fails to do the inspection or perform the maintenance required by the inspections, the
community (or agency) must have the authority to perform the inspection, order the
maintenance to be done by the owner, or perform the maintenance and bill the owner
for the work performed.

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(b) If the community requires the owners of all new facilities to allow the community to
inspect their facilities. If problems are found, the owners must perform the necessary
maintenance. If the owner fails to perform the required maintenance, the community
(or agency) must have the authority to perform the maintenance and bill the owner
for the work performed.
(c) All stormwater management facilities constructed after the date of adoption of the
regulation (including basins built by private developers) are required to be deeded to
the community (or other stormwater management agency).
Whichever approach is used, it must be supported by an ordinance or other regulatory
authority. For example, holding the owner responsible for maintenance must be based
on clear legal authority, such as the subdivision ordinance, that was known to the
developer at the time of construction of the stormwater facility. Credit is not provided
for a policy or a statement that the community “has been able to get compliance in the
past” if there is no clear legal authority.
Credit Points
(4) PUB = 20 points, for requiring the inspection and
maintenance of stormwater management facilities

Impact Adjustment

The impact adjustment for SMR is based on the area of the watershed that is regulated by
the SMR regulations (aSMR) and the total area of the watershed (aW). See Sections 402
and 403 on calculating an impact adjustment.
In order to determine aSMR the community must prepare a watershed impact adjustment
map (see Section 403.d). The base map for the watershed impact adjustment map should be
a small-scale map that shows all of the watersheds affecting the community. The entire
watershed for each watercourse draining into or through the community should be shown
on the map (except those with drainage areas over 50 square miles, if they are excluded
from the calculations). The total area of these watersheds is represented by aW.
Many communities are part of very large watersheds, which can mean they account for only
a tiny portion of it. With appropriate documentation, aW may be reduced in three ways.
(1) If the area of a watershed exceeds 50 square miles at the point where it enters the
community, the community may choose to exclude the upstream portion. If such large
watersheds are outside the community’s jurisdiction, or are not regulated, the
community will receive more credit by excluding them. If they are regulated, the
community will receive more credit by including them. The extent of the applicability
of each set of regulations enforced within each watershed, if there is more than one,
must be shown and the area calculated.
(2) If upstream watersheds are effectively reduced by flood control structures that control
the base flood, the size of aW is reduced accordingly. Only structures designed to
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control the base flood and credited as such by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) can be used for this type of adjustment to aW.
(3) If, because of their ownership, portions of the watersheds are unlikely to be developed,
those portions may be excluded from aW. Areas that could be excluded are national
forests, state parks, or privately owned land dedicated to open space use.
Communities are encouraged to cooperate with adjacent communities to manage
stormwater. If a community only has regulatory jurisdiction over a portion of its
watersheds, it cannot ensure that properties will be safe from increased runoff in the future,
because of upstream development. However, if upstream communities also manage future
development, either independently or through county-wide or watershed regulations, all
communities can benefit. Therefore, if a community can demonstrate that upstream
communities have similar watershed management programs for the upper portions of their
watersheds, it can include those areas in aSMR.
If the community does not regulate development within all of the watersheds that affect it
and wants an impact adjustment ratio greater than 0.15, it needs to develop a watershed
impact adjustment map to determine the areas required to calculate rSMR for each area
with different and creditable regulations.

rSMR = aSMR, where
aW
aSMR = the area subject to stormwater management regulation,
and
aW = the area of all watersheds affecting the community

If the total calculated impact adjustment is less than 0.15, or the community does not
prepare a watershed impact adjustment map, then rSMR = 0.15.

Example 452.a-5.
A community regulates all watersheds within its corporate limits.
However, areas outside the corporate limits are not regulated. The
staff calculates that the area of the community’s jurisdiction is 13% of
all the land within the watersheds that drain to the community.
Therefore, 0.15 is used for rSMR, since it is greater than the value
calculated by the community.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist to help the stormwater
manager identify all the needed documentation, available at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
(b) A copy of the ordinance or legal language that regulates surface water runoff from
new development in the watershed. For SMR credit, the language must require that
peak runoff from new development be no greater than the runoff from the site in its
pre-development condition. The margin next to where this appears in the ordinance
must be marked, e.g., “SMR.”
The language submitted must include those factors that are credited: size of
development regulated, design storms to be used, low impact development criteria,
and how the maintenance of required facilities is handled.
For CRS credit, the regulations must be legally enforceable. Policies and guidelines
are not acceptable unless the community’s legal counsel states that they are
enforceable.
(c) Development and building permit records that demonstrate enforcement of the
regulations. The ISO/CRS Specialist determines how many records are needed to
obtain a representative sample.
(d) [If the community determines the area covered by stormwater management
regulations (aSMR) to include watershed areas regulated by other communities]
Documentation that watersheds outside the jurisdiction of the community are
regulated to standards similar to those within the community.
(e) An impact adjustment map showing watershed boundaries and stormwater
management jurisdictions.
The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that stormwater
management facilities have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans.
Credit Calculation
SMR = SZ + DS + LID + PUB
cSMR = SMR x rSMR

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452.b. Watershed master plan (WMP)
The maximum credit for this element is 315 points.
WMP credit is provided if the community implements stormwater management regulations
through an adopted watershed master plan. Credit is also provided for watershed master
plans that
 Evaluate future conditions and long-duration storms,
 Identify wetlands and natural areas,
 Address the protection of natural channels, and
 Provide a dedicated funding source for implementing the plan.
The objective of watershed master planning is to provide the community with a tool it can
use to make decisions that will reduce the increased flooding from development on a
watershed-wide basis. Although there is no doubt that stormwater management regulations
reduce the future flood threat from a developing area, a watershed master plan goes much
further in predicting the rainfall/runoff relationships within the watershed, and in locating
and dealing with existing problems and identifying potential future problems. An
understanding of the watershed’s behavior is necessary to ensure that established
stormwater management regulations will prevent flood damage due to future development.
The only way to completely understand watershed behavior (how a watershed responds to
rainfall) is to do a relatively detailed study of runoff under both present and future
conditions. Hydrologic models simulate various rainstorms over a watershed and, based on
the nature of the watershed’s land cover, soils, and topography, determine the timing and
total volume of peak flows. Hydrologic studies can be used to determine the appropriate
amount of detention or retention necessary to prevent an increase in runoff as development
occurs.
In addition to the present- and future-conditions hydrology studies, a watershed master plan
should include mitigation recommendations that are appropriate for the community. These
recommendations should include the entire range of mitigation activities—regulations,
public information, structural control of runoff, non-structural programs (including
stormwater management regulations), protection of sensitive natural areas, and acquisition
of flood-prone properties.
For CRS credit, a watershed master plan must, at a minimum, address the regulatory
standards for new development. The modeling may show that different standards are
needed for different watersheds, or for different parts of the watershed. Communities may
also find as a result of their modeling that their existing stormwater management
regulations are adequate or they may decide to make them more stringent to prevent
development from increasing the frequency and severity of existing problems.
One of the prerequisites for a CRS Class 4 (see Section 211.c) is that the community
receive credit for watershed master planning based on the 100-year storm. Most

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communities use various return frequencies for different design and management purposes.
Development of a watershed master plan does not have to change that, but it is important to
understand the impact of development on runoff from the 100-year storm.
For example, a community could require that the 5-year storm be contained in storm
sewers, the 10-year storm be contained in streets below the curb, the elevation of the 25year storm be at least 12 inches below the floors of new buildings, and the 100-year storm
level be below the floor elevations. If the community uses future-conditions hydrology to
develop 5-, 10-, 25- and 100-year storms in the plan, it can use the results to effectively
reduce future flood damage without revising the nominal requirements.
For CRS credit, development of a watershed master plan does not imply that a community
must immediately address its future problems through capital drainage projects. The plan
should be considered a tool to help the community identify opportunities to address
problems before and as they arise.
Communities are encouraged to check with their state or regional stormwater management
agency to see if they can apply for “uniform minimum credit,” i.e., credit based on the
stormwater management program implemented by the regional agency.
Credit Criteria
(1) The community must have adopted a watershed master plan for one or more of the
watersheds that drain into the community, and the plan must identify the natural
drainage system and constructed channels.
(2) The community must have adopted regulatory standards that are based on the plan and
that receive credit under SMR in Section 452.a.
(3) The plan’s regulatory standards must manage future peak flows so that they do not
increase over present values.
(4) The plan’s regulatory standards must require management of runoff from all storms up
to and including the 25-year event.
(5) For any plan that is more than five years old, the community must evaluate the plan to
ensure that it remains applicable to current conditions. The evaluation must address
whether the data used for the plan are still appropriate and whether the plan effectively
manages stormwater runoff. The community must update a watershed master plan that
become obsolete, or the WMP credit will be revised accordingly.
(6) WMP1 credit must be received in order to receive credit for any of the other items.

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Credit Points
WMP = the total of the following:
WMP1 = 90 points, if the watershed master plan meets all of
the criteria listed in Section 452.b
WMP2 = 30 points, if the plan and the community’s regulations
manage the runoff from all storms up to and including the
100-year event

“All storms” includes at a minimum the 10-year storm, a storm greater than the 10-year but
less than the 100-year storm, and the 100-year storm.

WMP3 = 55 points, if the plan provides management of future
peak flows and volumes so that they do not increase over
present values

If the plan’s regulatory standards prevent all increases in downstream flood peaks AND
VOLUMES , regardless of their location within the watershed, it will receive this credit. A
community can receive the maximum credit if it retains runoff from a 100-year or larger
storm and discharges it to groundwater or irrigation or if it detains the runoff long enough
to discharge it after the peak flow in the receiving body has subsided, so that the discharge
will not increase downstream peak flows anywhere in the receiving stream.
Communities with watersheds that discharge into large lakes or rivers may receive this
credit if they demonstrate that their discharges will not increase flood elevations in the lake
or anywhere downstream in the receiving river.

WMP4 = 35 points, if the plan manages the runoff from all
storms up to and including the 5-day event

If a community can demonstrate that an event shorter than five days is the locally
appropriate “worst-case” runoff event for stormwater management, it may receive this
credit if it uses that event for its regulatory standard. In some areas this may require
continuous-simulation modeling. If a community, regional, state, or federal agency can
demonstrate that, for example, the 72-hour event provides the “worst case” runoff for a
watershed, the 72-hour event would be credited for communities in that area.
The following three credits recognize communities that preserve their remaining “natural”
channels, floodplains, or upland wetlands for stormwater conveyance or storage. “Soft” or
“green” approaches are encouraged, rather then “hard” or concrete measures.

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WMP5 = 30 points, if the plan identifies existing wetlands or
other natural open space areas to be preserved from
development so that natural attenuation, retention, or
detention of runoff is provided
WMP6 = 25 points, if the plan prohibits development, alteration,
or modification of existing natural channels
WMP7 = 25 points, if the plan requires that channel
improvement projects use natural or “soft” approaches rather
than gabions, rip rap, concrete, or other “hard” techniques
WMP8 = 25 points, if the community has a dedicated funding
source to implement the recommendations in the plan

A community with a local funding source dedicated to implementation of the adopted
watershed master plan is more likely to complete the projects and can receive additional
credit. Common sources of funding include a real estate excise tax, stormwater utilities,
drainage district fees, or other dedicated taxes. Developer impact fees are an uncertain
source of funding and are not credited here.
Impact Adjustment
The watershed impact adjustment map for WMP is prepared, and the affected areas are
calculated, in the same manner as for SMR in Section 452.a. The area covered by the
credited watershed master plan (aWMP) must be the same or smaller than the area covered
by the SMR regulations (aSMR).

rWMP = aWMP , where
aW
aWMP = the area covered by a watershed master plan

If the total calculated impact adjustment is less than 0.15 or the community does not
prepare a watershed impact adjustment map, then rWMP = 0.15.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist is to help the stormwater
manager identify all the needed documentation, available at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
(i) Documentation that the plan has been adopted by the community. “Adopted by
the community” means either formal approval by the community’s governing

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body or formal approval by another body or office of the community that has
the authority and funding to implement the plan, such as a flood control district.
(ii) Copies of the pages of the watershed master plan that show it meets the
minimum criteria and the items to be credited. This can be an electronic copy of
the plan with a description of the items to be credited and where they can be
found in the plan.
(iii) The ordinance pages credited under SMR in Section 452.a, showing the
regulatory standards that are based on the plan (Section 452.b, credit
criterion (2)).
(iv) [For WMP8] A copy of the ordinance adopting the dedicated funding source
and a budget describing how the money was spent during the past fiscal year.
(v) If the plan(s) is more than five years old, an evaluation report that addresses
whether the plan(s) is still based on appropriate data and effectively manages
stormwater runoff. In lieu of a formal report, the community may submit a letter
signed by a licensed professional engineer that addresses the following issues:
o The “future conditions” at the time the plan was completed: Do these
conditions still reasonably reflect the actual watershed conditions today?
o The precipitation data used for the plan’s hydrology: Does the
community or agency still use the same precipitation data that were used
in the report?
o Method used for the plan(s): Is the method used to develop the plan(s)
considered appropriate by the agency today?
o Construction: Has construction of stormwater infrastructure altered actual
conditions in ways that make the plan(s) obsolete?
o Other factors: Are there other aspects of the plan(s) that make it obsolete
or otherwise of questionable applicability?
(vi) The watershed impact adjustment map.
(vii) [If the community determines the area covered by the watershed master plan
(aWMP) to include watershed areas regulated by other communities]
Documentation that watersheds outside the jurisdiction of the community are
regulated to similar standards or are subject to the same plan as those within the
community.

452.c. Erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC)
The maximum credit for this element is 40 points.
ESC credit is provided if the community requires that erosion and sediment control
measures be taken on land that is disturbed during development. ESC credit is based upon
the size of the areas subject to the regulation. Drainage systems cannot perform to their
design standards if they are choked with eroded soil that has been captured in stormwater.
Sediment control is especially important in watersheds where land is being disturbed by

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construction. Sedimentation has been called the largest source of water pollution in the
country.
Credit Criteria
(1) To receive ESC credit, the community’s regulations must apply to all construction sites
within the community. An erosion and sedimentation control regulation that is part of a
floodplain ordinance or a building code and does not affect ALL construction sites in the
community does not receive credit under this element.
“All construction sites” in the subsections below means all sites in the community
subject to construction of buildings, roads, etc., regrading, or other non-agricultural
land-disturbing activity.
Credit Points
ESC = one of the following:
(1) 40 points, if regulations control erosion and soil loss from
any disturbed land greater than 1,000 square feet; OR
(2) 30 points, if regulations control erosion and soil loss from
any disturbed land greater than 0.5 acre; OR
(3) 10 points, if regulations control erosion and soil loss from
any disturbed land greater than 1 acre.

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for element ESC. These rules must be enforced throughout
the entire community.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist to help the stormwater
manager identify all the needed documentation, available at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
(i) The ordinance or law language that requires developers or property owners to
use techniques that prevent erosion and soil loss from exposed land. The
ordinance(s) or law must designate an office or official responsible for receiving
complaints and monitoring compliance and it must include enforcement and
abatement provisions.
(ii) Development and building permit records that demonstrate enforcement of the
regulation. The ISO/CRS Specialist determines how many records are needed to
obtain a representative sample.

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The ISO/CRS Specialist may visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that stormwater
management facilities have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans.

Example 452.c-1.
Appropriate ordinance language might read:
Before any grading or other earthwork that affects a land area
larger than 500 square feet, the person performing such
earthwork shall submit an erosion control plan. The plan shall
be designed to prevent sediment from leaving the site during
storms up to and including the 100-year storm and recover the
ground after construction or other work to prevent or minimize
erosion. ESC = 40

or
Application for any grading and/or building permit (except for
single-family dwellings on existing platted lots) must include an
erosion control plan designed to prevent sediment from
leaving the site during all storms up to and including the 100year storm and recover the ground after construction to
prevent or minimize erosion. ESC = 30

452.d. Water quality regulations (WQ)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
WQ credit is provided for implementing best management practices to protect water quality
within the community. Stormwater runoff picks up dirt, road oil, salt, farm chemicals, and
other substances. Unlike sewage, stormwater is not treated before it enters rivers, lakes,
estuaries, and other receiving bodies of water. Regulations that require developers to install
or implement measures that improve the quality of stormwater are credited.
Most states’ environmental protection or pollution control offices have recommended best
management practices (BMPs) appropriate for that state. Best management practices may
include grass filter strips at retention basin inlets or outlets, velocity dissipators and
baffles, basin dimensions that encourage settling of suspended solids, aeration, infiltration
trenches, skimmers, vegetated swales, and other techniques that clean stormwater. It should
be noted that this credit is not for BMPs required during the course of construction, but
rather for measures that are permanently incorporated in the development’s stormwater
management facilities.

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Credit Criteria
(1) To receive WQ credit, the community’s stormwater management regulations must either
specify one or more measures or refer to BMPs as published in an official government
reference. A mention of water quality or reduction of nonpoint sources of pollution in
the “purpose” section of the regulations is not sufficient for credit.
Credit Points
WQ = 20 points, if regulations require new developments of one
acre or more to include in the design of their stormwater
management facilities appropriate “best management practices”
that will improve the quality of surface water

Example 452.d-1.
Falls Church, Virginia, lies within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Because of its location within the watershed, the city requires all
development to provide permanent water quality facilities. WQ = 20

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for element WQ. The requirements must be enforced
throughout the entire community.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist is to help the stormwater
manager identify all the needed documentation, available at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
(i) The ordinance or law language that requires new development to implement
appropriate best management practices to improve water quality.
(ii) Development and building permit records that demonstrate enforcement of the
regulation. The ISO/CRS Specialist determines how many records are needed to
obtain a representative sample.

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453 Credit Calculation
c450 = cSMR + cWMP + ESC + WQ , where
cWMP = WMP x rWMP

454 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/400.
b. CRS Credit for Stormwater Management can be found at www.CRSresources.org/400 or
ordered using the form in Appendix C.
c. Rural communities can request help on this activity from the U.S. Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Requests should be submitted to the local soil and water conservation
district, which usually is located in the county seat.
d. Most states’ environmental protection or pollution control offices have recommended best
management practices (BMPs) appropriate for that state. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has developed BMPs for coastal areas that are appropriate throughout the country.
Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal
Waters, 840-B-92-002, 1993, can be found at
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/czara/index.cfm.
e. References on low-impact development are available from EPA and many states. Two are
listed below.
“Low Impact Development Design Strategies (An Integrated Design Approach)” prepared
by Prince George’s County, Maryland Department of Environmental Resources (1999).
Available from the EPA at www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lidnatl.pdf.
“Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound,” Puget Sound
Action Team and Washington State University Pierce County Extension (2005). Available
at www.psp.wa.gov/downloads/LID/LID_manual2005.pdf.

455 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) can be used to promote the benefits of WQ and ESC
for both flood protection and preservation of water quality and habitat.
 The element MAP under Activity 410 credits the provision of maps that identify
future-conditions floodplains. SMR and WMP can reduce the need for these kinds of
maps.

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 Activity 420 (Open Space) reduces the need for channel hardening. In addition,
watershed master plans can identify those areas within the watershed that provide
benefits to the drainage system in their natural state and therefore should be
preserved. Additional credit may be granted in Activity 420 if they are preserved.
 Having Activity 440 (Additional Map Data) mapping of sensitive areas and
maintaining them on the community’s data base can result in credit and be useful in
both watershed and floodplain planning.
 Activity 540, element SBM, is dependent upon receiving credit in Activity 450 for
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500 FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
This series of activities focuses on reducing flood damage to existing buildings. It
complements the previous series, which dealt with preventing damage to new development.
Damage reduction measures that are recognized under this series include acquiring,
relocating, or retrofitting existing buildings; maintaining and improving drainageways and
retention basins; and planning for the best ways to implement these and other loss
prevention and reduction activities.
Credit points for Activities 510, 520, and 530 are adjusted according to the number of
buildings affected by the damage reduction measure. See Sections 301 through 303 for a
discussion of impact adjustment ratios based on building counts.
Sections 501 through 503 and Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) are
mandatory for some or all repetitive loss communities. See Sections 501 and 502 for a
discussion of the applicability of these requirements.
Section 507 discusses community compliance with applicable environmental and historic
preservation laws and executive orders before implementation of a project or activity.

Contents of Series 500
Section

Page

500 Flood Damage Reduction Activities........................................................ 500-1
501 The Repetitive Loss List .................................................................. 500-3
502 Repetitive Loss Category................................................................. 500-7
503 Repetitive Loss Areas ...................................................................... 500-8
504 Repetitive Loss Area Outreach Project.......................................... 500-10
505 Repetitive Loss Mitigation Activities ............................................ 500-12
506 National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994.............................. 500-14
507 Compliance with Provisions for Environmental and
Historic Preservation....................................................................... 500-14
510 Floodplain Management Planning ........................................................... 510-1
511 Background ...................................................................................... 510-2
512 Elements........................................................................................... 510-4
513 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 510-37
514 For More Information .................................................................... 510-37
515 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 510-38
520 Acquisition and Relocation...................................................................... 520-1
521 Background ...................................................................................... 520-2
522 Elements........................................................................................... 520-4
523 Credit Calculation ............................................................................ 520-8
524 Documentation Provided by the Community ................................ 520-12
525 For More Information .................................................................... 520-13
526 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 520-13

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530 Flood Protection....................................................................................... 530-1
531 Background ...................................................................................... 530-2
532 Elements........................................................................................... 530-6
533 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 530-14
534 Documentation Provided by the Community ................................ 530-16
535 For More Information .................................................................... 530-17
536 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 530-17
540 Drainage System Maintenance ................................................................ 540-1
541 Background ...................................................................................... 540-2
542 Elements........................................................................................... 540-5
543 Credit Calculation .......................................................................... 540-21
544 For More Information .................................................................... 540-22
545 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 540-22

List of Figures
500-1.
500-2.
500-3.
500-4.

An example of an AW-501 ................................................................ 500-5
The Repetitive Loss List certification (CC-RL)................................. 500-6
An example of an outreach project to a repetitive flood loss area. .. 500-11
Summary of FEMA’s policy on environmental and
historic preservation ......................................................................... 500-16
500-5. Federal environmental laws and executive orders that may apply
to CRS-credited activities................................................................. 500-17
510-1.
510-2.
510-3.
510-4.
510-5.
510-6.

Excerpt from a floodplain management planning checklist ............... 510-5
About Hazus-MH ............................................................................. 510-17
Two examples of communities’ statements of their goals ............... 510-19
Categories of floodplain management activities .............................. 510-20
An excerpt from Gretna’s Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan............... 510-24
The National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool ...................... 510-32

530-1. Flood protection techniques credited in Activity 530.......................... 530-2
540-1. Step 4 of a sample inventory of a conveyance system......................... 540-8
540-2. Step 5 of a sample inventory of a conveyance system......................... 540-8
540-3. An example of a “no dumping” sign.................................................. 540-16

List of Tables
510-1. Planning steps for mitigation and for the CRS .................................... 510-5
530-1. Flood protection techniques used......................................................... 530-6
530-2. Values for FPP and FPB .................................................................... 530-10

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501 The Repetitive Loss List
501.a. Repetitive losses
Repetitive loss properties are those properties for which two or more claims of more than
$1,000 have been paid by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) within any 10-year
period since 1978 (e.g., two claims during the periods 1978–1987, 1979–1988, etc.).
Almost $9 billion have been paid to
repetitive loss properties, about one-fourth
of all NFIP payments since 1978. Although
the NFIP has resulted in 40 years of successful floodplain management, and many of
these structures are no longer insured,
repetitive loss properties are still a drain on
the NFIP. Currently, 1.3% of all policies
cover repetitive loss properties, but those
properties are expected to account for 15%
to 20% of future losses. NFIP actuaries have
reported that repetitive loss is the single
most important factor that affects the
stability of the National Flood Insurance
Fund.

501.b. The Repetitive Loss List
Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces a list of
repetitive loss properties for communities in
or interested in the Community Rating
System (CRS). Before applying for the CRS
and at each verification cycle, a community
must determine its repetitive loss category
(see next section).

Repetitive Flood Loss Properties
In the United States there are over 160,000
repetitive loss properties, i.e., properties that
have had two or more claims of more than
$1,000 paid by the NFIP within any 10-year
period since 1978. Although some of these
properties have had mitigation measures applied
to them, most remain at risk of flooding.
To focus resources on those properties that
represent the best opportunities for mitigation,
Congress defined a subset called “Severe
Repetitive Loss Properties” when it passed the
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004. Severe
Repetitive Loss Properties are those 1–4 family
properties that have had four or more claims of
more than $5,000 or two to three claims that
cumulatively exceed the building’s value.
FEMA is directed by the Act to define Severe
Repetitive Loss Property for multi-family buildings. For the purposes of the CRS, the Severe
Repetitive Loss Property subset also includes
non-residential buildings that meet the same
criteria as for 1–4 family properties. The flood
insurance policies on these properties are serviced by a separate Special Direct Facility and not
by individual Write Your Own insurance
companies.

The list includes the property address, the
dates of the claims, and, usually, the current
insured’s and/or previous owner’s name. It
is available digitally as an Excel spreadsheet
and as individual worksheet pages (Repetitive Loss Update Worksheet (AW-501)). Either
format can be ordered through the ISO/CRS Specialist or the FEMA Regional Office.

Each year, a compact disk that includes a new set of AW-501 update worksheets is sent to
each participating CRS community for informational purposes. It reflects the community’s
previously submitted changes, new properties that have been added as a result of recent
floods, and changes resulting from other communities’ updates. Except during cycle

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verification and as specified in Section 502.b, a community is not required under the CRS
to respond to each year’s new list. However, the list can be a valuable planning tool and
source of information about the location and extent of flooding within the community.
Communities are encouraged to submit any known updates every year.

501.c. Updating the List
As part of its application and cycle verification obligations, the community must review the
list for accuracy, for correct addresses, to determine whether the properties are actually in
the community’s corporate limits, and to determine whether the insured buildings have been
removed, retrofitted, or otherwise protected from the cause of the repetitive flooding. The
result of this review is recorded on a Repetitive Loss Update Worksheet (AW-501). See the
example in Figure 500-1.
A community with repetitive losses must sign the Repetitive Loss List Community
Certification, CC-RL, certifying that each address has been checked (see the example in
Figure 500-2). If there are updates, the submittal must include corrected Repetitive Loss
Update Worksheets (AW-501) with any required supporting documentation. If no updates
are needed, only the CC-RL is submitted. The CC-RL can found in Appendix E.
This review is a minimum requirement for participation in the CRS. If the community does
not conduct the review of the list at cycle verification, it will lose its CRS credit for
addressing its repetitive loss properties, which can result in a reversion to a Class 10.
The community must note the following situations in which the form should be updated:
 The property is not located in the community’s jurisdiction. The property may be
outside the community’s corporate limits, it may be in another city, or it may have
been annexed by another community. If it can be determined in which community the
property belongs, the property will be reassigned to the correct community. If a
property is not in the community, it will not be reassigned unless the community in
which the property does belong can be definitely identified.
 There was an error in the repetitive loss data base, such as a duplicate listing or an
incorrect address.
 The property has subsequently been protected from the types of events that caused
the losses. Buildings that have been acquired, relocated, retrofitted, or otherwise
protected from the types of frequent floods that caused the past damage are not
counted in determining the community’s CRS requirements.
 The property is protected from damage by the base flood shown on the current Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). For example, the community may demonstrate that the
building is elevated or floodproofed above the base flood elevation but was flooded
by a higher level. If the property is outside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA),
the community may show that all of the repetitive losses were caused by events with
recurrence intervals of over 100 years (e.g., two 200-year storms).

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Figure 500-1. An example of an AW-501.

[NOTE: This address is fictitious. The Privacy Act prohibits publication of a real AW-501.]

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Figure 500-2. The Repetitive Loss List Community Certification (CC-RL).

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502 Repetitive Loss Category
Every CRS community with one or more unmitigated repetitive loss property on FEMA’s
current list must keep the list updated and submit a Repetitive Loss List Community
Certification (CC-RL) at each verification visit.
Additional requirements depend on the community’s repetitive loss category, which is
determined by the number of repetitive loss properties without mitigation measures AFTER
the community has updated the repetitive loss property information and submitted it for
approval. Properties that have been mitigated, that are shown to be in another community,
that are not currently insured, or that are documented as impossible to identify and locate in
the community are not counted when determining the repetitive loss category.

502.a. The Categories
For CRS purposes, there are three categories of repetitive loss communities based on the
number of properties on the UPDATED repetitive loss list (i.e., after the changes and updates
have been reported and accepted by FEMA):
(1) Category A: A community that has no repetitive loss properties, or whose repetitive
loss properties all have been mitigated. A Category A community has no special
requirements except to submit information to update its repetitive loss list, as needed.
(2) Category B: A community with at least one, but fewer than 10, repetitive loss properties that have not been mitigated. At each verification visit, a Category B community
must
(a) Prepare a map of the repetitive loss area(s) (see Section 503),
(b) Review and describe its repetitive loss problem,
(c) Prepare a list of the addresses of all properties with insurable buildings in those
areas, and
(d) Undertake an annual outreach project to those addresses (see Section 504). A copy
of the outreach project is submitted with each year’s recertification.
(3) Category C: A community with 10 or more repetitive loss properties that have not been
mitigated. A Category C community must
(a) Do the same things as a Category B community,

AND

(b) Prepare a floodplain management plan or area analyses for its repetitive loss area(s).
The plan and area analysis requirements are explained in Activity 510 (Floodplain
Management Planning).

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502.b. Effective Dates
A community’s repetitive loss category may change over time as a result of flood damage
reduction measures implemented by the community, floods that add new insurance losses to
the FEMA list, or data updates. A CRS community has no immediate need to take action as
a result of a change in its repetitive loss category except as follows:
(1) When it applies for or modifies its credit for Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning);
(2) When it submits a modification that will result in an increase in its CRS classification;
and
(3) When it is slated for a complete cycle verification of its program.
The last two situations are explained in more detail in Sections 214 and 232. They require
that a community submit documentation for all of its activities, including Activity 510.
If a community becomes a Category B community during the year of its cycle verification
(see Section 232), it must begin the required outreach project during the following year.
If a community becomes a Category C community during the year of its cycle verification,
it has until October 1 of the following year to prepare to adopt the required floodplain
management plan or area analyses for its repetitive loss areas. (However, all updates to its
repetitive loss list must be submitted with the rest of the cycle verification materials.)

503 Repetitive Loss Areas
At each verification visit, a category B or C community must submit
(1) AW-501s (if needed);
(2) A signed CC-RL;
(3) A map of its repetitive loss areas. The repetitive loss areas must include the properties
on the repetitive loss list obtained from FEMA and all nearby properties with the same
or similar flooding conditions. The map is needed for the outreach project described in
the next section and for planning purposes in Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning);
(4) A description of the cause(s) of the repetitive flooding; and
(5) A list of the addresses of all properties with insurable buildings in the repetitive loss
area(s) and the number of buildings in the repetitive loss area(s), bRLA.

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503.a. The Map
The community must plot all the properties on FEMA’s repetitive loss list and define all
repetitive loss areas. In some cases, such as those in which the address consists of a rural
route or box number, a property will be unplottable. However, local officials can often
identify a property by the name of the insured, especially if the last flood was recent. All
that is needed is for the general area of the property to be located, e.g., the 400 block of a
street.
The community then defines its repetitive loss
AREAS . The repetitive loss areas include buildings
on FEMA’s list and nearby buildings that were
subject to the same flood hazard. It is important to
note that the only reason a property appears on
FEMA’s list is because the structure had flood
insurance and received two or more claims of at
least $1,000 during any given 10-year period.
These properties are merely representative of the
community’s overall repetitive flooding problem.
Other structures near the ones listed by FEMA may
have been uninsured during the floods, may have
had single flood insurance claims, or may have had
multiple claims under different policies that the
system did not recognize as being the same repetitively flooded address. From a community perspective, it is not fair to single out those properties that
happen to be on FEMA’s list. All properties with
the same exposure to repeated flood damage should
be addressed.
There is a separate handout, Mapping Repetitive
Loss Areas, with further instructions on how to
map a repetitive loss area that includes both the
properties on FEMA’s list and neighboring
properties with the same exposure to repetitive
flooding.

The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private
property, including repetitive loss
properties, are subject to the
Privacy Act. Information such as the
names of people and addresses of
properties that have received flood
insurance claims and the amounts
of such claims MAY NOT be released
to the public. Such information
should be marked “For internal use
only. Protected by the Privacy Act of
1974.”
Generic information, such as
total claim payments for an area or
data not connected to a particular
property MAY be made public.
For example, a community may
publish a map showing a repetitive
loss area or a list of addresses in
that area, provided that it does not
show which individual addresses or
parcels received flood insurance
claim payments.

503.b. Causes of Repetitive Flooding
Once the areas are determined, the community can summarize what caused the repetitive
flooding. This can be one or two sentences, such as “overbank flooding in May 1994 and
June 2001” or “The drainage ditch was built to carry smaller flows. Upstream development
has increased runoff and heavy storms overload the ditch roughly every other year.” See
also Chapter 7 of FEMA-511, Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding.

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503.c. Address List and Building Count
From the repetitive loss area map, the community must prepare an address list of all parcels
with insurable buildings in those areas. For CRS purposes, an “insurable building” is
defined in Section 301. This list has two purposes: it will be used for the outreach project
and it will determine the number of buildings in the community’s repetitive loss areas.
The number of buildings currently in the community’s repetitive loss areas is represented
by the variable bRLA. This variable is also used in the impact adjustment for repetitive loss
area analyses in Section 512. It should not be confused with bRL (number of properties on
the FEMA repetitive loss list) in Activity 520, Acquisition and Relocation.

504 Repetitive Loss Area Outreach Project
A Category B or C community must implement an annual outreach project to the properties
in the mapped repetitive loss areas that have insurable buildings, and include a copy of the
project with its application and annual recertification.
The outreach project must advise the recipient of four things:
(1) That the property is in or near an area subject to flooding;
(2) What property protection measures are appropriate for the flood situation;
(3) What sources of financial assistance may be available for property protection
measures; and
(4) Basic facts about flood insurance.
The outreach project must be delivered to all properties in the repetitive loss
the properties on the FEMA list. This may be done in one of two ways:

AREAS ,

not just

(1) An outreach project that is distributed each year to the properties in the repetitive
loss areas that have insurable buildings. This project may also be submitted for
credit as a targeted outreach project under Activity 330.
(2) An annual outreach project developed as part of a Program for Public
Information (PPI) credited under Activity 330. The PPI Committee may conclude
that there are more effective ways to inform repetitive loss area residents than
mailing a notice once a year. The PPI may use a different approach, such as
neighborhood meetings, provided the PPI document identifies the target audience
for the service and discusses the best way to reach that audience. For continued
PPI credit, the committee must annually evaluate the effectiveness of the
outreach projects and revise them as needed.
An example project appears in Figure 500-3. More information on outreach projects can be
found in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
More information on sources of financial assistance can be found in Section 505.

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Dear Resident:
You have received this letter because your property is in an area that has been flooded
several times. Our community is concerned about repetitive flooding and has an active
program to help you protect yourself and your property from future flooding, but here are
some things you can do:
1. Check with the Building Department on the extent of past flooding in your area. Department
staff can tell you about the causes of repetitive flooding, what the City is doing about it, and
what would be an appropriate flood protection level. The staff can visit your property to
discuss flood protection alternatives.
2. Prepare for flooding by doing the following:
− Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your house when a flood comes.
− Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a safe place to go.
− Make a household inventory, especially of basement contents.
− Put insurance policies, valuable papers, medicine, etc., in a safe place.
− Collect and put cleaning supplies, camera, waterproof boots, etc., in a handy place.
− Develop a disaster response plan. See the Red Cross’ website at www.redcross.org for
information about preparing your home and family for a disaster.
− Get a copy of Repairing Your Flooded Home. We have copies at the Public Works
Department or it can be found on the Red Cross’ website, too.
3. Consider some permanent flood protection measures.
− Mark your fuse or breaker box to show the circuits to the floodable areas. Turning off the
power to the basement before a flood can reduce property damage and save lives.
− Consider elevating your house above flood levels.
− Check your building for water entry points, such as basement windows, the basement
stairwell, doors, and dryer vents. These can be protected with low walls or temporary
shields.
− Install a floor drain plug, standpipe, overhead sewer, or sewer backup valve to prevent
sewer backup flooding.
− More information can be found at FEMA’s website, www.ready.gov/floods.
− Note that some flood protection measures may need a building permit and others may
not be safe for your type of building, so be sure to talk to the Building Department.

Figure 500-3. An example of an outreach project to a repetitive flood loss area.

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4. Talk to the Building Department for information on financial assistance.
− The City administers a flood protection rebate program that will pay 25% of approved
projects, up to a total of $2,500. This program has funded low floodwalls, overhead
sewers, sewer backup valves, and relocation of utilities to higher levels.
− If you are interested in elevating your building above the flood level or selling it to the
City, we may apply for a Federal grant to cover 75% of the cost.
− Get a flood insurance policy – it will help pay for repairs after a flood and, in some cases,
it will help pay the costs of elevating a substantially damaged building.
5. Get a flood insurance policy.
− Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because
our community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase
a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal government
and is available to everyone, even properties that have been flooded. Because our
community participates in the Community Rating System, you will receive a reduction in
the insurance premium.
− Because your area is not mapped as a Special Flood Hazard Area, you may qualify for a
lower-cost Preferred Risk Policy.
− Some people have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when
they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the
building’s structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in your
area, there is usually more damage to the furniture and contents than there is to the
structure. Be sure you have contents coverage.
− Don’t wait for the next flood to buy insurance protection. In most cases, there is a 30-day
waiting period before National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect.
−

Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.

Figure 500-3. (cont.) An example of an outreach project to a repetitive flood loss area

505 Repetitive Loss Mitigation Activities
Sections 501–504 describe the minimum CRS participation requirements for repetitive loss
communities. The requirements focus on updating repetitive loss records, identifying the
extent of the problem, and providing basic information to owners of properties in the
repetitive loss area(s).
The CRS encourages communities to do more to reduce their repetitive flooding problems.
Additional credit points are provided in the following activities for actions that address
repetitive loss properties or repetitive loss areas:
 Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance)—Credit is provided for technical
assistance on property protection. Many shallow repetitive flooding problems can be
mitigated with a low-cost project paid for by the owner, so technical assistance can
sometimes go far to reduce repetitive losses.

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 Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning)—Credit is given for conducting an
analysis of the repetitive loss areas and determining appropriate mitigation measures
for these areas (Section 512.b).
 Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation)—Bonus points are provided for acquiring
or otherwise removing repetitive loss properties, with larger bonuses for Severe
Repetitive Loss Properties (Section 522.b and 522.c).
 Activity 530 (Flood Protection)—Bonus points are provided for retrofitting or
otherwise protecting repetitive loss properties, with larger bonuses for Severe
Repetitive Loss Properties (Section 532.c).
FEMA has several financial assistance programs that can help communities implement
some of these activities. There are five programs that can fund acquisition, retrofitting, and
other flood protection projects that would qualify for credit under Activities 520 and 530.
Some of them can fund a floodplain management plan. All five of them require that an
applicant community have a hazard mitigation plan, as described in Activity 510
(Floodplain Management Planning).
All five programs are managed by the state, usually by the emergency management agency.
The state may set additional priorities for use of the funds. The latest information on these
programs can be found at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance.
There are other sources of financial assistance:
 Community Development Block Grants are provided to larger cities and counties;
smaller communities can apply to the state community development agency.
 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will support elevation and flood control projects
as part of a larger flood protection program.
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can
help fund retrofitting and local flood control projects in smaller watersheds.
 Flood insurance claims can include Increased Cost of Compliance funding. This
provision provides additional coverage to help underwrite a flood protection project
that is required by code as a condition to rebuild the flooded building. It can also be
used to help pay the non-federal portion of a cost-shared retrofitting project.
 Many states and regional or county flood control districts have their own funding
programs or will help with the non-federal cost share of a federal program.
 Many communities have developed financial assistance programs, especially for
sewer backup and local drainage problems, where mitigation projects may be
relatively inexpensive.
More information on financial assistance programs to protect individual buildings can be
found in Local Flood Proofing Programs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2005, available at
www.usace.army.mil/Portals/2/docs/civilworks/Project%20Planning/nfpc/Local%20Flood%
20Proofing%20Programs%202005.pdf.

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506 National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994
This Act requires that, “if a community has received mitigation assistance under Section
1366 [the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program], the credits shall be phased in a manner,
determined by the Director, to recover the amount of such assistance provided for the
community.”
In general, this is limited to Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation) and Activity 530
(Flood Protection), the two activities most likely to be funded. Because the Flood
Mitigation Assistance Program provides a 75% grant, a community will receive 25% of the
credit for protecting a building under Activities 520 and 530.
NOTE: This is a statutory requirement that only applies to the Flood Mitigation Assistance
program, not to other FEMA-funded financial assistance programs.

Example 506-1.
A community applies for credit under Activity 520 (Acquisition and
Relocation) for having removed 20 buildings from the floodplain. Five
of those buildings were acquired with a 75% grant from the Flood
Mitigation Assistance Program.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will calculate the credit based on 25% credit
for the five buildings and full credit for the other 15. If the community
can demonstrate that there was a higher local cost-share, the points
will be adjusted accordingly.

507 Compliance with Provisions for
Environmental and Historic Preservation
Federal actions and undertakings, including ongoing programs, must comply with
applicable federal environmental and historic preservation laws, implementing regulations,
and executive orders. The CRS is a federal program and FEMA has identified certain
building or land-altering activities that must meet this requirement if they are to be
considered for CRS credit. These include projects undertaken under Activity 520
(Acquisition and Relocation), Activity 530 (Flood Protection), Activity 540 (Drainage
System Maintenance), and Activity 620 (Levees).
The level of environmental and historic preservation compliance and documentation
required for each project is determined by the type of project and the source of its funding.
For CRS purposes, a project falls into one of these two categories:
 Projects funded (in whole or in part) by a federal agency, and
 Projects funded by a state and/or local government.

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NOTE: Using any amount of federal or FEMA funding (including using it as a match for a
locally sponsored project) has the effect of bringing that project into the “federally funded”
category. For any such project, therefore, all of the federal environmental and historic
preservation requirements must be met.
Self certification is provided through the completion of Community Certifications of
Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements (CC-EHPs). The
CC-EHP forms can be found in Appendix F, downloaded from www.CRSresources.org, or
requested from the ISO/CRS Specialist.
 Certifications are required for all projects in Activity 520 (Acquisition and
Relocation) and Activity 530 (Flood Protection) that were permitted or initiated after
the implementation of the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual.
 Certifications are required at each verification visit for the ongoing maintenance
programs credited under Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance) and Activity
620 (Levee Maintenance).
 Projects funded by FEMA are considered to meet FEMA’s environmental and historic
preservation compliance requirements. A summary of such projects needs to be
included in the Community Certifications.
If a community is not able to provide the information needed to certify that compliance
occurred before implementation of the project or activity, then CRS credit will not be
provided for that project or for that element of a CRS Activity.

507.a.

Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation) and
Activity 530 (Flood Protection)

The CC-EHPs, certifying compliance with the appropriate requirements, are required for all
projects credited under Activity 520 or Activity 530 that were implemented AFTER the
effective date of the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual. They are not required for projects that
were implemented before the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual became effective, including
projects that received CRS credit under an earlier Coordinator’s Manual.
Projects funded in whole or in part by FEMA are considered to have already complied with
FEMA’s environmental and historic preservation requirements. A summary description of
these projects needs to be documented in the CC-EHPs.

507.b.

Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance) and
Activity 620 (Levees)

The CC-EHPs certifying compliance with the appropriate requirements must be submitted
at the time that CRS credit is requested for projects under Activities 540 or 620. This
includes the first time that Activity 540 or Activity 620 credit is requested as well as each
subsequent verification visit at which continued credit is requested.

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507.c. More Information on Environmental Compliance
The CC-EHPs consist of CC-520EHP, CC-530EHP, CC-540EHP, and CC-620EHP. They
can be found in Appendix F, downloaded from www.CRSresources.org, or requested from
the ISO/CRS Specialist.
A matrix of the various requirements for environmental and historic preservation
compliance as they relate to CRS-credited projects is posted at www.CRSresources.org/500.
Figure 500-4 summarizes the applicable federal requirements for environmental and historic
preservation. For more information about FEMA’s preservation policies, visit
www.fema.gov/environmental-planning-and-historic-preservation-program.
Figure 500-5 gives brief descriptions of applicable federal environmental laws and
executive orders, along with links to websites that offer more information.
Communities are encouraged to learn more about federal, state, and other programs for the
protection of environmental, cultural, and historic resources. Many of the principles and
techniques used by such programs can be incorporated into the community’s floodplain
management efforts, and thereby help to reduce flood losses and sustain the natural
functions of floodprone areas.

It is FEMA's policy to act with care to ensure that its disaster response and recovery, mitigation and
preparedness responsibilities are carried out in a manner that is consistent with all Federal environmental and
historic preservation policies and laws. FEMA uses all practical means and measures to protect, restore and
enhance the quality of the environment, to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the environment, and to attain
the objectives of
○ Achieving use of the environment without degradation or undesirable and unintended consequences;
○ Preserving historic, cultural, and natural aspects of national heritage and maintaining, wherever
possible, an environment that supports diversity and variety of individual choice;
○ Achieving a balance between resource use and development within the sustained carrying capacity of
the ecosystem involved; and
○ Enhancing the quality of renewable resources and working toward the maximum attainable recycling of
depletable resources.
Source: www.fema.gov/environmental-planning-and-historic-preservation-program

Figure 500-4. Summary of FEMA’s policy on environmental and historic preservation.

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Archeological & Historic Preservation Act
Requires federal agencies to take into account the preservation of cultural resources that may be
damaged by federal or federally authorized construction activities. Requires that the U.S. Secretary
of Interior be notified when unanticipated archeological materials are discovered during construction
of a federal undertaking.
Administered by: State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer,
National Park Service
For more information: www.nps.gov/archeology/tools/Laws/ahpa.htm
www.achp.gov/nhpa.html

Clean Water Act, Section 402
Limits the quantity of pollutants that may be discharged into surface waters. Includes permits for
municipal separate storm sewer discharges. National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) discharge permits may be required from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
or the state.
Administered by: State agency for water quality in states with delegated regulatory responsibility;
otherwise, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For more information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/section402.cfm

Clean Water Act, Section 404 (Nationwide Permit 13)
Requires a permit for bank stabilization projects less than 500 feet long and being implemented
solely for erosion protection.
Administered by: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For more information: www.usace.army.mil/ (see “Obtain a permit—regulatory permits”)
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/wetlands/regs_index.cfm

Clean Water Act, Section 404 (Section 404 permit)
Establishes permit requirements for actions to discharge dredge or fill material into waters of the
United States, including wetlands. Includes fill for development and for water resources projects
such as dams and levees.
Administered by: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
For more information: www.usace.army.mil/ (see “Obtain a permit—regulatory permits”),
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/wetlands/regs_index.cfm
www.fws.gov/wetlands

Coastal Barrier Resources Act
Prohibits new federal expenditures or financial assistance for development within an established
unit or zone of the Coastal Barrier Resources System. Protects ecologically sensitive coastal barriers
along the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf, and Great Lakes coasts.
Administered by: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field offices
For more information: www.fws.gov/CBRA
(continued on next page)

Figure 500-5. Federal environmental laws and executive orders that may apply
to some CRS-credited activities.

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Coastal Zone Management Act
Requires federal agencies conducting or supporting projects affecting the coastal zone to conduct
and support those activities to the maximum extent possible in a manner consistent with the state’s
approved coastal management plan. Requires a “consistency determination” for federal actions.
Action-taking entities are required to obtain a permit from the state’s lead coastal resources
management agency or office.
Administered by: State’s lead coastal management agency, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
For more information: http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/programs/czm.html

Endangered Species Act
Prevents or requires modification of a project that could jeopardize endangered or threatened
species and/or their habitat. Section 7 requires consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and/or National Marine Fisheries Service, as applicable.
Administered by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service,
applicable state agencies for state-protected species and their habitat
For more information: www.fws.gov/endangered/
www.fws.gov/endangered/species
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_permits.htm

Executive Order 11988—Floodplain Management
Requires federal agencies to avoid, to the extent possible, the long- and short-term adverse impacts
associated with the occupance and modification of floodplains. Requires federal agencies to avoid
the direct and indirect support of floodplain development where there is a practicable alternative.
Administered by: Federal Emergency Management Agency
For more information: www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/ehplaws/eo11988.shtm

Executive Order 11990—Protection of Wetlands
Requires federal agencies to minimize, to the fullest extent possible, the destruction, loss, or
degradation of wetlands. Requires federal agencies to preserve and enhance the natural and
beneficial values of wetlands.
Administered by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
For more information: www.fws.gov/wetlands

Executive Order 12898—Environmental Justice for Low Income
and Minority Populations
Requires fair treatment of all ethnic and income groups regarding public health and environmental
effects from federal agency laws, regulations, policies, programs, and projects. Requires federal
agencies to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on
minority populations and low-income populations.
Administered by: All federal agencies
(continued on next page)

Figure 500-5 (cont.). Federal environmental laws and executive orders that may apply
to some CRS-credited activities.

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Farmlands Protection Policy Act
Requires federal agencies to minimize the extent to which federal programs contribute to the
unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.
Administered by: Natural Resources Conservation Service state office, state agencies for soils
(soil and water conservation districts)
For more information: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/fppa/

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Requires federal agencies to consider the effects that projects may have on fish and wildlife
resources, take action to prevent loss or damage to these resources, and support the development
or improvement of these resources. Protects fish and wildlife when federal actions result in the
control or modification of natural streams, waterways, water bodies, or associated wetlands.
Administered by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service
For more information: www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/fwca.html
www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection

National Historic Preservation Act
Section 106 of the NHPA requires federal agencies to take into account the impact of their actions
on historic properties listed (or eligible for listing) on the National Register of Historic Places.
Administered by: State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, National Park Service
For more information: www.achp.gov/overview.html
www.achp.gov/nhpa.html
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/

Rivers and Harbors Act,-Section 10
Requires a permit for building any structure in the channel or along the banks of navigable waters of
the United States that changes the course, conditions, location, or capacity of those waters.
Administered by: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
For more information: www.usace.army.mil/
www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg551/

Figure 500-5 (cont.). Federal environmental laws and executive orders that may apply
to some CRS-credited activities.

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510  FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING—Summary 
Maximum credit:  622 points 

512  Elements 
a.  Floodplain management planning (FMP):   382 points for a community‐
wide floodplain management plan that follows a 10‐step planning 
process: 
Step 1.  Organize 
Step 2.  Involve the public 
Step 3.  Coordinate 
Step 4.  Assess the hazard 
Step 5.  Assess the problem 
Step 6.  Set goals 
Step 7.  Review possible activities 
Step 8.  Draft an action plan 
Step 9.  Adopt the plan 
Step 10.  Implement, evaluate, revise. 
b.  Repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA):  140 points for a detailed mitigation 
plan for a repetitive loss area. 
c.  Natural floodplain functions plan (NFP):  100 points for adopting plans 
that protect one or more natural functions within the community’s 
floodplain. 

Credit Criteria 
Each element has a separate section discussing credit criteria. 

Impact Adjustment 
The impact adjustments for FMP and RLAA are described in separate sections. 
There is no impact adjustment for NFP. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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510 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to credit the production of an overall strategy of programs,
projects, and measures that will reduce the adverse impact of the hazard on the community
and help meet other community needs.

511 Background
Too often flood protection decisions are made quickly, with inadequate or outdated
information or without considering all possible mitigation alternatives or the consequences
of those alternatives. As a result, the community’s resources are not allocated most
appropriately, flood problems may not be fully addressed, and natural floodplain functions
may suffer.
To remedy this situation, a careful, systematic process of planning is recommended, and
may be credited by this activity. The Community Rating System (CRS) does not specify
what activities a plan must recommend; rather, it recognizes plans that have been prepared
according to the standard planning process explained in this activity.
Benefits: A well-prepared plan will
 Identify existing and future flood-related hazards and their causes;
 Ensure that a comprehensive review of all possible activities and mitigation measures
is conducted so that the most appropriate solutions will be implemented to address
the hazard;
 Ensure that the recommended activities meet the goals and objectives of the
community, are in coordination with land use and comprehensive planning, do not
create conflicts with other activities, and are coordinated so that the costs of
implementing individual activities are reduced;
 Ensure that the criteria used in community land use and development programs
account for the hazards faced by existing and new development;
 Educate residents and property owners about the hazards, loss reduction measures,
and the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains;
 Build public and political support for activities and projects that prevent new
problems, reduce losses, and protect the natural and beneficial functions of
floodplains; and
 Build a constituency that wants to see the plan’s recommendations implemented.
Types of plans: This activity credits three kinds of plans:
 Floodplain management planning (FMP): The most credit is for the first element, a
community-wide floodplain management plan, but the element can also credit multihazard mitigation plans, multi-jurisdictional floodplain management and hazard
mitigation plans, and floodplain management plans prepared for the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers.

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 Repetitive loss area analyses (RLAA): The second element credits more detailed,
site-specific plans to reduce flood losses in repetitively flooded areas. It has a
narrower scope than a floodplain management plan, and receives fewer credit points.
 Natural floodplain functions plan (NFP): The third element provides credit for plans
that address natural floodplain functions in the community.
A Category C repetitive loss community (defined in Section 502) must prepare either a
FPM or RLAA area analysis that covers at least all of its repetitive loss areas.
Implementation: Credit is not provided for simply preparing a plan. Continued credit is
dependent upon plan implementation. To maintain the credit for Activity 510, every year
the community must evaluate its progress toward implementing the projects and programs
in the plan, area analysis, or natural floodplain functions plan, and submit a report of that
evaluation with its annual CRS recertification. It must update the background information
and the recommendations in its floodplain management plans and repetitive loss area
analyses at least every five years and in its natural floodplain functions plan(s) every 10
years.
Other plans: A plan by another name, such as a post-flood or multi-hazard mitigation
plan, could receive credit under this activity if it was prepared in accordance with the
process explained here. Hazard mitigation plans prepared to qualify for FEMA’s hazard
mitigation grants that are accepted by FEMA will receive some credit under this activity.
By their very nature as overall guidance for a community’s program, plans should be
coordinated with other plans and programs as well as the activities of other agencies or
offices that have authority over the same area. It is recommended that communities also
contact state and regional offices and agencies to review their plans and planning criteria.
For example, state planning agencies have requirements for some kinds of plans and state
emergency management agencies may have additional
elements they would like to see included in a mitigation
A separate CRS publication,
plan.
NOTE: An ordinance is NOT a plan. An ordinance sets
standards for land development and other activities.
Planning may include a review of land development
standards and procedures, but it should also cover a
much broader range of activities, as noted in
Figure 510-4.
Class 9 Prerequisite: A Category C repetitive loss
community (see Section 502) must receive credit under
either Section 511.a, FMP or Section 511.b, RLAA with
a plan that covers its repetitive loss areas.

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CRS Credit for Floodplain
Management Planning, has a
detailed discussion of the requirements of this section and of multihazard mitigation plans, as well
as model plans and CRS credit
documentation. Communities are
encouraged to read this and additional FEMA guidance on mitigation planning before beginning
their floodplain management planning. These documents can be
found at
www.CRSresources.org/500.

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512 Elements
512.a. Floodplain management planning (FMP)
The maximum credit for this element is 382 points.
FMP credit is provided for a community-wide floodplain management plan that was
prepared by following a standard planning process. To receive any credit under this
activity, the planning process must receive some credit under each of the 10 steps listed
below. If the plan was approved by FEMA as a multi-hazard mitigation plan and one step is
missing, the mitigation plan may receive credit, but FMP credit will be limited to 50 points.
If two steps are missing, there is no credit for a multi-hazard mitigation plan.
For some steps, such as Step 1, the community may show that it implemented at least one of
the listed credit items. For other steps, specific items are required as a minimum. Required
items are noted with “( REQUIRED )” after them.
FEMA’s multi-hazard mitigation planning regulations pursuant to the Disaster Mitigation
Act of 2000 are explained at www.fema.gov/plan/mitplanning. The 10-step CRS planning
process is consistent with those regulations, which identify four phases of hazard mitigation
planning. The 10 CRS steps are aligned with the four phases of mitigation planning
requirements in Table 510-1.
The CRS-credited planning process must follow the 10 steps. Although the plan document
must discuss and document all 10 steps, the written plan does not need to be organized by
these 10 steps. To document CRS credit, the community must identify where these steps
were covered in its plan, using the CRS planning credit activity checklist (see
Figure 510-1).
Documentation or discussion of all but Steps 3 and 9 must be presented in the plan
document. Steps 3 and 9 may be in the plan document or they may be explained in a
separate memo from the community or the plan’s
author as explained in the documentation section at the
Note: It is recommended that
end of each step. The community must update the plan
the planner review all state and
at least every five years and document the update by
FEMA planning program guidelines,
including the CRS planning credit
October 1, five years after the plan was adopted.
checklist for Activity 510. Doing so
will ensure that the planning effort
will meet all state, FEMA, and CRS
criteria. It is the community’s option,
but with proper planning, one plan
document can fulfill the planning
criteria of several FEMA and state
programs.

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Table 510-1. Planning steps for mitigation and for the CRS.
Multi-hazard Mitigation Planning

CRS

Maximum

Phase I − Planning process
§201.6(c)(1)

1. Organize

15

§201.6(b)(1)

2. Involve the public

120

§201.6(b)(2) & (3)

3. Coordinate

35

§201.6(c)(2)(i)

4. Assess the hazard

35

§201.6(c)(2)(ii) & (iii)

5. Assess the problem

52

§201.6(c)(3)(i)

6. Set goals

2

§201.6(c)(3)(ii)

7. Review possible activities

35

§201.6(c)(3)(iii)

8. Draft an action plan

60

§201.6(c)(5)

9. Adopt the plan

2

§201.6(c)(4)

10. Implement, evaluate,

26

Phase II − Risk assessment

Phase III − Mitigation strategy

Phase IV − Plan maintenance

Total

382

Figure 510-1. An excerpt from a floodplain management planning credit checklist.

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Credit Points
FMP = the total of points credited for Step 1 through Step 10, up to
the maximum of 382 points

There are no credit formulae for this activity. The credits for each step are simply added
together.
Note that the points listed (Step 1 to Step 10) are maximum possible points. The ISO/CRS
Technical Reviewer may determine that one or more items do not warrant full credit.

Step 1. Organize to prepare the plan
The credit for this step is based on how the community organizes to prepare its floodplain
management plan.
Credit Points
Credit for Step 1 is the total of the following points. (Maximum credit: 15 points)
(a) 4 points, if the office responsible for the community’s land use and comprehensive
planning is actively involved in the floodplain management planning process. The
“office” may be the community’s planning or community development department, a
consulting firm, or a regional planning agency, provided that it performs regular land
use or comprehensive planning duties for the community. This office is usually not the
floodplain management or mitigation planner or consultant, because the intention of this
credit is to incorporate the floodplain management or mitigation plan into the rest of the
community’s planning activities. “Actively involved” means that staff regularly attend
meetings, assist in the coordination (Step 3), and either write or review draft sections of
the plan.
(b) 9 points, if the planning process is conducted through a committee composed of staff
from those community departments that implement or have expertise in the activities
that will be reviewed in Step 7. One point is provided for each office represented.
Divisions of departments can be counted as separate offices. For smaller communities
with fewer departments, full credit is provided if the committee has representation from
all offices with expertise in all six categories
of activities credited in Step 7.
Step 7 Categories

A planning committee is strongly
recommended. By involving those who can
contribute and will be most affected when the
recommendations are carried out, the
community will get a more realistic product
that will have a much better chance of being
adopted and implemented. Community

○
○
○
○
○
○

Preventive measures (e.g., codes)
Property protection (e.g., elevation)
Natural resource protection
Emergency services
Structural flood control projects
Public Information

Also see Figure 510-4.

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departments that could be represented on the committee include, but are not limited to
 Building department/code enforcement,
 Engineering,
 Land use planning/zoning,
 Public works,
 Emergency management/public safety,
 Public information,
 Environmental protection/public health,
 Parks/recreation,
 A city manager or council member, and
 Housing/community development.
If the planning committee includes representatives from the public and other
stakeholders (with no attachment to local government), additional credit is provided in
Step 2. Note that there is extra credit in Step 10 if the committee continues to meet after
the plan is adopted in order to evaluate progress and recommend changes.
No credit is provided for the creation of a planning committee if the committee only
meets once or twice. It must meet a sufficient number of times to involve the members
in the following key steps of the planning process (e.g., at least one meeting on each
step):
Step 4.
Step 5.
Step 6.
Step 7.
Step 8.

Assess the hazard,
Assess the problem,
Set goals,
Review possible activities, and
Draft an action plan.

If the community wants credit for participating in a multi-jurisdictional floodplain
management or hazard mitigation planning committee,
 The community must send at least two representatives to the planning
committee;
 At least half of the community’s representatives must attend all the meetings of
the planning committee. In effect, there must be a quorum from each
community. Remote attendance, e.g., via a webinar that allows for everyone to
talk, is permissible; and
 CRS credit for the multi-jurisdictional planning committee will be based on the
representation from offices that implement the activities in Step 7.

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Examples
a. A community has a planning committee with representatives from
its planning, zoning, building, emergency management, code
enforcement, and public works departments, as well as the city
manager’s public information person. There is no one at the
community level that deals with natural floodplain functions. The
community’s committee would receive six points, one for each
representative.
b. A county is preparing a multi-jurisdictional plan for the county and
10 participating cities. This planning committee has 30 members,
including two from each city. Among the members are
representatives of all six Step 7 categories, e.g., a city engineer, a
city public works person, the county planner, and the county soil
and water conservation district. The county’s committee would
receive the full nine points, provided there was a quorum from
each community seeking credit.

(c) 2 points, if the planning process and/or the committee are formally created or recognized

by action of the community’s governing body.
Two points are provided if the community’s governing body (e.g., the city council)
formally recognizes the planning process. The preferred method is a formal resolution
that designates who is responsible for preparing the plan and specifies a completion
deadline. If a committee credited under Step 1(b) or 2(a) is used, the resolution should
identify the members and the chair (or how the chair is selected) and how staff support
is provided.
If a community participates in a multi-jurisdictional committee, its governing body must
act in order for the community to receive this credit. A city will not receive this credit
for a county council resolution. Conversely, a city can receive this credit even if there is
no county credit.

Step 2. Involve the public
The planning process must include an opportunity for the public to comment on the plan
during its development and before its approval. Members of the public may be part of the
planning committee created under Step 1 or they may be organized as a separate committee.

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For this credit, the term “public” includes residents,
businesses, property owners, and tenants in the floodplain and other known hazard areas as well as other
stakeholders in the community, such as developers and
contractors, civic groups, environmental organizations,
academia, non-profit organizations, major employers, and
staff from other governmental agencies, such as a levee
district, housing authority, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, or the National Weather Service.
Members of an advisory body to the community that does
not have any regulatory authority, such as a stormwater
advisory board, can be counted as representatives of the
public. Community employees and members of a
regulatory body, such as a zoning board of appeals that
makes final decisions, are not considered “public” or
stakeholders and are counted as representatives of the
community departments credited under Step 1(b).

The most important partners to
assist in the plan development are
already within your community: local
government officials, community
planning and design professionals,
business leaders, civic and volunteer
groups, emergency services personnel, and interested residents.
. . . .Ensuring that your team has
an equitable and diverse
representation will enhance your
planning efforts and help build
support for mitigation.
—Planning for a
Sustainable Future, FEMA-364

As with staff, involving the public and stakeholders brings them fully into the planning
process, provides input on the viability of options being considered, and helps them to
become concerned about the outcome. The largest number of points is provided for
Step 2(a) because a planning committee with public membership has the following
advantages:
 The committee can be a forum to both educate the public and also provide a means
for public input into the plan.
 The participants recognize that they are involved and will be more willing to commit
themselves to the process.
 The participants can do some of the work, especially data gathering, thereby reducing
the overall cost of preparing the plan.
 A committee can be an effective forum for discussing alternatives, debating goals and
objectives, and matching the technical requirements of a program to local situations.
 The committee members will provide information on the plan and process to their
respective constituencies.
 The participants gain a feeling of “ownership” of the plan and its recommendations,
which helps build public support for it.
 Committee members form a constituency that will have a stake in ensuring that the
plan is implemented.
Note that 50% of the maximum credit for this planning step is a prerequisite for Class 4 or
better communities.

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Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points based on how the community
involves the public during the planning process. (Maximum credit: 120 points)
(a) Up to 60 points, if the planning process is conducted through a planning committee that
includes members of the public and meets the following criteria:
(1) If the committee includes community staff (e.g., the planning committee credited
under Step 1(b)), then at least one-half of the members must be representatives of the
public or stakeholders for full credit. The credit is prorated for lower levels of public
or stakeholder representation. Note that receiving 50% of the maximum credit for
this planning step is a prerequisite for Class 4 or better communities and item (a) is
one-half of the credit for Step 2.
(2) It must meet a sufficient number of times to involve the members in the key steps of
the planning process, i.e., it must meet the same meeting criteria specified in
Step 1(b).
(3) All meetings must be open to the public and the meeting schedule must be publicly
posted (e.g., on a website).
(4) If the community wants credit for participating in a multi-jurisdictional floodplain
management or hazard mitigation planning committee, it must meet the criteria
specified in Step 1(b).
(5) The formalities of organizing and naming the committee are not as important as the
membership and the ability of all members to participate. For example, a community
may augment an existing committee with an advisory body of stakeholders. Such an
arrangement would be credited, provided the stakeholders were treated as full
committee members during the meetings, i.e., they can speak up, vote, and receive
all the materials that regular members do.
Note that this planning committee can be (and it is recommended that it be) the same
committee that prepares a Program for Public Information for credit under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects). The floodplain management plan document can also be or
include the Program for Public Information document and/or the flood insurance
coverage improvement plan credited under Activity 370 (Flood Insurance
Promotion).
There is extra credit in Step 10 if the committee continues to meet after the plan is
adopted in order to evaluate progress and recommend changes, provided that the
committee continues to meet the above criteria. Such annual evaluations by a
committee are required for some of the credits under Activities 330 and 370.
(b) 15 points, if one or more public information meetings is held in the affected area(s)
within the first two months of the planning process to obtain public input on the natural
hazards, problems, and possible solutions. The meetings must be held separately from
the planning committee meetings credited in item (1).

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The intent of the public meeting(s) is to go out to the people to gather input. At a
minimum, it must be separate from regular meetings of the planning committee or the
community’s governing body. It is recommended that at least one of these public
meetings be held in the affected neighborhoods.
(c) 15 points, for holding one or more public meetings to obtain input on the recommended
plan. The meeting(s) must be at the end of the planning process, at least two weeks
before submittal of the recommended plan to the community’s governing body.
Simply discussing the plan at a regular public meeting of the governing body, just
before it is voted on, is not sufficient public input for CRS credit. To receive credit for
this item, there must be at least one public meeting at the end of the planning process, at
which the plan and its findings and recommendations are explained and people can ask
questions and submit their comments for review, consideration, and potential
modification of the plan. The CRS does not require public hearings. State and local laws
take precedence, however. The community’s legal counsel should determine if a public
hearing is required.
(d) 5 points, for each additional public information activity implemented to explain the
planning process and encourage input to the planner or planning committee, up to a
maximum of 30 points. Examples include, but are not limited to
 A website that explains the planning process and posts the time and place for
its meetings, meeting agendas, status reports, and the draft plan, when it is
ready for review.
 Conducting a public webcast that explains the planning process and solicits
input.
 Questionnaires asking the public for information on their natural hazards,
problems, and possible solutions. A questionnaire or survey that is sent to
everyone in the floodplain or everyone in the community will receive double
credit (10 points).
 Outreach projects, such as those credited in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects),
which explain the planning effort and seek comments. These could include
brochures, mailers, booths at shopping malls, presentations at civic or
neighborhood organizations, etc.

Step 3. Coordinate
Most communities’ flood problems have been studied already. There are likely to be
existing plans, studies, and reports on flooding that need to be reviewed. There also may be
flood protection activities being considered or implemented by other agencies.
This planning step credits incorporating other plans and other agencies’ efforts into the
floodplain management plan. Other agencies and organizations must be contacted to
determine if they have studies, plans, or information pertinent to the floodplain
management plan; to determine if their programs or initiatives may affect the community’s
program; and to see if they could support the community’s efforts.

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Examples of “other agencies and organizations” include neighboring communities; local,
regional, state, and federal agencies; and businesses, colleges, and other private and nonprofit organizations affected by the hazards or involved in hazard mitigation or floodplain
management.
This credit is for coordinating with other agencies and organizations, particularly those that
are not represented on the planning committee credited under Step 1(b) or Step 2(a). No
special additional coordination measures are needed for the agencies and organizations on
the planning committee, but the planners may want to formally contact the directors and
others for the record.
Note that community needs and goals typically are developed during comprehensive
planning activities. These goals should be identified in this step, reviewed, and considered
during the development of the floodplain management plan. They should be taken into
account when the goals for the floodplain management plan are developed in Step 6.
Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points. To receive credit for this step,
the coordination must include item (a). (Maximum credit: 35 points)
(a) 5 points, if the planning includes a review of existing studies, reports, and technical
information and of the community’s needs, goals, and plans for the area. (REQUIRED )
Where the information from the existing studies and reports is used in the plan, the
source(s) should be referenced.
This review needs to include a review of community needs and goals, past flood studies,
disaster damage reports, natural areas plans, and other documents that will provide
information for the planning process.
(b) 30 points, for coordinating with agencies and organizations outside the community’s
governmental structure. There is no credit for talking to other departments within the
city or county government. For this credit, “coordinate” means to
 Contact the agency or organization and keep a record of the contact (a generic
announcement or notice on a website is not sufficient);
 Ask for data or information related to the hazard;
 Ask if the agency or organization is doing anything that might affect flooding
or properties in flood-prone areas; and
 Offer the agency or organization an opportunity to be involved in the planning
effort, such as by attending a committee meeting or commenting on the draft
plan.
One point is provided for each agency or organization that is contacted.
Two points are provided for meeting or having a telephone conversation with the agency
or organization. Such a coordination meeting or conversation must be separate from
attendance at a planning committee meeting.
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Coordination with an agency can only be counted once. For example, if a letter to an
agency results in a follow-up meeting or telephone conversation, the community
receives two points.
Examples of such agencies and organizations include, but are not limited to
o Neighboring communities;
o Local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities;
o Stakeholder-type organizations that are not represented on the planning
committee;
o Local drainage, levee, sanitary, and soil and water conservation districts;
o Regional and metropolitan planning agencies;
o State NFIP Coordinator;
If the community wants the plan to
o State water resources agency;
qualify as a multi-hazard mitigation plan,
o State coastal zone management
the plan must identify all stakeholders that
agency;
are involved or given an opportunity to be
o State emergency management agency;
involved in the planning process. At a
minimum, stakeholders must include
o FEMA Regional Office;
1) Local and regional agencies
o National Weather Service;
involved in hazard mitigation
o U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
activities,
o Natural Resources Conservation
2) Agencies that have the authority
Service;
to regulate development, and
o U.S. Bureau of Reclamation;
3) Neighboring communities.
o U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
An “opportunity to be involved in the
o National Oceanic and Atmospheric
planning
process” means that the stakeAdministration;
holders are engaged or invited as particio Native American tribes;
pants and given the chance to provide
o American Red Cross;
input to affect the plan’s content.
o Local homebuilders association; and
—Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide, FEMA
o Local environmental groups.

Step 4. Assess the hazard
At this step in the planning process, the planner or committee reviews, analyzes, and
summarizes data collected about the natural hazard(s) that the community faces. This step
focuses on the sources, frequency, extent, and causes of flooding while Step 5 will address
the impact of flooding on people, property, infrastructure, the local economy, and natural
floodplain functions.
Under Step 3(a), the community gathers data about the flood hazard. This step involves
reviewing, analyzing, and summarizing the data from existing flood studies, including the
Flood Insurance Study, drainage problem studies, historical records, and the knowledge and
experiences of the planning committee members.

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For CRS credit, the community does not need to conduct studies to develop new flood data.
However, if this process determines that new maps or data are needed, they should be
described for credit under item (d).
The hazard assessment needs to describe the local flood hazard and not be a broad or
generic discussion of flooding in general. It needs to discuss how often it floods, the
locations of areas that flood, the depth of flooding, and the source or cause of the flooding.
Because the most important readers are elected officials and flood-prone residents, the
descriptions of the hazards should be in lay terms.
The CRS Community Self Assessment described in Section 240 can help with this step.
Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points based on what the community
includes in its assessment of the hazard. (Maximum credit: 35 points)
 To receive CRS credit for this step, the plan must include a flood hazard assessment
credited under item (1).
 If the community is a Category B or C repetitive loss community (see Sections 502–
503), this step must cover all of its repetitive loss areas.
(a) 15 points, for including an assessment of the flood hazard in the plan. ( REQUIRED ) Flood
hazard areas that require assessment include
 The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) shown on the Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM),
 Repetitive loss areas,
 Areas not mapped on the FIRM that have flooded in the past, and
 Other surface flooding identified in other studies.
(1) 5 points, for a map of the flood hazard areas. Area maps are acceptable for multijurisdictional plans.
(2) 5 points, for a description of the known flood hazards, including source of water,
depth of flooding, velocities, and warning time.
(3) 5 points, for a discussion of past floods.
(b) 10 points, for including an assessment of less-frequent flood hazards in the plan. For
this credit, the community must
(1) Identify the hazard, including
a. Preparing an inventory of levees that would result in a flood of developed areas if
they failed or were overtopped during a flood, and/or
b. Preparing an inventory of dams that would result in a flood of developed areas if
they failed, and/or

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c. Identifying any of the flood-related special hazards listed in Section 401 of the
CRS Coordinator’s Manual that are found in the community, and/or
d. Identifying the coastal A Zone, i.e., the area where wave heights during the 100year flood are between 1.5 and 3 feet;
(2) Map the area(s) affected. (For planning purposes, an approximate affected area is
sufficient. No new engineering studies are needed. Area maps are acceptable for
multi-jurisdictional plans.) If an engineering study is conducted, it may receive
credit under Activity 410; and
(3) Summarize the hazard(s) in lay terms.
Note that, under Activities 620 (Levees) and 630 (Dams), items (b)(1)a and (b)(1)b are
prerequisites for reaching Class 4 or better. Additional guidance on inventorying and
mapping the areas affected by levee and dam failures can be found in Section 621.b and
Section 631.b, respectively. It is recommended that communities incorporate these
inventories into their floodplain management plans.
Item (a) is prorated if part of the “flood hazard” is missing, where applicable. For
example, if the community is downstream of a dam, has a levee, and has a coastal A
Zone, and the assessment includes only the dam failure hazard, the credit will be less
than the full 10 points. If the community does not have a levee, it is reflected in the
proration.
Two points are provided if the inventory is conducted and concludes that there are
no levees, dams, or special flood-related hazards that threaten the community.
(c) 5 points, if the assessment identifies areas likely to be flooded and flood problems that
are likely to get worse in the future as a result of (1) changes in floodplain development
and demographics, (2) development in the watershed, and (3) climate change or sea
level rise. The credit is prorated if the assessment does not include all three types of
changes.
(d) 5 points, if the plan includes a description of the magnitude or severity, history, and
probability of future events for other natural hazards, such as earthquakes, wildfires, or
tornados. The plan should include all natural hazards that affect the community. At a
minimum, it should include hazards identified by the state’s hazard mitigation plan.
NOTE: To qualify as a multi-hazard mitigation plan, the plan must address ALL of the
community’s flood and other natural hazards identified in the hazard assessment. Not only
does an all-hazards plan help qualify for mitigation funds, but also it will better prepare
the community for hazards other than flooding. It is common for communities to focus only
on mitigation of flood problems because they occur more often. However, assessing the
other hazards when preparing a flood plan can help address what can be done for all
hazards, some of which may occur less frequently, but have a greater impact on the
community.

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Step 5. Assess the problem
Flooding can be a natural and beneficial occurrence. A floodplain is only a problem area if
human development (the built environment) gets in the way of, or exacerbates, the natural
flooding process.
The previous step assessed the hazards facing the community. In this step, the community
planners or planning committee members collect and summarize data on what is at risk.
This step looks at the impact of those hazards on the community.
Note that 50% of the maximum credit for this planning step is a prerequisite for Class 4 or
better communities.
Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points, based on what is included in the
assessment of the vulnerability of the community to the hazards identified in the previous,
hazard assessment, step. (Maximum credit: 52 points)
 To receive credit for this step, the assessment must include item (a).
 Each credited item must cover all relevant flood-related hazards identified in Step 4.
 Each credited item must include a description and summary of the problem(s).
Simply listing data, such as the names of the critical facilities or the number of flood
insurance claims, does not suffice for credit—there must be description of the impact
of flooding and what kinds of problems arise, not just raw data.
 For a multi-jurisdictional plan, each item needs to be described for each community.
Tables are acceptable to show the data by community, but there still needs to be a
narrative description and summary of the problem(s).
(a) 2 points, if the plan includes an overall summary of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to
each hazard identified in the hazard assessment (Step 4) and the impact on the
community. ( REQUIRED)
(b) 25 points, if the plan includes a description of the impact that the hazards identified in
the hazard assessment (Step 4) have on the features listed below:
(1) 5 points, for life safety and the need for warning and evacuating residents and
visitors.
(2) 5 points, for public health, including health hazards to individuals from flood waters
and mold.
(3) 5 points, for critical facilities and infrastructure.
(4) 5 points, for the community’s economy and major employers.
(5) 5 points, for the number and types of affected buildings (e.g., residential,
commercial, industrial, with or without basements, etc.). For this credit, the
assessment must include an inventory of all buildings owned by the community that
are located in flood-prone areas and that identifies which buildings are insured for
flood damage.

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(c) 5 points, if the assessment includes a review of
historical damage to buildings, including all
properties that have received flood insurance
claims payments (in addition to the repetitive
loss properties) and/or an estimate of the
potential damage and dollar losses to
vulnerable structures, including damage from
mold and other flood-related hazards.
Communities must include repetitive loss areas
in their problem assessment. ( REQUIRED of
Category B and C repetitive loss communities
(see Sections 502–503))
In order to receive the full credit under item (c),
the community reviews ALL the addresses of
properties that have received flood insurance
claims, not just the repetitive loss properties.
Such a list is sent annually to all Category B
and C repetitive loss CRS communities.
Communities can request more recent lists
through their FEMA Regional Office.

The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private
property, including repetitive loss
properties, are subject to the
Privacy Act. Information such as the
names of people and addresses of
properties that have received flood
insurance claims and the amounts
of such claims MAY NOT be released
to the public or used for solicitation
or other purposes. Such information
should be marked “For internal use
only. Protected by the Privacy Act of
1974.”
Generic information, such as
total claim payments for an area or
data not connected to a particular
property MAY be made public.

Data on building damage usually can be obtained from post-disaster damage assessment
reports, flood insurance claims or disaster assistance data, and flood control studies.
Particularly in areas that have experienced little or no serious flooding in recent history,
a Hazus-MH flood analysis can yield valuable information about the potential for flood
damage and loss (Figure 510-2). For best results, the building/structure inventory data
bases in Hazus-MH should be augmented with local input.

Hazus-MH is a software program that contains models for estimating potential losses from
earthquakes, floods, and hurricane winds. It can be a great help in the Step 5 vulnerability
assessment.
Hazus-MH uses geographic information system (GIS) software to map and display hazard data and
the results of damage and economic loss estimates for buildings and infrastructure. It also allows
users to estimate the impacts of hurricane winds, floods, and earthquakes on populations.
Copies of Hazus-MH are available at no charge from the FEMA Distribution Center. Users can
request that a 60-day trial/evaluation copy of ESRI’s ArcGIS software be sent with Hazus-MH. Users
should be familiar with GIS software. Hazus training is available at FEMA’s Emergency Management
Institute and elsewhere. Information is at http://www.fema.gov/hazus/.

Figure 510-2. About Hazus-MH.

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(d) 5 points, if the assessment describes areas within the floodplain that provide natural
functions, such as wetlands, riparian areas, sensitive areas, and habitat for rare or
endangered species.
Along with flood protection, comprehensive floodplain management planning should
review the unique natural features, natural areas, and other environmental and aesthetic
attributes that may be present in the floodplain. Protecting and preserving these natural
and beneficial floodplain functions yield flood protection benefits and also help
integrate floodplain management efforts with other community goals and objectives.
This section should also review existing natural floodplain functions plans, such as
those credited under Section 511.c.
(e) 7 points, if the assessment includes a description of development, redevelopment, and
population trends and a discussion of what the future brings for development and
redevelopment in the community, the watershed, and natural resource areas.
(f) 8 points, if the assessment includes a description of the impact of the future flooding
conditions described in Step 4(c) on people, property, and natural floodplain functions.

Step 6. Set goals
The goals should set the context for the subsequent review of floodplain management
activities and drafting of the action plan (Figure 510-3). They should incorporate or be
consistent with other community goals for the affected areas. A multi-hazard mitigation
plan should have goals that address all the major hazards that face the community.
Credit Points
The points for this step are provided if the plan includes a statement of the goals of the
community’s floodplain management or hazard mitigation program. The goals must address
all flood-related problems identified in Step 5. (Maximum credit: 2 points)

Step 7. Review possible activities
At this step, the plan reviews different activities that could prevent or reduce the severity of
the problems described in Step 5. This is a systematic review of a wide range of activities to
ensure that all possible measures are explored, not just the traditional approaches of flood
control, acquisition, and regulation of land use. The review, including the pros and cons of
each activity, must be included in the plan document. Figure 510-4 lists some of the types
of activities that could be reviewed under each of the six credited categories.
NOTE: This review is separate from Step 8, the selection of projects and activities to
pursue. It includes activities that may not be selected and explains why some activities may
be appropriate for the community and its flooding conditions and why some may not be
appropriate.
The range of activities should be evaluated for each area affected. While some of them may
be quickly eliminated as inappropriate, most deserve careful consideration, especially to
ensure full understanding of their costs and benefits.

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St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
1. Protect the lives and health of the Parish’s residents from the dangers of natural hazards.
2. Ensure that public services and critical facilities operate during and after a disaster.
3. Ensure that adequate evacuation routes, streets, utilities and public and emergency
communications are maintained and available during and after a disaster.
4. Protect homes and businesses from damage.
5. Use new infrastructure and development planning to reduce the impact of natural hazards.
6. Give special attention to repetitively flooded areas.
_________________________________________

Gurnee, Illinois, Flood Mitigation Plan
1. Protect existing properties
a. Use the most effective approaches to protect buildings from flooding, including acquisition
or relocation where warranted.
b. Enact and enforce regulatory measures that ensure that new development will not increase
flood threats to existing properties.
c.

Use appropriate measures to mitigate against the danger and damage posed by other
natural hazards.

2. Protect health and safety
a. Advise everyone of the safety and health precautions to take against flooding and other
natural hazards.
b. Improve traffic circulation, during floods and at other times.
c.

Improve water quality and habitat.

d. Do something about the mosquitoes.
3. Improve the quality of life in Gurnee.
a. Preserve and improve the downtown core of businesses and services.
b. Ensure that current owners can maintain and improve their properties.
c.

Use acquisition programs to expand open space and recreational opportunities.

d. Maintain an attractive riverfront and other public open spaces.
4. Ensure that public funds are used in the most efficient manner.
a. Prioritize mitigation projects, starting with those sites facing the greatest threat to life,
health, and property.
b. Utilize public funding to protect public services and critical facilities.
c.

Utilize public funding for those projects on private property where the benefits exceed the costs.

d. Maximize the use of outside sources of funding.
e. Maximize owner participation in mitigation efforts to protect their own properties.
f.

Encourage property-owner self-protection measures.

Figure 510-3. Two examples of communities’ statements of their goals.

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1.

Preventive activities keep flood problems from getting worse. The use and development of
flood-prone areas is limited through planning, land acquisition, or regulation. They are usually
administered by building, zoning, planning, and/or code enforcement offices.





2.






Floodplain mapping and data
Open space preservation
Floodplain regulations
Coastal setback/erosion regulations

Property protection activities are usually undertaken by property owners on a building-bybuilding or parcel basis.
 Relocation
 Acquisition
 Building elevation

3.

 Retrofitting
 Sewer backup protection
 Insurance

Natural resource protection activities preserve or restore natural areas or the natural
functions of floodplain and watershed areas. They are implemented by a variety of agencies,
primarily parks, recreation, or conservation agencies or organizations.





4.






Wetlands protection
Erosion and sediment control
Natural area preservation
Natural area restoration

 Critical facilities protection
 Health and safety maintenance
 Post-disaster mitigation actions

Structural projects keep flood waters away from an area with a levee, reservoir, or other
flood control measure. They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained
by public works staff.
 Reservoirs
 Levees/floodwalls
 Diversions

6.

Water quality improvement
Coastal barrier protection
Environmental corridors
Natural functions protection

Emergency services measures are taken during an emergency to minimize its impact.
These measures are usually the responsibility of city or county emergency management staff
and the owners or operators of major or critical facilities.
 Hazard threat recognition
 Hazard warning
 Hazard response operations

5.

Planning and zoning
Stormwater management
Drainage system maintenance
Building codes

 Channel modifications
 Storm drain improvements

Public information activities advise property owners, potential property owners, and visitors
about the hazards, ways to protect people and property from the hazards, and the natural
and beneficial functions of local floodplains. They are usually implemented by a public
information office.
 Map information
 Outreach projects
 Real estate disclosure

 Library
 Technical assistance
 Environmental education

Figure 510-4. Categories of floodplain management activities.

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Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points based on which floodplain
management or hazard mitigation activities are reviewed in the plan. (Maximum credit: 35
points)
This step must describe those activities that were considered. There is no credit for simply
listing the various types of projects under each credited category. For each activity, there
must be a discussion of why the activity is or is not appropriate for the community and its
flood problems.
For an activity that is determined to be appropriate,
 The discussion must also include community’s capability to fund and implement the
activity.
 If an activity is currently being implemented, the plan must note if it is achieving
expectations and, if not, whether it should be modified.
 If the plan is an update of a previously credited plan, each activity recommended by
the previous plan must be discussed, along with the status of implementation.
The discussion of each activity needs to be detailed enough to be useful to the lay
reader.
Section (a) is required for any credit under this step.
(a) 5 points, if the plan reviews preventive activities, such as zoning, stormwater
management regulations, building codes, subdivision ordinances, and preservation of
open space, and the effectiveness of current regulatory and preventive standards and
programs. (REQUIRED ) For this credit, the review must include a discussion of the
community’s
o Comprehensive or land use plan,
o Building code,
o Zoning ordinance,
o Floodplain management regulations,
o Subdivision ordinance, and
o Stormwater management regulations.
The discussion must review
o How these tools can reduce future flood losses,
o The current standards in the community’s plans and regulations, and
o Whether the community should adopt or revise such plans and regulations in
light of the Step 5 problem assessment and the goals set in Step 6.

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(b) 5 points, if the plan reviews whether the community’s floodplain management
regulatory standards are sufficient for current and future conditions, as discussed under
Steps 4(c) and 5(f).
(c) 5 points, if the plan reviews property protection activities, such as acquisition,
retrofitting, and flood insurance;
(d) 5 points, if the plan reviews activities to protect the natural and beneficial functions of
the floodplain, such as wetlands protection;
(e) 5 points, if the plan reviews emergency services activities, such as warning and
sandbagging;
(f) 5 points, if the plan reviews structural projects, such as levees, reservoirs, and channel
modifications; and
(g) 5 points, if the plan reviews public information activities, such as outreach projects and
environmental education programs.

Step 8. Draft an action plan
After the review of alternatives during Step 7, an action plan is drafted (Step 8) that selects
and specifies those activities appropriate to the community’s resources, hazards, and
vulnerable properties. The community should strive for a balanced program, selecting
measures from more than one category of floodplain management activity. In every case,
the community should implement preventive activities both to keep its flood problems from
getting worse and also to protect new construction from the effects of natural hazards.
There is no requirement that a floodplain management plan identify expensive or massive
structural flood control projects. The plan must include activities that the community can be
assured will be implemented through its own resources. If outside funding support is needed
for some projects, the funding sources should be identified and researched to ensure that the
projects are eligible and the community has a chance of receiving the funds. Many of the
activities could receive CRS credit once they are implemented.
Note that 50% of the maximum credit for this planning step is a prerequisite for Class 4 or
better communities.
Credit Points
The credit points are based on the range of actions that are recommended in the plan,
subject to the criteria listed below. (Maximum credit: 60 points)
 For each recommendation, the action plan must identify
o Who is responsible for implementing the action,
o When it will be done, and
o How it will be funded.

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“When it will be done” can be specified in terms of a date, a set period of time after
another action is complete, after the next flood, etc. “How it will be funded” could
state that funding will be dependent on a grant, provided the project is eligible for
the grant program.
 The actions must be prioritized. When prioritizing mitigation actions, the planners
need to consider the benefits that would result from the mitigation actions and
projects versus the cost of those actions. Note that this is not a requirement for a costbenefit analysis for every action item. However, an economic evaluation is essential
for selecting one or more actions from among many competing ones.
 There must be an action item for each goal in Step 6. An example of this is in
Figure 510-5.
 Credit is provided for a recommendation on floodplain regulations, provided it
recommends adopting or continuing a regulatory standard that exceeds the minimum
requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Simply continuing to
meet the minimum criteria of the NFIP is not credited as an action item to improve
the community’s floodplain management program.
 If the plan calls for acquiring properties, there must be a discussion of how the
project(s) will be managed and how the land will be used after it is acquired.
 When a multi-jurisdictional plan is prepared, it must have action items from at least
two of the six categories that directly benefit each community seeking CRS credit.
 To qualify as a multi-hazard mitigation plan, the plan must include a “process by
which local governments incorporate the requirements of the mitigation plan into
other planning mechanisms such as comprehensive or capital improvement plans,
when appropriate” (44 CFR §201.6(c)(4)(ii)). The action items that relate to
preventive activities should clarify how this is done. For example, an action item
could recommend that the next time the zoning ordinance is revised, flood and
landslide hazard areas be considered when determining allowable uses.
(a) 45 points, depending on how many categories are covered by the action items:
(1) 10 points, if the action plan includes flood-related recommendations for activities
from two of the six categories credited in Step 7; OR
(2) 20 points, if the action plan includes flood-related recommendations for activities
from three of the six categories credited in Step 7; OR
(3) 30 points, if the action plan includes flood-related recommendations for activities
from four of the six categories credited in Step 7; OR
(4) 45 points, if the action plan includes flood-related recommendations for activities
from five of the six categories credited in Step 7.

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Figure 510-5. An excerpt from the City of Gretna, Louisiana’s
Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan.

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(b) 10 additional points are provided if the action plan establishes or revises post-disaster
redevelopment and mitigation policies and procedures. These policies and procedures
should account for the expected damage from a base flood or other disaster. For
example, the action plan should identify the areas likely to be worst hit and the policies
should determine whether they will be rebuilt if substantially damaged. Post-disaster
mitigation procedures should assign responsibilities for public information, code
enforcement, planning, and other efforts that encourage, mandate, and/or fund loss
reduction activities.
Note that Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) provides credit for public information
materials developed for use during and after a flood (Flood Response Preparations
(FRP)). Preparation of those materials should be done when the other post-disaster
policies and procedures are prepared.
(c) 5 additional points are provided if the plan includes action items (other than public
information activities) to mitigate the effects of the other natural hazards identified in
the hazard assessment (Step 4, item (b)).

Step 9. Adopt the plan
The points for this step are provided if the plan and later amendments are officially adopted
by the community’s governing body. The plan must be an official plan of the community,
not an internal staff proposal. “Adopted” means that there is a resolution or other formal
document that is voted on by the community’s governing body. A note in the minutes or
passage via a consent agenda is not credited.
When a multi-jurisdictional plan is prepared, it must be adopted by the governing body of
each community seeking CRS or multi-hazard mitigation plan credit.

Step 10. Implement, evaluate, and revise
To be useful, planning must be ongoing and plans must be dynamic. The plan should not sit
on a shelf gathering dust once it is completed. Therefore, the community must have an
evaluation and update process.
For CRS credit, plans must be implemented. No plan is perfect. As implementation
proceeds, flaws will be discovered and changes will be needed. Not only can hazard
conditions change but also goals and objectives may change. If a community is hit by a
tornado, for example, the short-term action items may be changed to focus attention on the
newly damaged areas in the SFHA.
Changes should be made in the action plan when opportunities arise to add new activities or
complete some items ahead of schedule. The plan should also be revised if it is found that
some activities cannot be completed on the original timetable. At a minimum, these types of
changes must be made at the required 5-year update.
The key to this step is the annual evaluation report on progress in implementing the plan.
Not only are annual evaluations required with the community’s annual recertification, but
also the process of conducting an annual evaluation gives the community a framework for
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monitoring the plan’s effectiveness and the community’s progress in implementing it.
Failure to submit the evaluation report with the community’s annual recertification will
result in loss of the planning credit (i.e., FMP = 0). This can cause a Category C repetitive
loss community to revert to a Class 10.
Credit Points
The credit for this step is the total of the following points, based on how the community
monitors and evaluates its plan. (Maximum credit: 26 points)
 The plan document must describe how, when, and by whom the plan will be
monitored, evaluated, and revised . It is recommended that these items be included in
the adoption resolution as well.
 An annual evaluation report on progress towards plan implementation must be
prepared at least once each year and submitted with the community’s annual CRS
recertification. The report must be submitted to the governing body, released to the
media, and made available to the public.
 If a community receives credit as a result of participation in a multi-jurisdictional
plan that includes action items for each community, the annual evaluation report must
cover those action items. This can be done either by a multi-jurisdictional planning
committee or through separate submittals by each community. However, a
community will not receive credit if it did not participate in the meeting at which the
annual report was prepared. Therefore, the submittal needs to show who participated
in the preparation of the report.
 The community must update the plan at least every five years. The update is due by
October 1, five years after the plan was adopted (see next section).
 Step 10(b) provides credit if the planning committee does the evaluation and revision.
If the committee does not continue to meet and report or if the committee
membership no longer meets the credit criteria in Step 2(a), the community will not
keep the committee credits under Steps 1(b) or 2(a).
(a) 2 points, if the community has procedures for monitoring implementation, reviewing
progress, and recommending revisions to the plan in an annual evaluation report. The
report must be submitted to the governing body, released to the media, and made
available to the public. ( REQUIRED )
(b) 24 points, if the annual evaluation report is prepared by the same planning committee
that prepared the plan that is credited in Step 2(a) or by a successor committee with a
similar membership that was created to replace the planning committee and charged
with monitoring and evaluating implementation of the plan. The points are based on
how frequently the committee meets, since more frequent meetings yield more progress
toward implementing the plan. The committee must continue to meet the representation,
quorum, and other criteria that determined the credit points under Step 2(a).
(1) 6 points, if the committee meets only once a year.
(2) 12 points, if the committee meets twice a year.
(3) 24 points, if the committee meets at least quarterly.
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Five-year Update
The community must submit a copy of its plan update at least every five years. The plan
update will be reviewed for CRS credit according to the Coordinator’s Manual currently in
effect, not the version used when the community originally requested this credit. The update
must include the following steps:
(a) Steps 1 and 2: If the original planning process included a committee, then in order
to keep the credit provided under Step 1(b) or Step 2(a), the update must be
conducted by a committee that meets the criteria identified in those steps.
(b) Step 2: If the original planning process received credit for a public meeting credited
under Step 2, item (c), then to keep this credit the community must also conduct a
public meeting that reviews and receives comments on the draft update.
(c) Step 3, item (a): The update must include a review of new studies, reports, and
technical information and of the community’s needs, goals, and plans for the area
that have been published since the plan was prepared.
(d) Steps 4 and 5: The hazard and problem assessments must be reviewed and brought
up to date. The assessments must account for
o New floodplain or hazard mapping,
o Annexation of flood-prone areas,
o Additional repetitive loss properties,
o Completed mitigation projects,
o Increased development in the floodplain or watershed,
o New flood control projects,
o Lack of maintenance of flood control projects,
o Major floods or other disasters that occurred since the plan was adopted, and
o Any other change in flooding conditions and/or development exposed to
flooding or the other hazards covered in the plan.
(e) Step 6: The original plan’s goals must be reviewed to determine if they are still
appropriate, given the revisions to Steps 4 and 5.
(f) Step 8: The action plan must be revised to account for projects that have been
completed, dropped, or changed and for changes in the hazard and problem
assessments, as appropriate.
(g) Step 9: The update must be adopted by the community’s governing body.
An annual evaluation report that includes these steps may qualify as the five-year update
(but may not qualify as an update for a multi-hazard mitigation plan).

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Impact Adjustment
rFMP is a ratio that reflects how much of the community’s flood hazard areas are covered
by the floodplain management plan. Note that to qualify for a hazard mitigation plan, all of
the community’s flood hazards must be covered.
rFMP = EITHER
1.0, if the plan covers all of the community’s known flood hazard
areas. “Known flood hazard areas” means the SFHA shown on
the FIRM, repetitive loss areas, areas not mapped on the FIRM
that have been flooded in the past, and surface flooding
identified in existing studies (see Step 4)
OR

0.25, if the planning covers either all of the community’s
repetitive loss areas or at least 25% of the community’s known
flood hazard areas.

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) With the submittal of the plan or the five-year update to the plan,
(a) A copy of the plan or updated plan to be credited. This can be a hard copy, digital
copy, or link to a website with the full document. Either the plan is marked, or a
separate document is provided, to show where each credited step and sub-step
appears. There is a checklist that can be used to do this, available at
www.CRSresources.org/500.
(b) [For Step 1(b) credit for a committee of staff from different departments] The plan
or a separate document must show which department representatives implement, or
have expertise in, which of the six categories of mitigation measures.
(c) [For Step 1(c) credit] A copy of the resolution or other official action taken by the
governing body to create or recognize the planning process as specified in Step 1.
For Step 2(a) credit for a planning committee, the resolution or action must identify
the committee’s membership.
(d) [For Step 2(a) credit for a planning committee] The names of the committee
members, their titles, and their represented organizations must be listed in the plan.
The community may submit separate materials, such as meeting minutes and sign-in
sheets, to document meeting attendance.
(e) For Step 2(b), (c), or (d) credit for public meetings] Copies of the publicity for the
public meetings. The notices of the meetings should be in the form of letters to
floodplain residents, a notice sent to all residents, or a newspaper article or
advertisement. An inconspicuous legal notice appearing in the classified section of
the newspaper is not sufficient for CRS credit. If very few residents are affected, as

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may be the case for a plan that addresses only a repetitive loss area, a written record
that the residents were called would be sufficient documentation.
(f) [For Step 3(a) credit for reviewing existing studies, reports, and technical
information] The plan must note where the information from the studies and reports
was used, e.g., with quotations or footnotes. The plan also needs to include a list of
all the documents reviewed. This is usually done in a reference section or at the end
of each chapter.
(g) [For Step 3(b) credit for coordination with other agencies and organizations]
A record of the contacts and meetings. Acceptable records include letters that cover
the items needed for coordination, copies of any responses that were received,
follow-up memos from the meetings, notes from telephone conversations, and emails. These items are usually not included as a part of the plan document.
(h) A copy of the resolution or other formal adoption action by the governing body as
specified in Step 9. The resolution should identify the implementation
responsibilities, describe the evaluation and revision procedures, and call for the
five-year update (or adopt by reference such language that may be in the plan
document).
(2) With each annual recertification,
(a) A copy of the annual evaluation report as specified in Step 10. The report must
review each action item, describe what was implemented (or not implemented), and
recommend changes to the action plan as appropriate. If not in the evaluation report
document, the recertification submittal must also include the minutes of the
committee meeting(s) (if getting credit for Step 10(b)) and a description of how the
report was submitted to the governing body, released to the media, and made
available to the public.
NOTE: Failure to submit the floodplain management plan’s evaluation report with the
annual recertification or the five-year update at the following cycle verification visit will
result in loss of the planning credit (i.e., FMP = 0). Loss of credit for this activity may
cause a repetitive loss Category C community to revert to a Class 10.

512.b. Repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA)
The maximum credit for this element is 140 points.
A repetitive loss area analysis is a detailed mitigation plan for a repetitive loss area. It
provides more specific guidance on how to reduce damage from repetitive flooding than a
community-wide floodplain management or hazard mitigation plan. Mapping repetitive loss
areas is discussed in Section 503.
As with a floodplain management plan, CRS credit is dependent upon the community’s
following an appropriate process. The five steps for an area analysis are less involved than
the 10-step floodplain management planning process, but the analysis must evaluate each
building in the repetitive loss area(s).

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A community may receive credit for both a floodplain management plan and repetitive loss
area analyses. Area analyses may be conducted during floodplain management planning or a
floodplain management plan may identify areas needing analyses, which are conducted after
the plan is adopted. For CRS credit, a separate analysis must be prepared for each repetitive
loss area and made available to residents of those areas.
Additional guidance and suggestions for conducting an area analysis can be found in
Chapter 7 of Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding, FEMA-511.
Credit Criteria
(1) Communities with one or more repetitive loss properties on FEMA’s list must have at
least one repetitive loss area delineated in accordance with the criteria in Section 503.
The area(s) must include at least one of the properties on FEMA’s repetitive loss list.
An exception to this criterion is made for communities that have no historic repetitive
flood claims, but are nevertheless working to reduce repetitive flooding. These
communities may prepare area analyses for areas that have been repetitively flooded.
The analyses must describe and map the repetitive flooding problem (including all past
flood insurance claims, if any) and meet all the following credit criteria. If there are
multiple areas, they must not be contiguous. Communities using this approach may
receive 20 credit points per area.
(2) An area analyses must have been prepared and adopted for each repetitive loss area in
the community. The analyses must meet the following criteria:
(a) The repetitive loss areas must be mapped as described in Section 503.b.
(b) If the community does not conduct an analysis of all the areas, it will be reflected
through the impact adjustment. A Category C community must prepare analyses for
all of its repetitive loss areas if it wants to use RLAA to meet its repetitive loss
planning prerequisite (see Section 502).
(c) A five-step process must be followed. Although all five steps must be completed,
steps 2–4 do not have to be done in the order listed. For example, the planners may
want to contact agencies and organizations to see if they have useful data (Step 2)
after the site visit is conducted (Step 3).
Step 1. Advise all the properties in the repetitive loss areas that the analysis will be
conducted and request their input on the hazard and recommended actions. The
notice (or any public document) cannot identify which properties are on FEMA’s
repetitive loss list (see the box on flood insurance data and the Privacy Act). There
are no restrictions on publicizing what properties are in repetitive loss AREAS that
have more than one property and there are not restrictions on publishing aggregate
data, such as how many properties received claims or the average value of those
claims. Community planning staff may share insurance claims information with the
owner of the property, but may not make it available to anyone else.
o The notice can be sent to owners OR residents at the community’s discretion,
as long as a representative of each property is notified.

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The Privacy Act
Flood insurance data on private property, including repetitive loss properties, are subject to the
Privacy Act. Information such as the names of people and addresses of properties that have received
flood insurance claims and the amounts of such claims MAY NOT be released to the public or used for
solicitation or other purposes. Such information should be marked “For internal use only. Protected by
the Privacy Act of 1974.”
Generic information, such as total claim payments for an area or data not connected to a particular
property MAY be made public.

o The notice cannot be done via a newspaper or newsletter notice or article.
o The notice must advise the recipients when and how copies of the draft report
can be obtained and ask for their comments on the draft.
Step 2. Contact agencies or organizations that may have plans or studies that could
affect the cause or impacts of the flooding. The agencies or organizations must be
identified in the analysis report.
Step 3. Visit each building in the repetitive loss area and collect basic data.
o The site visit must collect data sufficient to do a preliminary determination of
the cause of the repetitive flooding and of the mitigation measures that would
be appropriate. This usually includes a review of drainage patterns around the
building, the condition of the structure, and the condition and type of
foundation.
o The person conducting the visit should not have to enter the property—
adequate information should be collected from observations from the street.
o Floor elevations or historical flood levels are not required, but can be very
helpful where available.
o The date for each building’s insurance claim can help identify the cause of
flooding (e.g., rainfall or overbank flooding) and the amount of the claim can
help determine the amount of damage. Note that, every year, each repetitive
loss community is provided with a list of its historic insurance claims. This
includes single-claim properties. Non-repetitive-loss communities that elect to
do an RLAA may request these data from their ISO/CRS Specialist.
o More information on appropriate data can be found in Selecting Appropriate
Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures, FEMA-551.
o This step may be done using the “limited data view” of the National Flood
Mitigation Data Collection Tool (Figure 510-6).

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The National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool has been developed by FEMA to gather
information related to risk, building construction, and costs in order to help make decisions about
what mitigation measures are appropriate for a flood-prone property. The tool is in Microsoft Access
format and is free to any public agency. See www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/data_tool.shtm.
The tool may be populated with insurance claim data for the properties. The local planners need
to remember that such information is subject to the Privacy Act, which prohibits public release of the
names of policy holders or recipients of financial assistance and the amount of the claim payment or
assistance. However, maps showing areas where claims have been paid can be made public. The
data can be used for internal planning and can be helpful in identifying problem areas.
The tool has two levels of data collection. Limited data usually can be collected through a
windshield-type survey, while completing the entire detailed data section may require elevation
surveying and structural inspections inside the buildings. The detailed data are collected when the
limited effort concludes that mitigation is possible and the additional data are needed to determine
the most appropriate mitigation measure and its benefits and costs.

Figure 510-6. The National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool.

Step 4. Review alternative approaches and determine whether any property
protection measures or drainage improvements are feasible. The review must look at
all of the property protection measures listed in Figures 360-1 and 510-4 that are
appropriate for the types of buildings affected. A review that looks only at drainage
or structural flood control project alternatives is not sufficient.
Step 5. Document the findings. A separate analysis must be conducted for each
area. In general, separate reports are preferred for each area, but in cases in which
several areas have similar building and flooding characteristics and similar
mitigation measures are appropriate, the analyses can be assembled into a single
report. Each report must include
o A summary of the process that was followed, including how the property
owners were involved;
o The problem statement with a map of the area affected. The statement and map
may show individual properties or parcels, but cannot show which ones are on
FEMA’s repetitive loss list;
o A list or table showing basic information for each building, such as address,
foundation type, condition, and appropriate mitigation measures. This list
cannot include insurance data, such as how many claims have been paid for
that property. If the property owners responded to a survey, the survey
responses may be included (unless the community promised confidentiality);
o The alternative approaches that were reviewed; and

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o Action items that include
• Who is responsible for implementing the action,
• When it will be done, and
• How it will be funded.
“When it will be done” can be expressed in terms of a date, a set period of
time after another action is complete, after the next flood, etc. “How it will be
funded” could state that funding will be dependent upon receiving a grant,
provided that one or more suitable grant programs are specified to which
application(s) for funding will be made.
(3) The repetitive loss area analysis report(s) must be submitted to the community’s
governing body and made available to the media and the public. If private or sensitive
information is included in the report, then a summary report may be prepared for the
media and the public. The complete repetitive loss area analysis report(s) must be
adopted by the community’s governing body or by an office that has been delegated
approval authority by the community’s governing body.
(4) The community must prepare an annual evaluation report for its area analyses.
 The report must review each action item, describe what was implemented (or not
implemented), and recommend changes to the action items as appropriate.
 One annual report can cover some or all of the area analyses that were prepared.
 The report must be made available to the media and the public (including the
property owners and residents of the repetitive loss areas).
 The report is submitted with the community’s annual recertification.
(5) The community must update its repetitive loss area analyses in time for each CRS cycle
verification visit.
 The update must review the flooding and
building conditions as well as any changes to
FEMA’s repetitive loss list, to determine
whether the number of buildings on the list or
other circumstances have changed, and revise
the mapping and action items accordingly.
 The update can be a new report or an
addendum to the existing report.

If, during the area analysis or
annual reviews, the community finds
that the flood risk to one or more
repetitive loss properties has been
mitigated, FEMA must be notified by
submitting an AW-501, as described
in Section 501.

 An annual evaluation report that reviews and
updates the 5-step process may qualify as the area analysis update.
 The update can qualify as the annual evaluation report for the year it was prepared.
 The update must be made available to the media and the public (including the
property owners and residents of the repetitive loss areas).

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 If the repetitive flooding problem has been mitigated, the appropriate documentation
must be submitted in order to remove the properties from FEMA’s repetitive loss list
(see Section 501).
 Any changes to an adopted area analysis must be approved following the same
process as approval of the original analysis.
Credit Points
RLAA = 140

The maximum credit for this element is 140 points. A community can obtain the maximum
only if it prepares and adopts repetitive loss area analyses for all its repetitive loss areas.
This is factored in through the impact adjustment.
Impact Adjustment
rRLAA is the ratio of the number of buildings covered by credited area analyses to the total
number of buildings in the community’s repetitive loss areas. See Sections 301–303 on
calculating an impact adjustment.
rRLAA =

bAA
bRLA

, where

bAA = the number of buildings addressed in
credited area analyses, and
bRLA = the number of buildings in the community’s
repetitive loss areas

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of each repetitive loss area analysis report or update of an earlier report that
the community wants credited (see Step 5).
(b) Documentation showing how the owners or residents of the areas were notified (see
Step 1).
(c) Documentation showing how the analysis was made available to the media and the
public.
(d) A copy of the resolution or other formal action by the governing body that adopts the
area analysis or accepts changes in subsequent updates.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) A copy of the annual evaluation report (Section 512.b, credit criterion (4)). If not in
the evaluation report, the recertification submittal must also document how the
evaluation report and update were made available to the media and the public.

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NOTE: Failure to submit the area analysis’ evaluation report with the annual
recertification or the update at the next cycle verification visit will result in loss of the
credit (i.e., RLAA = 0). Loss of credit for this activity may cause a repetitive loss
Category C community to revert to a Class 10.

512.c. Natural floodplain functions plan (NFP)
The maximum credit for this element is 100 points.
NFP credit is provided for adopting plans that protect one or more natural functions within
the community’s floodplain. Examples include
 A habitat conservation plan that explains and recommends actions to protect rare,
threatened, or endangered aquatic or riparian species.
 A habitat protection or restoration plan that identifies critical habitat within the
floodplain, actions to protect remaining habitat, and/or actions to restore fully
functioning habitat. Frequently this will result in the preservation and/or restoration
of riparian habitat that is necessary for water-dependent species.
 A “green infrastructure plan” that identifies open space corridors or connected
networks of wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, wilderness, and other areas that
support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, and/or sustain air and
water resources (for credit, the corridors or networks must include some floodplains).
 A plan or section of a comprehensive or other community plan that includes an
inventory of the ecological attributes of the watershed and/or the floodplain and
recommends appropriate actions for protecting them, provided that the
recommendations are implemented through a mechanism such as a development
regulation, development order, grant program, or capital improvement plan.

NOTE: Element NFOS2, (section 2 of the natural floodplain functions open space credit
under Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation)), provides bonus credit for open space
parcels that are designated in a plan to protect natural functions. A plan that receives NFP
credit qualifies parcels for this extra open space credit.
Credit Criteria
(1) For all plans:
(a) The plan may cover more than one community, but it must have an impact on natural
floodplain functions within the community seeking credit.
(b) The plan must be adopted. If the plan is not a community plan adopted by the
community’s governing body, it must be adopted by the appropriate regional agency.
(c) The plan must be updated at least once every 10 years. The update must include a
review of any changes to conditions as well as progress made since the original plan
was prepared. Any changes to the adopted plan must be approved by the original
adopting agency.

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(d) The plan must include action items for protecting one or more identified species of
interest and natural floodplain functions. The action items must describe who is
responsible for implementing the action, how it will be funded, and when it will be
done. General policy statements with no means of implementation are not considered
action items.
(e) There is no credit for a plan that addresses water quality issues prepared pursuant to
a requirement for an NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System)
permit. Plans to improve drainage, stormwater storage, or channel bank erosion may
be credited under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) or Activity 540 (Drainage
System Maintenance).
(2) For NFP1: A plan for NFP1 credit must include a comprehensive inventory of the
natural floodplain habitat within the community. It must identify areas that warrant
protection or preservation in order to maintain fully functioning habitat for the species
of interest. Where threatened or endangered species are present, each species must be
addressed and a restoration plan must be included.
(3) For NFP2: This sub-element credits other plans that meet the credit criteria listed in (1).
These could be single-issue or single-species plans or plans that cover only one area of
the community’s floodplain.
Credit Points
NFP = the total of the following
NFP1 = 80 points, for a plan, or combination of plans, that
meets credit criteria (1) and (2) and covers the entire SFHA
within a community
NFP2 = 15 points, for each plan that meets credit criterion (1)

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for this element. The NFP1 plan must cover the entire
community or all of the community’s floodplains. Each NFP2 plan receives the appropriate
credit regardless of the extent of the area covered.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of each natural floodplain functions plan or update to a plan that the
community wants credited.
(b) A copy of the resolution or other formal adoption action.

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513 Credit Calculation
c510 = (FMP x rFMP) + (RLAA x rRLAA) + NFP, where
FMP = the total of the credit points for the 10 steps in
Section 512.a

514 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/500.
b. See Appendix C to order a free copy of CRS Credit for Floodplain Management Planning. It is
also on the CRS website, at www.CRSresources.org/500.
c. Hazus-MH is a risk assessment software program that is described in Figure 510-2. Copies are
available free from FEMA. Users need to be familiar with operating GIS software. Training is
also available. More information is available at www.fema.gov/hazus/.
d. Contact state or regional planning, water resources, natural resources, environmental
protection, state hazard mitigation, or NFIP coordinating agencies for information on state and
federal agencies that can help prepare a floodplain management plan.
e. The following publications discuss the floodplain management planning process and the
variety of measures that should be examined. They can be found on the websites noted.
FEMA has a series of “how-to guides” on planning, to help communities meet the multihazard mitigation planning criteria. They can be found at http://www.fema.gov/hazardmitigation-planning-resources#1.
Getting Started: Building Support for Mitigation Planning (FEMA-386-1) covers planning
Phase I and CRS planning Steps 1–3.
Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses (FEMA-386-2)
covers planning Phase II and CRS planning Steps 4–5.
Developing the Mitigation Plan: Identifying Mitigation Actions and Implementation
Strategies (FEMA-386-3) covers planning Phase III and CRS planning Steps 6–8.
Bringing the Plan to Life: Implementing the Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA-386-4)
covers planning Phase IV and CRS planning Steps 9–10.
Integrating Manmade Hazards into Mitigation Planning, FEMA-386-7.
Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding: A Guide for Communities, FEMA-511
(2005). Also available at www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1448.
Planning for Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction, American Planning Association
(APA) Planning Advisory Service, 346 pages, APA Report # 483/484, FEMA-421 (1998).
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1558.

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Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability,
43 pages, FEMA-364, 2000. Also available for downloading at
www.fema.gov/plan/mitplanning/linkmitliv.
Reducing Losses in High Risk Flood Hazard Areas—A Guidebook for Local Officials,
FEMA-116, 1987. Also available for downloading at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1508.
“Mitigation Benefit Cost (BCA) Toolkit Compact Disc.” This CD includes all the FEMA
BCA software, technical manuals, BCA training course documentation, and other
supporting material and BCA guidance. Copies can be obtained by calling FEMA’s tollfree BC Hotline at 1-866-222-3580.
f. Hazard Mitigation: Integrating Best Practices into Planning, James C. Schwab (ed.) (2010) is
published by the American Planning Association as Planning Advisory Service No. 560.
Available for $60 from www.planning.org/apastore/.
g. The Corps of Engineers can also provide technical information and advice to communities
interested in preparing a comprehensive floodplain management plan. Requests for assistance
should be submitted to the Flood Plain Management Services Coordinator at the appropriate
District Office of the Corps. Corps offices can be found at
www.usace.army.mil/ContactUs.html.
h. The following publications can help with a repetitive loss area analysis.
Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures, FEMA-551.
Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding: A Guide for Communities, FEMA-511
(2005).
Flood Proofing: How to Evaluate Your Options, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1994).
Also available for downloading at www.nwo.usace.army.mil/nfpc/.

515 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 A floodplain management plan should be a blueprint for ALL of a community’s public
information and floodplain management activities. Planning Step 7 should review all
ongoing and possible activities and Step 8 should identify which should continue,
which should change, and what new ones should be initiated.
 The CRS Community Self Assessment in Section 240 can help with the hazard and
problem analyses in FMP Steps 4 and 5.
 Activities 330 (Outreach Projects) and 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion) provide
credit for having a committee that meets criteria very similar to those of the
committee in FMP Step 2. The same committee can fulfill all activities’ credit
criteria.
 The credit for natural floodplain functions open space (NFOS) under Activity 420
(Open Space Preservation) can be increased if the open space parcels are identified in
a natural floodplain functions plan (NFP).

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 A repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA) can identify projects and priorities for
mitigation activities that can receive bonus credit under Activities 520 (Acquisition
and Relocation) and 530 (Flood Protection).
 A multi-hazard mitigation plan that meets FEMA planning criteria is a prerequisite
for FEMA funding for projects that can be credited under Activities 520 (Acquisition
and Relocation) and 530 (Flood Protection).

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520  ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION—Summary 
Maximum credit:  2,250 points 

522  Elements 
A community can obtain credit under one or a combination of elements. The 
elements reflect the different scoring that is applied to different types of 
buildings. A given building can only be credited under one element. 
a.  Buildings acquired or relocated (bAR) from the regulatory floodplain.  
b.   Buildings on the repetitive loss list (bRL) that have been acquired or 
relocated.  
c.  Severe Repetitive Loss properties (bSRL) that have been acquired or 
relocated.  
d.  Critical facilities (bCF) that have been acquired or relocated.  
e.  Buildings located in the V Zone or coastal A Zone (bVZ) that have been 
acquired or relocated.  

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 521.b. Each element has 
additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for this activity.  

Documentation Provided by the Community 
The documentation needed for this activity is described in Section 524. 

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520 ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to encourage communities to acquire, relocate, or
otherwise clear existing buildings out of the flood hazard area.

521 Background
Acquisition and relocation projects remove people and property from harm’s way and
reduce the community’s costs for disaster response, recovery, and repair. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes that the acquisition of buildings in the
floodplain is especially effective at reducing flood losses because it is a permanent form of
mitigation. Other government agencies also have found acquisition projects to be more cost
effective than major flood control projects.
Acquisition and relocation (or demolition) of buildings also creates additional open space in
the floodplain and allows those lands to return to their natural functions. Acquisition is the
most effective mitigation alternative for addressing repetitive loss properties (see
Sections 501–503).

521.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 520 is 2,250 points. A community can obtain credit with
one or a combination of the five elements, provided that the total credit does not exceed
1,900 points. Up to 350 additional points are provided in Section 523.b if more than 30% of
the buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) have been acquired or relocated.
The credit points for each element are not listed because any element alone could be worth
up to 1,900 points, depending on the circumstances in the community.
This activity credits the acquisition of a property and either the demolition of the building,
or the relocation of the building outside the regulatory floodplain. Credit is provided as
long as an insurable building is removed from the regulatory floodplain and the community
can document that the property (or that portion of the property that lies within the
regulatory floodplain) will remain vacant. The credit points are based on the number of
buildings cleared in proportion to the total number of buildings in the community’s SFHA.
Different types of buildings are credited differently under the five elements:
 Buildings acquired or relocated away from the regulatory floodplain (bAR),
 Buildings on the repetitive loss list that have been acquired or relocated (bRL),
 Severe Repetitive Loss properties that have been acquired or relocated (bSRL),
 Critical facilities that have been acquired or relocated (bCF), and
 Buildings located in the V Zone or coastal A Zone that have been acquired or
relocated (bVZ).
No Community Rating System (CRS) credit is provided for acquisition or relocation
projects undertaken before the community joined the Regular Phase of the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP). No credit is provided for removing a building if another

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building has since been built on the same site, even if the new building was built to flood
protection standards (although such a project may qualify for credit under Activity 530
(Flood Protection).

521.b. Activity Credit Criteria
To be counted toward any of the elements in this activity, an acquired or relocated building
must meet all of the following requirements.
(1) It must have been an insurable building. A description of the kinds of buildings that can
be counted toward this activity appears in Section 301 and 302. Note that when
buildings are counted toward this and other CRS activities, only the primary structure on
a lot is counted. There is no credit for removing accessory structures, such as detached
garages and storage sheds.
(2) It must have been acquired or relocated after the date of the community’s initial FIRM.
(3) The building site will remain preserved as open
space. This is documented in the same way as
crediting a property for open space preservation
(OSP) in Activity 420. There is, in effect, the
potential for duplicate credit for purchasing a
property and maintaining it as public open
space under Activities 520 and 420. There may
also be additional credit if the property is
preserved as open space under a deed restriction
(DR) or restored to its natural condition
(NFOS).

Environmental Protection and
Historic Preservation
Because it is a FEMA program, the
CRS must ensure that activities for which
it provides credit are compliant with
applicable federal environmental and
historic preservation laws and executive
orders. Section 507 expands on this
requirement and presents a summary of
FEMA’s policy. Figure 500-5 lists the
federal programs that should be
considered during project development.

These extra credits are encouraged because of
the benefits of maintaining the floodplain as
open space. However, this criterion does not
mandate that the community apply for Activity
420 credit, only that it provide the same
documentation that is needed for OSP under
Activity 420. The documentation is also needed for areas outside the regulatory
floodplain where there is no Activity 420 credit, such as for repetitive loss properties
(bRL).

(4) If the building was relocated, there is no credit if it was moved to a site in the regulatory
floodplain or a mapped repetitive loss area.
(5) A building is counted toward only one of the five elements.
(6) If a building was acquired or cleared with funding support from FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, then the credit is 25% of the points listed for the
element. This is explained in Section 506.

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(7) Acquisition or relocation projects must have been compliant with applicable federal
environmental and historic preservation laws and executive orders (see Section 507).
The Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation
Requirements for Acquisition and Relocation Projects, CC-520EHP, must be completed
for projects that are permitted or initiated after the effective date of the 2013 CRS
Coordinator’s Manual. The certification form can be found in Appendix F, on
www.CRSresources.org, or requested from the ISO/CRS Specialist. Credit is not
provided if the project was not in compliance with applicable federal laws and executive
orders.
(8) There is no credit for a project initiated to meet the minimum criteria of the NFIP.
Credit can be provided for buildings that were substantially damaged. Removing them
from the floodplain is above and beyond the NFIP requirement that such buildings be
brought up to post-FIRM conditions.

522 Elements
522.a. Buildings acquired or relocated (bAR)
The credit for this element is based on the number of buildings in the regulatory floodplain
that have been acquired or relocated.

NOTE: The “regulatory floodplain” is defined in Section 120, Glossary. It includes the
SFHA and areas outside the SFHA that are subject to the community’s floodplain
management regulations. bAR credit is for clearing buildings out of the regulatory
floodplain. The extra bonus points in Section 523.a are based on the number of buildings
cleared out of the SFHA.
bAR = the number of buildings acquired, relocated, or otherwise
cleared from the regulatory floodplain since the effective date of
the FIRM

Credit Criteria
(1) For bAR credit, buildings must have been acquired or relocated since the effective date
of the FIRM.
(2) The building must have been located in the regulatory floodplain as shown on the
impact adjustment map prepared in accordance with Section 403.
If the community did not prepare an impact adjustment map, credit is provided for
buildings that were in the SFHA as shown on the community’s current FIRM or a
published preliminary FIRM, whichever shows the larger floodplain. If areas outside the
SFHA are included in the community’s regulatory program and credit is requested for
buildings acquired or relocated in these areas, the community must demonstrate that
these buildings were in areas currently regulated to at least the minimum standards of
the NFIP.

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(3) A building that lies outside the regulatory floodplain because of remapping, completion
of a flood control structure, or other activity is not eligible for this credit. Such a
building has already benefited twice: first, it is not subject to the mandatory NFIP
insurance purchase requirement; and second, if the owner chooses to purchase NFIP
insurance, the premium will be based on the lower X-Zone rate.

522.b. Buildings on the repetitive loss list (bRL)
bRL = the number of buildings that are listed on FEMA’s repetitive
loss list that have been acquired, relocated, or otherwise
removed from the flood problem site they occupied

bRL credits those repetitive loss properties that have been acquired, relocated, or otherwise
removed from the site where they suffered flooding. A repetitive loss building receives
twice the credit of a non-repetitive loss property. Section 501 explains the FEMA repetitive
loss list. Communities with one or more properties on the repetitive loss list must review
and update the list at each verification visit.
Credit Criteria
(1) Credited buildings must be on FEMA’s updated repetitive loss list for the community
(see Section 501). Properties in mapped repetitive loss areas that are not on the list do
not qualify for bRL (but may qualify for bAR if they are in the regulatory floodplain).
(2) The FEMA repetitive loss data base must be updated to reflect the mitigation project, as
explained in Section 501.
(3) Buildings counted toward one of the other elements in Activity 520 are not counted
toward bRL. For example, if the community acquired and cleared 32 buildings from the
SFHA and 5 of them were repetitive loss properties, bAR = 27 points and bRL =
5 points.
(4) To be credited toward bRL, the building may be located anywhere in the community,
including outside the regulatory floodplain.
(5) A community with no properties on the FEMA repetitive loss list is not eligible for this
credit.

522.c. Severe Repetitive Loss properties (bSRL)
bSRL = the number of Severe Repetitive Loss properties that have
been acquired, relocated, or otherwise removed from the flood
problem site they occupied

bSRL credits those Severe Repetitive Loss properties that have been acquired, relocated, or
otherwise removed from the site where they suffered flooding. A Severe Repetitive Loss
building receives three times the credit of a non-repetitive loss property.

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Severe Repetitive Loss properties are a subset of the community’s repetitive loss properties.
They are explained in Figure 500-1 in Section 501 and have a special identifier in the
community’s repetitive loss list. Because they have been particularly hard hit by repetitive
flooding, they receive more credit under this element if they are acquired or relocated.
Credit Criteria
(1) Credited buildings must be designated as Severe Repetitive Loss properties on FEMA’s
updated repetitive loss list for the community (see Section 501).
(2) The FEMA repetitive loss data base must be updated to reflect the mitigation project, as
explained in Section 501.
(3) Buildings counted toward one of the other elements are not counted toward bSRL. For
example, if the community acquired and cleared 32 buildings from the SFHA and 3 of
them were repetitive loss properties and 2 of them were Severe Repetitive Loss
properties, bAR = 27 points, bRL = 3 points, and bSRL = 2 points.
(4) To be credited toward bSRL, the building may be located anywhere in the community,
including outside the regulatory floodplain.
(5) A community with no Severe Repetitive Loss properties on the FEMA repetitive loss list
is not eligible for this credit.

Example 522.a-1.
A check of building permit records since the community’s initial FIRM
date has shown that 36 buildings were acquired or relocated out of the
SFHA. Three properties were acquired with funding support from
FEMA’s former Section 1362 buyout program and three with funds
from the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. Eighteen homes in the
regulatory floodplain were bought and cleared as part of a community
flood mitigation project. Eight buildings were demolished to make way
for a ballfield expansion. Three people have moved their homes to
higher ground on their lots outside the regulatory floodplain and above
the base flood elevation, and the community purchased easements to
keep the flood-prone portions of the lots open. One elementary school
was relocated outside the 500-year floodplain and the land was sold to
the local park district.
Of the 35 homes, 15 are on the repetitive loss list. Three of the 15
were Severe Repetitive Loss properties. The community used a copy
of the tax assessor’s map to show the location of each of the 35
properties.
bAR = 20
bRL = 12
bSRL = 3
bCF = 1 (because the school is a critical facility)

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The community supplied the necessary documentation to show that all
36 acquired properties qualify for OSP credit under Activity 420 (Open
Space Preservation).

522.d. Critical facilities (bCF)
The credit for this element is based on the number of critical facilities acquired or
relocated.
bCF = number of critical facilities that have been acquired,
relocated, or otherwise cleared from the regulatory floodplain
since the effective date of the FIRM

A critical facility building receives twice the credit of a bAR building.
Credit Criteria
(1) For bCF credit, critical facilities must have been acquired or relocated, since the
effective date of the FIRM. “Critical facilities” are defined in Section 120, Glossary.
(2) The critical facility must have been located in either the regulatory floodplain or the
500-year floodplain mapped on the current FIRM or on a published preliminary FIRM,
whichever shows the larger 500-year floodplain. Critical facility buildings must have
been relocated outside the 500-year floodplain.

522.e. Buildings located in the V Zone or coastal A Zone (bVZ).
The credit for this element is based on the number of buildings from the V Zone or coastal
A Zones that have been acquired or relocated.
bVZ = number of buildings that have been acquired, relocated, or
otherwise cleared from the V Zone, regulated coastal A Zones,
or regulated land included within the Limit of Moderate Wave
Action (LiMWA) since the effective date of the FIRM

These buildings receive 50% more credit than a building in an A Zone (bAR).
Credit Criteria
(1) For bVZ credit, buildings must have been acquired, relocated, or otherwise cleared from
the V Zone as shown on the current FIRM or on a published preliminary FIRM if
adopted by the community. bVZ can also include buildings cleared from the area
designated as a coastal A Zone or LiMWA, provided the community is receiving credit
for regulating that area under CAZ in Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards).

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(2) Acquired, relocated, or otherwise cleared buildings located in the V Zone or coastal A
Zone are counted under bVZ, not under bAR.

523 Credit Calculation
There are two options for calculating the total value for this activity. The first, Option 1, is
easier to use, but its total is limited to 190 points. Option 2 allows for higher credit, but it
favors communities that have cleared more than a small percentage of the buildings in their
SFHA. Option 1 produces more credit for large communities or for a community that has
cleared a small number of properties.
A community may use whichever option provides the most credit. The maximum credit for
c520 using Option 1 is 190 and using Option 2 is 2,250 (including the bonus credit).

523.a. Option 1
c520 = (bAR x 3) + (bRL x 6) + (bSRL x 9) + (bCF x 6) + (bVZ x 4.5)

The maximum credit under Option 1 is 190 points.

Example 523.a-1.
Using the buildings in Example 522.a-1:
bAR = 20
bRL = 12
bSRL = 3
bCF = 1
bVZ = 0
The community has 2,000 buildings in the SFHA, so it uses Option 1.
c520 = (bAR x 3) + (bRL x 6) + (bSRL x 9) + (bCF x 6) + (bVZ x 4.5)
= (20 x 3) + (12 x 6) + (3 x 9) + (1 x 6) + (0 x 4.5)
= 60 + 72 + 27 + 6 + 0 = 165

523.b. Option 2
The maximum credit under Option 2 is 2,250 points.
The credit calculation under Option 2 is based on the credit for all the buildings that
have been acquired or relocated expressed as a percentage of all the buildings in the

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SFHA (bSF). If the SFHA is cleared out, c520 = the maximum of 2,250 points. This
is done in two steps:
 Step 1 calculates the credit based on 1,900 points. Step 1 cannot exceed 1,900.
 Step 2 adds bonus points based on how much of the SFHA has been cleared out.
Step 2 only applies if more than 30% of the buildings in the SFHA have been
removed.
c520 = the credit for Step 1 + the credit for Step 2

(1) Option 2, Step 1.
Step 1 =
1,900 x (bAR + (bRL x 2) + (bSRL x 3) + (bCF x 2) + (bVZ x 1.5))
bSF + bAR + bRL+ bSRL+ bCF+ bVZ
where bSF = the number of buildings in the SFHA

(a) The value for bSF is the number of buildings CURRENTLY in the SFHA. bSF does not
include buildings that have been removed from the SFHA (e.g., buildings that are
counted in bAR, bRL, etc.). bSF does include buildings that have been constructed in
or annexed into the SFHA since the projects were completed. Note that communities
are required to calculate and keep track of bSF as part of their annual recertification
(see Section 213.a).
There is a separate formula for calculating bSF in communities with a large number of
post-FIRM buildings. It can be found in Section 302.b.
(b) The denominator includes bSF PLUS all buildings that have been acquired or
relocated (bAR, bRL, etc.). As more buildings are removed, the credit increases
because numbers are added to bAR, bRL, etc. This means that the ratio gets larger,
and so does the credit for 520.
However, communities should note that if development is allowed in the SFHA,
even if it is in compliance with the NFIP requirements, credit for this activity may
decrease over time as bSF in the denominator increases.
(c) It should be noted that bAR buildings are in the regulatory floodplain while bSF
buildings are only in the SFHA as shown on the FIRM. If a community maps and
regulates non-SFHA flood problem areas, it can also count buildings acquired or
relocated from those areas towards bAR. This will result in a higher credit.

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Example 523.b-1.
This example uses the same numbers as the Option 1 example. The
difference is that the total number of buildings currently in the SFHA is
smaller, bSF = 400.
bAR = 20
bRL = 12
bSRL = 3
bCF = 1
bVZ = 0
c520 (Step 1) = 1,900 x 20 + (12 x 2) + (3 x 3) + (1 x 2) + (0 x 1.5)
400 + 20 + 12 + 3 + 1 + 0
= 1,900 x 20 + 24 + 9 + 2 + 0
436
= 1,900 x

55 = 1,900 x 0.13 = 247
436

Example 523.b-2.
After a severe hurricane, a coastal community cleared 160 damaged
buildings from its regulatory floodplain. There are 75 buildings left in
the SFHA.
bAR = 110; 10 of these were outside the SFHA, but within the
regulatory floodplain
bRL = 15; all of these were in the SFHA
bSRL = 0
bCF = 0
bVZ = 35
bSF = 75
c520 (Step 1) = 1,900 x 110 + (15 x 2) + (0 x 3) + (0 x 2) + (35 x 1.5)
75 + 110 + 15 + 0 + 0 + 35
= 1,900 x 110 + 30 + 0 + 0 + 52.5
235
= 1,900 x 192.5 = 1,900 x 0.82 = 1,556.38
235

(2) Option 2, Step 2 applies if the community has acquired or relocated more than 30% of
the buildings in its current SFHA. Some of the buildings counted toward bAR, bRL,

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bSRL, bCF, and bVZ may not have been in the SFHA. For example, some could be in
the regulatory floodplain outside the SFHA, and repetitive loss buildings could be in the
X Zone. Step 2 only considers buildings in the SFHA, so the community needs to count
the number of buildings acquired or relocated out of the SFHA (bARSF). Each building
is counted once. There is no extra credit for repetitive loss properties, critical facilities,
or buildings in the V Zone.
Step 2 = ((bARSF x 100) – 30) x 5, where
bSF + bARSF
bARSF = the number of buildings acquired or relocated
out of the SFHA

Example 523.b-3.
Of 436 buildings in the SFHA, the community in Example 523.b-1
cleared 36 buildings. Since it cleared only 8% of its SFHA buildings,
Step 2 = 0.
c520 = the credit for Step 1 + the credit for Step 2 = 247 + 0 = 247

Example 523.b-4.
The coastal community that cleared 160 buildings counted those that
had been in the SFHA:
100 of the 110 buildings that were counted toward bAR
All 15 of the buildings that were counted toward bRL
All 35 of the buildings in the V Zone
Therefore, 150 buildings were removed from the SFHA.
bARSF = 150
bSF = 75
Step 2 = ((bARSF x 100) – 30) x 5 = ((150 x 100) – 30) x 5
bSF + bARSF
75 + 150
= (15,000 – 30) x 5 = (66.67 – 30) x 5 = 36.67 x 5 = 183.35
225
c520 = the credit for Step 1 + the credit for Step 2
= 1,556.38 + 183.35 = 1,739.73 = 1,740

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524 Documentation Provided by the Community
a. At each verification visit,
(1) A map showing the location of parcels where buildings have been demolished or
relocated since the effective date of the FIRM and the total number of such buildings
(bAR, bRL, bSRL, bCF and bVZ).
The map must show the community’s regulatory floodplain boundaries, which
include the SFHA, any LiMWA regulated areas, and any additional floodplain
subject to the community’s regulations. The SFHA is as shown on the current FIRM
or on a published preliminary FIRM, whichever shows the larger floodplain.
This map may be the same one used for documentation of open space credit under
Section 424.d under Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation). It need only show the
part of the community from which buildings have been cleared. It should show lot
boundaries. The map will also be used by the ISO/CRS Specialist to check the sites
during the verification visit.
(2) Documentation that shows that each site credited under this activity can also qualify
for credit in Activity 420. For properties in the regulatory floodplain, this may be
done by applying for open space preservation (OSP) credit. For repetitive loss or
Severe Repetitive Loss properties outside the regulatory floodplain, separate
documentation is needed.
(3) Calculations showing the total number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF). The variable
bSF represents the number of buildings in the SFHA at the time of verification of
this credit. It is discussed in detail in Section 302.
(4) [For each parcel counted toward bAR or bCF that is located in the regulatory
floodplain, but outside the SFHA] Documentation showing that floodplain
regulations are in effect in the area.
(5) [For each parcel that is credited toward bRL or bSRL] Documentation and a
marked-up form AW-501 to update the repetitive loss data base, as explained in
Section 501.
(6) [For each parcel counted toward bCF] A description of the demolished or relocated
critical facility to demonstrate that the facility meets the critical facility definition
for CRS purposes. [For each parcel counted toward bCF that had the building
relocated] Documentation that demonstrates that it has been relocated outside the
500-year floodplain.
(7) Documentation of the implementation date for each project for which new credit is
requested. A project is the building or group of buildings acquired or relocated
within the same grant award, contract, or scope of work. A completed CC-520EHP,
Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation
Requirements for Acquisition and Relocation Projects, is needed for projects
implemented after the implementation date of the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual (see
Section 507) The certification form can be found in Appendix F.

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(8) Identification of which properties if any, were cleared with support from FEMA’s
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.

525 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/500.
b. There are several possible sources of financial assistance for acquiring and relocating floodprone properties, which are mentioned in Section 505.
c. Property Acquisition Handbook for Local Communities, FEMA-317, 2007, is a “how-to”
guide to help communities work through property acquisition. This handbook also contains a
toolkit with tools and forms, including checklists, fact sheets, and briefing notes, to aid the
process. It can be found at
www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=1654.

526 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 A first step to working with a property owner is to provide property protection advice
that includes a discussion of alternatives and sources of financial assistance. This is
credited under Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance).
 A prerequisite for Activity 520 credit is that the property that has been cleared must
meet the OSP criteria for preserved open space under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation). All such properties should receive OSP credit. If the properties were
cleared with FEMA mitigation funds, they should also qualify for deed restriction
(DR) credit.
 A floodplain management plan (FMP) or a repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA)
credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) can identify projects
for acquisition or relocation. The RLAA can identify properties that receive bonus
credit in Activity 520.
 A multi-hazard mitigation plan credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning) is a prerequisite for FEMA funding for creditable acquisition or relocation
projects.

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530  FLOOD PROTECTION—Summary 
Maximum credit:  1,600 points 
Of the 1,600 points, credit for sewer backup protection projects is limited to 200 
points and flood control techniques are limited to 1,000 points. 

532  Elements 
a.  Flood protection project technique used (TU_):  Credit is provided for 
retrofitting techniques or flood control techniques. 
 Retrofitting technique used:  Points are provided for the use of 
elevation (TUE), dry floodproofing (TUD), wet floodproofing (TUW), 
protection from sewer backup (TUS), and barriers (TUB) 
 Structural flood control technique used:  Points are provided for the use of 
channel modifications (TUC), and storage facilities (TUF). 

b.  Flood protection improvement (FPI):  Credit points are determined for 
the difference between the level of flood protection provided before and 
after the project. 
c.  Protected buildings (PB):  The value of TU is multiplied by the value of FPI 
for each building and used in the credit calculation. 

Credit Calculation
There are two options for calculating the total points. Option 1 is used if the 
number of buildings eligible for credit is a small percentage of the total number 
of buildings in the floodplain. The maximum credit for Option 1 is 160 points.  
Option 2 is used if the number of buildings eligible for credit is a larger 
percentage of the total number of buildings in the floodplain. The maximum 
credit for Option 2 is 1,600 points.  

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for this activity. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
The documentation needed for this activity is described in Section 534. 

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530 FLOOD PROTECTION
The

OBJECTIVE

of this activity is to protect buildings from flood damage by

 Retrofitting the buildings so that they suffer no or minimal damage when flooded,
and/or
 Constructing small flood control projects that reduce the risk of flood waters’
reaching the buildings.

531 Background
Acquisition and relocation of flood-prone buildings is the surest method of both reducing
flood damage and keeping people out of harm’s way. It is credited under Activity 520
(Acquisition and Relocation). However, existing buildings can be protected on site,
especially from shallow, slow-moving flood waters, by implementing one or more flood
protection techniques.
This activity provides credit for buildings located in the floodplain that have been protected
from flood damage by being retrofitted or by the placement of certain types of flood control
structures that protect building(s) to at least the
25-year flood level.
Retrofitting projects, such as

531.a. Activity Description
This credit is based on the number of insurable
buildings in the regulatory floodplain that have
been retrofitted since the date of the
community’s original Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM). For the purposes of this activity,
an accessory structure such as a garage or shed
is not counted as an insurable building. Extra
credit is given for protecting buildings on
Federal Emergency Management Agency’s
(FEMA’s) repetitive loss list (see Section 501)
and for protecting buildings that are critical
facilities.
Flood protection techniques used (TU) that are
recognized by this activity include retrofitting
projects and structural flood control projects
(see Figure 530-1). The credit points are based
on the effectiveness of the technique in
preventing flood damage. The most effective
techniques are elevation and those measures
designed by a registered design professional.

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o Elevating buildings above predicted flood
levels,
o Dry floodproofing,
o Wet floodproofing,
o Protecting basements from sewer
backup, and
o Barriers (for individual structures only),
including levees, berms, and floodwalls.
Structural flood control projects, such as
o Channel modifications, including
enlarging bridges and culverts;
o Storm drain improvements, including
enclosing open channels;
o Diversions and other structural projects;
and
o Small reservoirs, including retention and
detention basins.

Figure 530-1. Flood protection techniques
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531.b. Activity Credit Criteria
The following criteria must be met to receive credit for this activity.
(1) All projects: Each flood protection project (retrofitting technique or structural flood
control technique) must meet the following criteria:
(a) The protected building(s) must be an insurable building(s) (see Section 301);
(b) The project must have been completed after the effective date of the initial FIRM;
(c) The project must protect the building(s) from at least the 25-year flood;
(d) All required permits must have been issued for the project or the local permit officer
must state in writing that the project complies with all federal, state, and local codes
and regulations;
(e) For critical facilities, to receive the bonus credit the buildings must be protected to
at least the 500-year flood level;
(f) If the project requires human intervention, there must be at least one hour of flood
warning time plus the time it takes to install the measure. “Human intervention”
means that a person is needed at the site to close an opening or install or operate a
protection device before flood waters reach the building; and
(g) Credit is not provided for a retrofitted building or flood control project that is in
disrepair or does not appear to be maintained.
(2) Retrofitting projects: In addition to the criteria in Section 531.b(1), the design of
retrofitting projects for buildings located in the following high hazard areas must be
signed and sealed by a registered design professional:
(a) V Zones, coastal A Zones, and areas seaward of the LiMWA;
(b) Areas with velocities greater than 5 feet per second during the 100-year event; and
(c) Areas subject to any of the special flood-related hazards listed in Section 401.
(3) Flood control projects: In addition to the criteria in Section 531.b(1), structural flood
control projects must meet the following:
(a) The design and construction of the project must have been certified by a licensed
professional engineer;
(b) The responsible agency must be implementing an operations and maintenance plan
that was prepared for the project by a licensed professional engineer;
(c) If the flood control project lowers the base flood elevation shown on the FIRM, a
Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) must be submitted to FEMA, as required by the
regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at 44 CFR §65.3;

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(d) The community must ensure that the impact of future development will not
adversely affect the project’s flood protection level. This can be done by either
(i) Enforcing watershed-wide regulations that prevent increases in stormwater
runoff. This can be documented by receipt of credit for stormwater
management regulations under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) (i.e.,
credit for SMR or WMP with an impact adjustment of 1.0 for the watershed
upstream of the project). The design storm (DS) must be at least as large as
the flood protection level for the project; or
(ii) Designing the project so that it will perform to its design protection level
based on a watershed that is fully built out or developed in accord with an
adopted long-range land use plan.
The community must document that
the protection level is still valid at
Environmental Protection and
each cycle verification; and
Historic Preservation

(e) Additional documentation may be required
for the review of flood control projects that
are unique to a community or region.

Because it is a FEMA program, the
CRS must ensure that activities for which
it provides credit are compliant with
applicable federal environmental and
historic preservation laws and executive
orders. Section 507 expands on this
requirement and presents a summary of
FEMA’s policy. Figure 500-5 lists the
federal programs that should be
considered during project development.

(4) Environmental compliance: Flood protection
projects must adhere to applicable federal
environmental and historic preservation laws
and executive orders (see Section 507). CC530EHP, Flood Protection, is a form on which
the community certifies its compliance. The
appropriate portions of the certification must be
completed for all projects permitted or
implemented after the effective date of the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
CC-530EHP can be found in Appendix F or at www.CRSresources.org. Credit is not
provided if the project was not in compliance with applicable federal laws and executive
orders.
(5) Projects not credited: The following projects are

NOT

credited under this activity:

(a) Projects that protect to less than the 25-year flood level;
(b) Projects that protect buildings outside of the regulatory floodplain (except repetitive
loss buildings);
(c) Post-FIRM buildings. Credit is not provided for post-FIRM buildings because the
NFIP already requires that they be protected. However, if a post-FIRM building was
retrofitted to protect it from a flood hazard not covered by the FIRM or NFIP
regulations, credit is provided under this activity. For example, a post-FIRM
building may have been constructed to the base flood elevation shown on an old
FIRM, but the current base flood elevation is higher because of a recent restudy. If
the building is elevated again to protect to the new base flood elevation, then the

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community could receive Activity 530 credit. However, constructing a new building
to meet the community’s flood protection requirements is not retrofitting;
(d) Projects implemented due to a requirement of the NFIP, such as elevating a
substantially damaged or substantially improved residential building. The following
are examples of how this rule is applied:
(i) Although elevating a building solely to meet the NFIP rules is not credited,
credit is provided for bringing a noncompliant building into compliance if the
project was implemented voluntarily or pursuant to a community action, such as
providing financial assistance or declaring a dilapidated structure to be unsafe
and uninhabitable.
(ii) If a noncompliant building is removed, and replaced with a new building
constructed to post-FIRM standards, it can be counted toward TU1.
Demolishing and replacing a substantially improved or substantially damaged is
not an NFIP requirement.
(iii) Projects constructed to mitigate the adverse effect of not properly regulating
new construction in accordance with a court order or an agreement with FEMA
are not credited. Such an action would be considered one taken to meet the
minimum requirements of the NFIP;
(e) If a building is removed but not replaced, and the parcel is preserved as open space,
it can be counted toward credit under Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation). If a
building is removed but not replaced, and the parcel is not preserved as open space,
it can be counted toward TU1 because local codes will ensure that if anything is
constructed, it will meet post-FIRM standards;
(f) Coastal structural projects, including seawalls, groins, and beach nourishment;
(g) Levees or floodwalls that protect more than one property. Levees are covered under
Activity 620 (Levees);
(h) Dams that are not in compliance with the state’s dam safety regulations; and
(i) Structural flood control projects owned AND operated by a federal agency. Credit is
not provided for the major flood control works owned and operated by agencies such
as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Bureau
of Reclamation. However, credit is provided for locally owned and operated projects
that were partially funded by a federal agency.
(6) Regulatory floodplain: Credit is provided for buildings in the Special Flood Hazard
Area (SFHA) shown on the current FIRM or preliminary FIRM, whichever is larger.
If the community has prepared an Impact Adjustment Map in accordance with Section
403 that shows flood-prone areas subject to regulation outside of the SFHA, then
buildings in that regulatory floodplain may be counted for this credit. The community
must demonstrate that these areas are currently regulated to at least the minimum
standards of the NFIP.

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A building that lies outside the regulatory floodplain because of remapping, completion
of a flood control structure, or other activity is not eligible for this credit. Such a
building has already benefited twice: it does not have a mandatory NFIP insurance
purchase requirement; and if the owner chooses to purchase NFIP insurance, the
premium will be based on the lower X-Zone rate.

532 Elements
The credit for Activity 530 is based on the combination of flood protection techniques used
and the level of flood protection provided. Points are calculated for each protected building.
Bonus points are provided for the protection of repetitive loss buildings and critical
facilities. Credit is based on the elements described below.

532.a. Flood protection project technique used (TU)
Credit is provided for each building that has been protected by a retrofitting technique or a
flood control project technique. It is symbolized as TU or, when a specific technique is
being discussed, as TU plus another letter, such as TUE. Each building protected by a
project will have a TU value. The value of TU is based on the technique used for each
building and varies based on factors such as whether the project was designed by a
registered design professional. The credited techniques (and the acronyms used for them)
are shown in the Table 530-1.
Table 530-1. Flood protection techniques used.
Acronym
(TU )

Technique Used

TUE

Elevation

TUD

Dry floodproofing

TUW

Wet floodproofing

TUS

Sewer backup

TUB

Barrier, levee, or floodwall

TUC

Channel modification, storm sewer improvements, diversions

TUF

Storage facilities

The variation in the value for the technique used is based on the reliability of the project to
prevent flood damage. For example, dry floodproofing is a less reliable retrofitting
approach than elevation, so it is not worth as many points. Other methods and variations on
these methods can be submitted for review to determine the credit points.

TU #i = the type of technique used for building i

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(1) Retrofitting technique used:
The value of the technique used is based on the retrofitting technique used. Credit criteria
in Section 531.b must be met.
(a) TUE: Technique used for elevated buildings:
TUE = 1.0, if the building is elevated

(b) TUD: Technique used for buildings that are dry floodproofed (i.e., the walls and
floor are made watertight so flood water does not enter the building):

TUD = 0.6, if the project was designed by a registered design
professional and the design accounts for openings, internal
drainage, seepage, and underdrainage
TUD = 0.4, if the project does not depend on human intervention to
close openings; the project protects to a level less than 3 feet
above the first floor; the design accounts for internal drainage,
seepage, and underdrainage; and the building has no basement
(i.e., any floor below grade on all sides)
TUD= 0.2, for all other cases, including those for which there is no
documentation of how openings, interior drainage, seepage, or
underdrainage are handled

(c) TUW: Technique used for buildings that are wet floodproofed (i.e., flood water is
allowed into the building, but measures are taken to minimize damage):

TUW = 0.5, if the project was designed by a registered design
professional
TUW = 0.3, if the project was not designed by a registered design
professional
TUW = 0.2, if the furnace, water heater, electrical breaker box, and
other utilities are relocated above flood level

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(d) TUS: Technique used for buildings that are protected from sewer or sump backup:

TUS = 0.2, if the building is located in the SFHA
TUS = 0.1, for sewer backup prevention measures if the building is
located outside of the SFHA and the community has a building
code or other regulations that require positive drain sewers or
other measures that prevent sewer backup into new buildings

A maximum of 200 points is provided under this activity for sewer backup
prevention measures outside of the SFHA.
(e) TUB: Technique used for buildings protected by a barrier, including a levee, berm,
or floodwall:
The following conditions must be met.
(i) The barrier must be located entirely on the property of the owner of the protected
building(s).
This requirement ensures that those who are protected will maintain the levee or
floodwall. When a barrier protects several neighbors but one of them neglects
maintenance, all the properties are placed in jeopardy.
A barrier entirely on property owned by a condominium association would meet
this requirement, but one on property owned by a homeowner’s association that
protects several privately owned homes would not.
(ii) The barrier must either have no openings (e.g., access is gained by going over
the wall), have openings that close without human intervention, or have a written
plan and adequate warning time so that available personnel are able to close the
openings.
TUB = 0.8, if the barrier was designed, and the construction
approved by, a registered design professional, and the design
accounts for interior drainage, seepage, and underdrainage
TUB = 0.4, if the barrier was not designed by a registered design
professional, but the design accounts for interior drainage,
seepage, and underdrainage

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(2) Structural flood control technique used (Maximum credit: 1,000 points):
The value of the technique used is based on the structural flood control technique. If
more than one technique is used to protect a building, then TU = the lower of the
techniques’ values. Credit criteria in Section 531.b must be met.
(a) TUC: Technique used for buildings protected by a channel modification project,
including diversions, enlarging bridges and culverts, and storm drain improvements:
A registered design professional must design the project and certify that no
buildings are located in areas that would be affected by any increases in flood
elevations caused by the project.
TUC = 0.8, if the project design provides at least one foot of
clearance between the flood protection level and bridge decks,
top of pipe, and other obstructions
TUC = 0.7, for pump systems and all other cases

(b) TUF: Technique used for buildings protected by a reservoir, detention basin,
retention pond, or other flood water storage facility
TUF = 0.8, for all flood water storage facilities

If the flood water is stored behind a dam or other above-ground containment
structure, then the community must document that the structure meets all state dam
safety requirements. If the state does not have a dam safety program, then a
registered design professional must certify that the structure meets the Corps of
Engineers’ dam safety criteria.

532.b. Flood protection improvement (FPI)
Flood protection improvement is a measure of the enhanced flood protection that a given
project provides for a given building. It is symbolized as FPI#i.
Credit Calculation
For buildings on which any other flood protection measure was used, the credit is adjusted
for the flood protection improvement provided to each building.

FPI#i = FPP#i – FPB#i, where
FPI#i = flood protection improvement for building i,

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FPP = flood protection provided by the project, and
FPB = flood protection level before the project was constructed

The values for FPP and FPB are shown in Table 530-2.

Table 530-2. Values for FPP and FPB
Flood Protection Level

FPP or FPB

Less than the 10-year flood

0.0

10-year flood, but less than the 25-year flood

0.3

25-year flood, but less than the 50-year flood

0.5

50-year flood, but less than the 100-year flood

0.7

100-year flood

0.8

100-year flood plus one foot of freeboard

0.9

100-year flood plus two or more feet of freeboard

1.0

500-year flood

1.0

The minimum value for FPP is 0.5. There is no credit for flood protection measures that
protect to less than the 25-year flood level. For a repetitive loss property, it is assumed that
the property was subject to flooding more frequent than every 10 years (less than the 10year event), so FPB = 0. If the value of FPB cannot be determined (e.g., from Elevation
Certificates or flood profiles), then it will be assumed that a 25-year flood protection level
existed before the project (FPB = 0.5).
The flood protection level of a barrier is one foot below the top of the barrier.
If a basement is protected from sewer backup by an overhead sewer or backup valve, then
FPP = 1.0.

Example 532.b-1.
(a) A building on a crawlspace was elevated from the 10-year flood
elevation to two feet above the 100-year flood elevation.
FPP = 1.0, FPB = 0

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FPI = FPP – FPB = 1.0 – 0 = 1.0
(b) A building has been protected by a 25-year berm (changing its
protection level from 0 to the 25-year flood level).
FPP = 0.5, FPB = 0
FPI = FPP – FPB = 0.5 – 0 = 0.5
(c) A channel improvement lowers the 100-year flood by two feet. The
buildings are now protected from the 100-year flood. Before the
project the buildings were subject to flooding during the 50-year
flood. The community applied to FEMA for a LOMR. Because the
LOMR will result in the removal of the buildings from the SFHA
there is no credit under this activity for the project. The community
receives a lower base flood elevation and a smaller SFHA as the
benefit.
Buildings that were in the community’s regulatory floodplain will be
in the X Zone and benefit from X-Zone insurance premiums.
Buildings that remain in the SFHA are credited for the flood
protection provided (see (d), below).
(d) Another building closer to the stream is affected by the same
channel improvement. The two-foot drop in flood levels means that
this building is now subject only to the 60-year flood instead of the
35-year flood. For that building,
FPP = 0.7, FPB = 0.5
FPI = FPP – FPB = 0.7 – 0.5 = 0.2

532.c. Protected buildings (PB)
A PB value is calculated for each protected building. It is the product of the TU value for
each building multiplied by the FPI value for that building.

PBi = TU x FPI#i for each building protected using one or more
of the techniques described in Section 531.a
PB = the sum of all PB#i

In the formula above, the letter “i” represents a given building. TU #i is the credit for the
flood protection technique used to protect building “i.” The “ ” stands for the letter for the
technique used in Section 532.a (TUE, for example). When the formulae are completed,
TU #1 and FPI#1 will be the credits for building number 1. For example, if building
number 24 were elevated, its credits would be TUE#24 and FPI#24. Their product is

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PB#24. If there are 52 protected buildings to be credited, then PB = ∑ PB#1 through PB#52
or the sum of the values for buildings #1 through #52.
The values for some protected buildings are modified by multipliers as follows.
(1) Repetitive loss property multiplier: If a protected building in the regulatory floodplain
is also on the FEMA repetitive loss list, it is counted twice toward PB. If a protected
building outside of the regulatory floodplain is also on the FEMA repetitive loss list, it
is counted once toward PB.
Section 501 explains the FEMA repetitive loss list. It is a list of properties that have
received multiple flood insurance claims. Communities with one or more properties on
the repetitive loss list must review and update the list at each verification visit (see
Section 211).
(2) Severe Repetitive Loss property multiplier: If a protected building is a Severe
Repetitive Loss property and lies within the regulatory floodplain, it is counted three
times toward PB. If a protected building lying outside the regulatory floodplain is also a
Severe Repetitive Loss property, it is counted twice toward PB.
Multipliers (1) and (2) are provided only if the flood protection measure was sufficient to
remove the property from the repetitive loss list. The repetitive loss data base must be
updated to reflect the mitigation project, as explained in Section 501.
A community with no properties on the FEMA repetitive loss list is not eligible for these
extra credits.
(3) Critical facilities multiplier: If a protected building is a critical facility it will receive
credit based on the level of protection provided. If the flood protection provided (FPP)
is the 500-year flood level or higher, critical facilities buildings are counted twice
toward PB (bonus credit). The critical facility must be located in either the regulatory
floodplain or the 500-year floodplain on the current FIRM or published preliminary
FIRM, whichever shows a larger 500-year floodplain. For CRS credit purposes, “critical
facilities” are defined in Section 120 (Glossary).
(4) Flood Mitigation Assistance grant multiplier: If a building was protected with funding
support from FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program, then the credit is 0.25
times the value of PB. This is explained in Section 506.
A checklist is available at www.CRSresources.org/500 to help track retrofitted properties
and their multipliers.

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Example 532.c-1.
A community has protected 29 buildings from varying levels of
flooding. Twenty buildings are protected from the 50-year flood with a
channel improvement, and eight buildings subject to flooding every 10
years have been elevated above the 100-year flood level.
The public works garage is on the edge of the SFHA, above the 10year flood level, but subject to shallow flooding during a 100-year
flood. The department constructed a barrier around it to protect it from
the 500-year flood. All buildings and projects meet the credit criteria of
Sections 531.b and 532 for the technique used.
Three of the elevated buildings are on FEMA’s repetitive loss list and a
fourth is a Severe Repetitive Loss property. The public works garage is
considered a critical facility because it is needed during a flood fighting
operation.
For the 20 buildings protected from the 50-year flood by the channel
improvement,
TUC#1–#20 = 0.8; FPP#1–#20 = 0.7; FPB#1–#20 = 0
FPI#1–#20 = FPP#1–#20 – FPB#1–#20 = 0.7 – 0 = 0.7
PB#1–#20 = TUC#1–#20 x FPI#1–#20 = 0.8 x 0.7 = 0.56
∑PB for 20 buildings = ∑PB#1–#20 = 20 x 0.56 = 11.2
Eight buildings are elevated to the 100-year flood level. Since there
are three repetitive loss and one Severe Repetitive Loss buildings,
they are counted as 8 + 3 + 2 = 13 buildings, and numbered as
buildings #21 through #33.
TUE#21–#33 = 1.0, FPP#21–#33 = 0.8, FPB#21–#33 = 0,
FPI#21–#33 = FPP#21–#33 – FPB#21–#33 = 0.8 – 0 = 0.8
PB#21–#33 = TUE#21–#33 x FPI#21–#33 = 1.0 x 0.8 = 0.8
∑PB for 13 buildings = ∑PB#21 through PB#33 = 13 x 0.8 = 10.4
The public works garage is protected by a 500-year barrier. Because it
is a critical facility, it is counted as two buildings, numbered 34 and 35.
TUB#34–#35 = 0.8, FPP#34–#35 = 1.0, FPB#34–#35 = 0.3,
FPI#34–#35 = FPP#34–#35 – FPB#34–#35 = 1.0 – 0.3 = 0.7
PB#34–#35 = TUB#34–#35 x FPI#34–#35 = 0.8 x 0.7 = 0.56
∑PB#34 through PB#35 = 2 x 0.56 = 1.12
PB = ∑PB#1–#35 = 11.2 + 10.4 + 1.12 = 22.72

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533 Credit Calculation
There are two options for calculating the total value for this activity. The first, Option 1, is
easier to use, but its total is limited to 160 points. As long as the projects meet the credit
criteria, the values for the technique used (TU_) and flood protection improvement (FPI_)
do not need to be calculated for each building. A checklist is available at
www.CRSresources.org/500 that can help when there are multipliers that increase the credit
for certain buildings.
Option 2 allows for higher credit, but it favors communities that have protected a large
percentage of the buildings in their SFHA. Option 1 produces more credit for large
communities or communities that have protected a small number of properties. Option 2
calculations can be facilitated by using the checklist found at www.CRSresources.org/500.
A community may use whichever option provides the larger credit. The maximum credit for
Activity 530 using Option 1 is 160 and using Option 2 is 1,600.

533.a. Option 1
c530 = 2.4 x the number of buildings that qualify for
Activity 530 credit

The maximum credit under Option 1 is 160 points.

Example 533.a-1.
Using the same community as in Example 532.c-1, 29 buildings have
been protected from varying levels of flooding.
Three of the elevated buildings are on FEMA’s repetitive loss list and a
fourth is a Severe Repetitive Loss property. The public works garage is
considered a critical facility because it is needed during a flood fighting
operation.
Although there are 29 separate structures, the three repetitive loss
buildings are counted twice, the Severe Repetitive Loss building is
counted three times, and the public works garage is counted twice
(because it was protected to the 500-year flood level). As a result, the
credit is based on the equivalent of 29 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 35 buildings.
c530 = 2.4 x 35 = 84

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533.b. Option 2
The credit calculation under Option 2 is based on the credit for all the buildings that have
been protected as a percentage of all the buildings in the SFHA (bSF).

c530 = 16 x PB x 100 , where
bSF
PB is the sum of all PBi, and
bSF = the number of buildings in the SFHA

(1) The value for bSF is the number of buildings currently in the SFHA. bSF includes
buildings that have been constructed in or annexed into the SFHA since the projects
were completed. Note that communities are required to calculate and keep track of bSF
as part of their annual recertification. Note also that if development is allowed in the
SFHA, even if it is in compliance with the NFIP requirements, credit for this activity
may decrease over time as bSF in the denominator increases.
There is a separate formula for calculating bSF in communities with a large number of
post-FIRM buildings. It can be found in Section 303.
(2) The maximum credit for Option 2 is 1,600.

Example 533.b-1.
Using the same 29 buildings in Example 532.c-1, in a community with
a relatively small number of buildings in the SFHA, 125.
PB = 22.72, bSF = 125
c530 = 16 x PB x 100
bSF
= 16 x 22.72 x 100 = 16 x 2,272 = 16 x 18.18 = 290.82
125
125

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534 Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) [For elevation projects] Copies of the Elevation Certificate for each elevated
building.
(b) [For retrofitting projects other than elevation] A list of all buildings for which
credit is requested and a signed Community Certification for Retrofitted Buildings
(CC-530).
(c) [For structural flood control projects]
(i) The level of flood protection for each building to be credited, both before and
after the project was installed or constructed.
(ii) [For buildings protected by a reservoir, detention basin, retention pond, or other
facility that stores water above ground] A letter from the state dam safety office
stating that the structure meets all state dam safety requirements. If there is no
state dam safety office, then a registered design professional must certify that the
project meets all appropriate dam safety criteria.
(d) A map showing the location of all protected buildings for which credit is being
requested. This map is not necessarily the same as the Impact Adjustment Map
prepared pursuant to Section 403. It need only show the part of the community in
which buildings have been protected. The map for this activity does not need to
show lot boundaries, unless the same map is used for Activity 520 (Acquisition and
Relocation).
(e) Documentation of the implementation date for each project for which new credit is
requested. A project is the building or group of buildings acquired or relocated
within the same grant award, contract, or scope of work. A completed CC-530EHP,
Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation for Flood
Protection Projects, is needed for projects implemented after the implementation
date of the 2013 Coordinator’s Manual (see Section 507). The form can be found in
Appendix F or at www.CRSresources.org.
(f) [If the community is using Option 2 under Section 532.b] Calculations showing the
total number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF).
NOTE: The variable bSF must have the same value as bSF in Activities 510, 520,
and 610.
(g) [For credit for protecting non-repetitive loss buildings located outside the SFHA]
Documentation that shows that floodplain regulations are in effect in the area
outside the SFHA.
(h) [If the flood control project revised the base flood elevation] A copy of the CLOMR
submittal to FEMA.

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535 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/500.
b. FEMA and the Corps of Engineers have many references on elevating and retrofitting
buildings. They can be found at www.fema.gov/building-science/building-sciencepublications-flood/wind and
www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProjectPlanning/nfpc.aspx.
c. Several states have published their own floodproofing or retrofitting manuals and some have
programs to help fund or otherwise assist property owners. State NFIP Coordinators are
listed at www.floods.org/index.asp?menuID=274&firstlevelmenuID=185&siteID=1.
d. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is a FEMA training center located in
Emmitsburg, Maryland. It offers a four-day course on retrofitting techniques oriented to
engineers and experienced building professionals as well as courses on FEMA financial
assistance programs, including application procedures and benefit/cost analyses. Stipends to
cover travel, registration, and rooms are usually available from FEMA for federal, state, and
local officials. EMI also offers field-deployed and independent study versions of many of its
subjects, which are also free. For more information, see the EMI website at
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/.

536 Related Activities under the Community Rating System


A first step to working with a property owner is to provide property protection
advice that includes a discussion of alternatives and sources of financial assistance.
This is credited under Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance).



Flood control projects that change the base flood elevation may result in revisions to
the community’s FIRM. Such revisions may or may not receive credit under Activity
410 (Floodplain Mapping). Activity 410 lists criteria for credit due to changes in the
base flood elevation.



A floodplain management plan (FMP) or a repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA)
credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) can identify projects
for flood protection. The RLAA can identify properties that receive bonus credit
under Activity 530.



A multi-hazard mitigation plan credited under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management
Planning) is a prerequisite for FEMA funding for creditable retrofitting projects.

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540  DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  570 points 

542  Elements 
a.  Channel debris removal (CDR):  Up to 200 points for inspecting public 
and private drainage systems and removing debris as appropriate. 
b.  Problem site maintenance (PSM):  Up to 50 points for paying special 

attention to known problem sites, such as those needing more frequent 
inspections. 
c.  Capital improvement program (CIP):  Up to 70 points for having a capital 

improvement program that corrects drainage problems. 
d.  Stream dumping regulations (SDR):  Up to 30 points if the community 
has and publicizes regulations prohibiting dumping in streams and 
ditches. 
e.  Storage basin maintenance (SBM):  Up to 120 points for annually 
inspecting public and private storage basins and performing the required 
maintenance. 
f.  Coastal erosion protection maintenance (EPM):  Up to 100 points for 
maintaining erosion protection programs in communities with coastal 
erosion‐prone areas as described in CRS Credit for Management of 
Coastal Erosion Hazards. 

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 541.b. They include 
drainage system inspections and maintenance requirements, no reliance on 
unsecured outside funding for maintenance, and compliance with federal and 
state laws and executive orders for environmental and historic preservation. 
Each element has additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment
The credit for CDR, PSM, and CIP are adjusted based on the percentage of the 
components of a community’s drainage system that is inspected and maintained. 
There is no impact adjustment for SDR. The credit for SBM is adjusted based on 
the percentage of the storage basins that is inspected and maintained. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 

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540 DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to ensure that the community keeps its channels and
storage basins clear of debris so that their flood carrying and storage capacity are
maintained.

541 Background
An area’s drainage system consists of natural
watercourses or channels, constructed storm drains
and ditches, and detention/retention basins built to
store high flows. In most cases, the actual channel
of a natural stream will carry only the two-year
flood, with larger flows being carried in the
overbank area. Engineered channels are typically
designed to carry larger floods than natural
channels. When a drainage system loses a portion
of its conveyance or storage capacity, overbank
flooding occurs more frequently and flows reach
higher elevations, potentially damaging nearby
structures or causing increased channel erosion.

A separate publication, CRS
Credit for Drainage System
Maintenance, provides an example of
a community’s maintenance program
and credit documentation.
Communities are encouraged to
obtain and read this document before
applying for this credit. It will improve
the quality of the documentation and
reduce the need to provide additional
documentation later.
To obtain a copy, see Appendix C
or www.CRSresources.org.

Even where floodplain regulations prevent
construction from encroaching, channels can lose
their carrying capacities as a result of the
accumulation of debris, sedimentation, and the growth of vegetation. Detention and
retention basins can lose their ability to store water if upstream sediment controls do not
function properly or if there are highly erosive lands
upstream.
One proven approach to preventing this is a
community program that routinely inspects and clears
debris from the drainage system. This work can be as
simple as cleaning out culverts and removing trash,
shopping carts, and similar debris that can dam a
stream and cause flooding, even during small storms.

541.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 540 is 570 points.
Credit is provided for keeping the channels and
storage basins (detention or retention) of a
community’s drainage system clear of debris in order
to maintain their flood carrying and storage capacity
during flood events, and to protect water quality.

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Activity 540
If a community can answer “yes” to
the following questions, it should be
able to receive credit for this activity.
 Is there an annual inspection for at
least some of the drainage
system?
 Are inspections also conducted
after major storms and in response
to citizens’ complaints?
 Are debris and other obstructions
to flow or storage removed when
they are found?
 Does the drainage maintenance
program have written procedures?

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A community can receive credit for six drainage system maintenance activities:
 Inspecting and maintaining channels (CDR),
 Paying attention to problem sites (PSM),
 Having a capital improvements program that benefits the drainage system (CIP),
 Implementing and publicizing “no dumping” regulations (SDR),
 Inspecting and maintaining storage basins (SBM), and
 Maintaining coastal erosion protection
measures, if applicable (EPM).
The drainage system—A drainage system consists of
all natural and manmade watercourses, conduits, and
storage basins that collect rainfall and convey flood
flows. It includes both open systems and those that are
underground.
The conveyance system—For purposes of this
activity, the conveyance system includes the channels
that need to be maintained in order to prevent damage
to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure from
small, frequent storms. Components of the conveyance
system include the structures and the channel segments
throughout the system (e.g., bridges, culverts, and
segments of open channel) through which water flows.
The defined conveyance system varies in each
community. In some communities, it may be vital to
maintain the channels, culverts, and drainage inlets in
order to avoid flooding. For other communities, the
roadside ditches are significant conveyors of surface
water and must be kept clean

NFIP Requirement
The NFIP requires communities to
“assure [that] the carrying capacity
within the altered or relocated portion
of any watercourse is maintained” (44
CFR §60.3(b)(7)).
This maintenance provision
applies to any watercourse altered or
relocated after the date of adoption of
the community’s floodplain management ordinance. Any natural growth
or manmade debris that reduces the
carrying capacity of these artificial
channels may be a violation of that
ordinance.
In addition, these areas may be
remapped by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to
reflect the current carrying capacity
and potential increased risk to
existing development.

This activity is concerned primarily with the parts of
the conveyance system that lie within the developed
areas of the community. However, drainageways in
undeveloped areas of the community also need to be included if there is a culvert or bridge
crossing that the community maintains or if there are insurable buildings that could be
affected if the drainageway is not maintained.
The areas or locations of flood insurance claims and disaster assistance should be
considered when determining the extent of the conveyance system that deserves regular
maintenance. In communities with repetitive losses (Category B and C communities as
noted in Section 502), the drainage system MUST cover those areas having repetitive loss
properties if the cause of the losses was local drainage problems or small, frequent storms.
In general, all channels with a drainage area of 40 acres or more should be included in the
conveyance system and on the map (see below).
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Storage basins—For the purposes of this activity, storage basins include all constructed
stormwater runoff detention or retention facilities located on public and private property.
These include onsite detention or retention as well as infiltration facilities that are required
for new development. The community must include all facilities constructed pursuant to
stormwater management regulations credited as SMR under Activity 450 (Stormwater
Management) and all publicly owned facilities.
Maps and inventories—For this activity, a map of the community’s conveyance system is
required for CDR credit and a map of all storage basins within the community is required
for SBM credit. Depending on the scale of the map, the map of the conveyance system and
the maps of the storage basins may be combined if the community is requesting both CDR
and SBM credit.
The conveyance system map must label the drainage system components (structures and
channel segments). An inventory or list of the drainage system components is needed to
document the annual inspections. Similarly, an inventory of all storage basins, public and
private, is needed for SBM credit.

541.b. Activity Credit Criteria
(1) Drainage system inspections—Credit for this activity is dependent upon annual or
regular inspection of the conveyance system and/or storage basins. The community (or
other non-federal agency) must have a program to inspect its drainage facilities
annually, upon receiving a complaint, and after each major storm. If all components of
the drainage system cannot be inspected annually (for example, because there is no legal
access to those parts of the system that lie on private property or for budgetary reasons),
then credit will be adjusted by the impact adjustment.
(2) Operations and maintenance—The operations and maintenance of the drainage system
can be provided by the community, another non-federal agency, or private property
owners. Many communities are in flood control or drainage districts that perform this
work. Whether the operations and maintenance are performed by the community; a
county, regional or state agency; or a private property owner, the Community Rating
System (CRS) community is responsible for providing all the documentation needed to
verify credit.
(3) No credit is provided for projects that rely on unsecured outside funding, such as a
special appropriation from the state legislature or approval of a U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers clearing-and-snagging project. Secure outside funding, such as an annual
state distribution of gasoline tax receipts, is acceptable.

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(4) Environmental compliance—The community’s
program for drainage system maintenance must be
compliant with applicable federal environmental
and historic preservation laws and executive orders
(see Section 507). The community and other local,
regional, and state agencies responsible for
portions of the drainage system must complete a
CC-540EHP, Certification of Compliance with
Environmental and Historic Preservation
Requirements for Drainage System Maintenance.
The certification form can be found in Appendix F
and at www.CRSresources.org. Credit is not
provided if local drainage system maintenance
procedures are not compliant with applicable
federal laws and executive orders.

Environmental Protection and
Historic Preservation
The CRS is a FEMA program and
therefore must ensure that activities
credited by the CRS are compliant with
applicable federal environmental and
historic preservation laws and
executive orders. Section 507 expands
on this requirement and presents a
summary of FEMA’s policy.
Figure 500-5 lists the federal programs
that should be considered during
project development.

(5) There may be special restrictions on drainage system components or facilities, or
requirements to obtain a federal or state permit before certain work can proceed. Often,
a “general” or “statewide” permit or other permission can be granted in advance for
projects that are specifically described in the permit. Such laws and regulations usually
do not preclude all maintenance work, but they may place restrictions on activities that
disturb natural or protected areas. These restrictions must be included in the
community’s procedures.

542 Elements
542.a. Channel debris removal (CDR)
The maximum credit for this element is 200 points.
Credit for this element is dependent upon annual inspection and regular maintenance of the
channels and associated conveyance facilities. The community (or other non-federal
agency) must have a program to inspect its drainage facilities annually, upon receiving a
complaint, and after each major storm. The community (or other non-federal agency) must
remove debris as needed after each inspection in accordance with a written maintenance
plan. Neither the cost of the work nor the amount of debris removed affects the credit.
While responding to complaints and performing inspections after storm events are required
to obtain credit, a program that only responds to complaints or inspects after storms is not
eligible for this credit.
To receive full credit for this activity, the community must annually inspect, and maintain
as required, all public and private components in the developed portion of the surface
conveyance system, not just channels in the floodplain. The impact adjustment determines
the final credit, based on the amount of the conveyance system that is covered by the
inspection and maintenance program.
The maintenance work is normally done by a public works crew, frequently without heavy
equipment. The objective of this activity is to remove accumulated debris that obstructs

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The maintenance work is normally done by a public works crew, frequently without heavy
equipment. The objective of this activity is to remove accumulated debris that obstructs
flows that can cause flooding to adjacent properties. It is important that the community’s
procedures spell out what can and cannot be removed. In areas with natural streams, for
example, a certain amount of woody debris may remain in the channel area without causing
a flooding problem. Concrete-lined ditches, by contrast, may need to have all debris
removed in order to maintain their carrying capacity.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 541.b must be met.
(2) The community (or other non-federal agency) must have a program to inspect and
maintain its drainage facilities, and inspections must be conducted
(a) At least once each year,
(b) Upon receiving a complaint, and
(c) After each major storm.
Action must be taken after an inspection identifies a need for maintenance or cleaning.
(3) The community must provide a map of the conveyance system with components
(structures and segments) of the drainage system labeled.
(4) The community must provide a complete inventory of its conveyance system
components.
(5) Procedures for inspection and maintenance must be in the form of written procedures or
guidelines. These are explained in “Drainage System Inspection and Maintenance
Procedures,” below.
(6) All the inspection and maintenance activities must be recorded and the records must be
maintained until the next verification visit.
Map and Inventory of the Conveyance System
The community must provide a detailed map of the developed areas of the community and
the conveyance system in those areas, a list of all the components of the conveyance
system, and a description of which components are in the community’s inspection and
maintenance program. The map and inventory for CDR credit should be prepared in five
steps. A sixth step is provided for problem site maintenance credit (PSM) and a similar
process is followed for storage basin maintenance (SBM).
Step 1. Identify the developed area of the community. Select a map of the community
and identify the developed areas. Undeveloped or sparsely developed areas (e.g., those
with minimum lot sizes of five acres or more), or areas in which no buildings would be
affected by a lack of maintenance (e.g., steep ravines), may be excluded. However,
undeveloped or sparsely developed areas with insurable buildings or critical facilities
that could be affected by a lack of maintenance must be included.

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system includes rivers, creeks, natural streams, open channels, and ditches that need to
be maintained to prevent flooding of buildings. Note:
(a) Both public and private areas must be included in the delineation, regardless of the
community’s authority to inspect those areas.
(b) The delineation must include all channels in developed Special Flood Hazard Areas
(SFHAs) shown on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
(c) All surface channels shown as blue lines on a U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle
and drainage facilities with more than 40 contributing acres must be shown.
(d) Although credit is provided only for maintenance of the surface conveyance system,
the entire system that drains 40 acres or more must be shown on the map. If the
system that drains 40 acres or more includes reaches that flow underground, then the
underground segments must also be shown on the map.
Step 3. Identify and label the components of the conveyance
system. On the map, identify and label the surface
conveyance components of the drainage maintenance area.
“Components” are structures and channel segments,
including
(a) Each culvert, bridge, drop structure, and other structures
where maintenance may be an issue, and
(b) Each channel segment between two structures. If a
segment is more than one-fifth (1/5) of a mile long, it
should be divided into enough segments that no segment
is longer than one-fifth of a mile.
Underground segments of the surface conveyance system
need to be shown on the conveyance system map but should
not be counted as components. However, the inlet from a
channel to an underground segment is considered a
component of the surface conveyance system.

Components of a
Conveyance System
Structures
 Culverts
 Bridges
 Drop structures
 Other structures where
maintenance may be an
issue
Segments
 Channel segment
between two structures
 Channel segment less
than 1/5 mile long

Component labels may be as simple as numbers or numbers with prefixes to identify the
stream or channel name. Communities may choose to label the components with an
identifier for a channel segment (“CH001”) or a bridge crossing (“BR001”).
Step 4. Inventory the components. Develop an inventory or list of all components of the
surface conveyance system. Each structure and channel segment should be listed with
the identifier used in the conveyance system map. Figure 540-1 shows a sample
inventory table, used for determining the community’s impact adjustment for this
activity.
All surface conveyance system components within the community’s developed area
must be listed in the inventory. Again, although underground segments of the surface
conveyance system need to be shown on the conveyance system map, they should not be
counted as components or included in the inventory.

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Component

Type

Description

Owned By

CH0001

Channel

Between 1st Street and Central

City

CU0001

Culvert

Jones Creek at Central

City

CH0002

Channel

Between Central and Main

City

BR0001

Bridge

Jones Creek at Main

County

CH0003

Channel

Between Main and Grand Avenue

Private

CU0002

Culvert

Jones Creek at Grand Avenue

City

Figure 540-1. Step 4 of a sample inventory of a conveyance system.

Step 5. Show the components of the conveyance system that are included in the community’s inspection and maintenance program. The surface conveyance components
included in the community’s inspection and maintenance program must be highlighted
on the conveyance system map or marked in some other method, and they must be noted
on the component inventory or list (Figure 540-2).
The community may also note the components that are not part of their program for
various reasons. For example, there may be no right of access on private property or
there may be areas that the community does not cover for budgetary or other reasons.

Component
(cCDC)

Type

Description

Owned
By

Credited
(nCDR)

CH0001

Channel

Between 1st St. and Central

City

Yes

CU0001

Culvert

Jones Creek at Central

City

Yes

CH0002

Channel

Between Central and Main

City

Yes

BR001

Bridge

Jones Creek at Main

County

Yes

CH003

Channel

Between Main and Grand
Avenue

Private

No

CU001

Culvert

Jones Creek at Grand
Avenue

City

Yes

Problem
Site?

Yes

Yes

Figure 540-2. Step 5 of a sample inventory of a conveyance system.

Step 6. Show the problem site maintenance locations on the map and list locations in
the inventory. If the community is requesting credit for problem site maintenance
(PSM) (see Section 542.b), the list should identify components that are problem sites, as
shown in Figure 540-2.

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Conveyance System Inspection and Maintenance Procedures
The community must provide procedures, instructions, or other documents that explain the
community’s inspection and maintenance program. The document(s) need not exceed
several pages. In some cases, the description will be in various documents, such as a job
description, field procedures manual, memorandum of agreement with another agency,
contract for canal mowing, drainage system map, or forms used for records.
The following must be included in the document(s):
(1) Designation of the person, entity, or position responsible for the program. This may be
an agency other than the community’s public works department, such as a drainage
district (responsible for larger canals), the state highway department (responsible for
highway bridges and culverts), or even a private property owner. The community is still
responsible for providing the materials needed to verify the program.
(2) The conveyance system map showing all facilities in the developed part of the
community and identifying which facilities are covered by the channel debris removal
program.
(3) The list of the components of the conveyance system, including whether each
component is natural or constructed.
(4) An explanation of the procedures for inspection, including when regular inspections are
conducted, how soon inspections are conducted after a complaint or a storm, and
whether the procedures are different for manmade and natural channels.
(5) The debris removal procedures, i.e., how soon after an inspection an area must be
cleared, and what can and cannot be removed. These procedures may be different for
different streams. For example, they may call for the public works department to remove
downed trees and underbrush from manmade ditches but to leave them in parks or
natural areas. Simply stating that “problems are corrected” or “debris is removed” is not
an adequate description of what actions are to be taken for the different types of
materials that may be found.
(6) The records that are kept to document both the inspections and the removal projects.
Even if an entity other than the community performs the inspection and/or debris removal,
it is the community’s responsibility to document the activity for credit. In the case of a
drainage district or county-wide maintenance program, the community may find it
advantageous to work with other affected communities and with the larger agency to
develop consistent documentation that can be used by all communities.
Examples of such procedures are presented in CRS Credit for Drainage System
Maintenance (see Appendix C).

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Credit Points
CDR = 200 points, for channel debris removal within the
community’s conveyance system in accordance with the credit
criteria

The action taken must be in accord with the community’s inspection and maintenance
procedures, which must be consistent with federal and state environmental protection laws
and regulations.
Impact Adjustment
rCDR =

nCDR , where
nCDC

nCDR = the number of conveyance system components
inspected and maintained, and
nCDC = the total number of conveyance system components in
the developed portion of the community’s drainage system

If rCDR is less than 0.10, then 0.10 is used.
If the community’s program does not inspect and maintain the conveyance system
components in all developed areas, then the impact adjustment measurements (nCDR) must
exclude those components that are not inspected or maintained. The most common reason
for not maintaining components in a developed area is that the streams or facilities lie on
private property.
Note that the CRS is not intended to encourage communities to look at flood protection in
isolation from other equally important local concerns, such as habitat preservation.
However, if a facility is not maintained for any reason and damage to buildings could
result, the lack of drainage system maintenance must be reflected in the impact adjustment.

Example 542.a-2.
A public works department for a community in Georgia inspects all of
the publicly owned channels, bridges, and culverts within the city, but
not the private facilities. City crews remove critical accumulations of
debris that are found during the annual inspection and when problems
are reported by neighboring residents. This work is done every winter.
From the community’s conveyance system map and inventory, the
community has determined there are a total of 125 conveyance system

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components within the city, and 80 of those components are inspected
and maintained by the community.
rCDR = nCDR = 80 = 0.64
nCDC
125

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the procedures, instructions, or other documents that explain the
community’s routine inspection and debris removal program.
(b) The map of the community’s drainage maintenance area with the conveyance system
delineated and its components (structures and segments) labeled.
(c) A complete inventory of the components of the community’s conveyance system.
(d) Copies of the records that show that inspections were conducted and maintenance
was performed when inspections revealed problems.
(e) Completed Certifications of Compliance with Environmental and Historic
Preservation Requirements for Drainage System Maintenance (CC-540EHP) from
the community and other local, regional, or state agencies, which can be found in
Appendix F.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that
maintenance has been performed in accordance with the procedures.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) Examples of the records that show that inspections were conducted during the year
and maintenance was performed when the inspections revealed problems.

542.b. Problem site maintenance (PSM)
The maximum credit for this element is 50 points.
PSM credit is provided if the community’s conveyance system maintenance program
identifies components that are “choke points,” chronic dumping sites, obstructions to flows,
or sites with erosion or sedimentation problems, that are inspected and maintained
differently or more frequently than other parts of the system. Such inspections are in
addition to those credited under CDR.

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Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 541.b. must be met.
(2) The community must also be receiving credit for CDR.
(3) The community must have written procedures or guidelines that identify each problem
site component, what the issues are, and what special inspection and/or maintenance is
needed. These are explained in “Maintenance Procedures for Problem Sites,” below.
(4) The problem sites are identified on the community conveyance system map developed
for CDR credit and noted in the conveyance system component inventory.
(5) The community’s maintenance program must require that
(a) An inspection be conducted more than once each year,
(b) An inspection of each problem site component be conducted after each major
storm, and
(c) Action be taken after an inspection identifies a need for maintenance or cleaning.
Maintenance Procedures for Problem Sites
The written procedures or guidelines for problem site maintenance may be a part of the
community’s CDR procedures. It needs the following additional information:
(1) A list of each problem site, including
 What makes the site different from the rest of the drainage system,
 The procedure for increased inspection and maintenance, and
 Who is responsible for the inspection and maintenance of the site.
(2) The records that are kept to document both the inspections and the maintenance, if
different from the CDR records.
Credit Points
PSM = 50, if the community’s program for problem site
maintenance is in accord with the credit criteria

Example 542.b-1.
Over the years the City of Pullman’s crews have identified spots that
are chronic drainage problems, such as the culvert under the railroad
on the South Fork Palouse River and places on Missouri Flat Creek
where ice jams usually form in late winter. The drainage maintenance
procedures list these spots and require the crews to visit them first and

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more frequently during rains or ice breakup. The culvert under the
railroad is inspected weekly and cleaned out as soon as debris is
found. PSM = 50

Impact Adjustment
rPSM = rCDR

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the procedures, instructions, or other documents that explain the
community’s problem site inspection and maintenance. These are likely to be part of
the procedures submitted for CDR credit. The special problem site inspection and
maintenance procedures need to be identified, e.g., marked in the margin as “PSM.”
(b) The inventory of the components of the community’s conveyance system prepared
for CDR, annotated to show which components are problem sites.
(c) Copies of the records showing that inspections were conducted and that maintenance
was performed when inspections revealed problems.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that
maintenance has been performed in accordance with the procedures.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) Examples of the records showing that inspections were conducted during the year
and that maintenance was performed when inspections revealed problems.

542.c. Capital improvement program (CIP)
The maximum credit for this element is 70 points.
CIP credit recognizes the implementation of a capital improvement plan and a capital
improvement program that make permanent, structural changes within the drainage system
to reduce flood problems or maintenance problems. This credit is not for a program of
continuous maintenance, such as cleaning inlets and culverts. Creditable examples would be
ongoing programs to
 Enlarge culvert and bridge openings to eliminate bottlenecks,
 Install permanent hard or soft bank protection measures,
 Install grates to catch debris during high flows,

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 Build new retention basins to reduce flows into existing channels, or
 Convert problem channels into “low-maintenance” channels.
The capital improvements program should address the “choke points and other obstructions
to flows” that warrant the special attention that is credited in PSM.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 541.b. must be met.
(2) The community must also be receiving credit for CDR.
(3) Sites that are improved through the program must be in the community’s conveyance
system as defined in its procedures to document CDR. Projects to improve road drainage
or storm drains can only be credited if those sites are identified in the community’s
procedures and regularly inspected and maintained.
(4) There must be a “master list” of problem sites that are planned for improvement
projects. The list can be prepared from master watershed plans, complaints, or reports
from maintenance crews. Projects do not have to be prioritized or listed in any order.
For example, the community may determine which projects will be funded at the
beginning of each fiscal year.
The master list could be of problem sites submitted in relation to PSM credit, provided
that the community intends to “eliminate or correct the problem sites.” In other words,
the list must be related to the capital improvement program. It cannot just be a list of
problems that are not slated for correction.
The recommended correction measures for the problem sites do not need to be the result
of detailed plans or studies. They may be one-sentence statements on the most likely
approach (e.g., “enlarge culvert,” “bank stabilization,” etc.).
If the program is administered by a county or multi-community district (i.e., an
organization outside the community’s jurisdiction), then the list must be prepared from
master watershed plans and not based solely on
complaints or other ad hoc methods.
(5) For full credit, an engineering analysis must have been
completed that identifies the problem and provides a
solution. It must include an estimate of the 1% annual
chance (100-year) flood at the problem site and the
resulting flood elevations. The design of the “solution”
may use a lower design standard, but the community
needs to recognize the impact of the 1% flood.

CIP and Credit for Activity 530
Once a capital improvement
project is completed, it may qualify
for CRS credit under Activity 530
(Flood Protection). Projects that
protect repetitive loss properties and
critical facilities receive higher credit
under Activity 530.

(6) The community must spend money on a regular basis
on such improvement projects (a one-time-only project
would not be credited). This can be documented by a multi-year capital improvements
budget or line items in several years’ budgets that fund drainage improvement projects.
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All the needed documentation can usually be found in three documents: an engineering
report identifying problems and likely projects, a written capital improvement plan for
public works or a drainage plan that has a master list of proposed projects, and the
community’s annual budget that shows how funds are spent each year.
The analyses done for WMP credit under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) may
include a list of projects that may qualify for CIP credit.
Credit Points
CIP = 30, if the community has an ongoing program, such as a
capital improvement plan, that meets the credit criteria
CIP = 70, if the community has an acceptable engineering analysis
of the drainage system that meets the credit criteria

Example 542.c-1.
King County, Washington, has a county-wide Flood Control Zone
District that is funded by property taxes. It funds a variety of programs,
including a six-year Capital Improvement Program, which is updated
annually. The Capital Improvement Program was developed through
an engineering analysis of each watershed within the community.
Currently over 50 projects are completed each year. CIP = 70

Impact Adjustment
rCIP = rCDR

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) Excerpts from the capital improvement plan or other documentation that shows that
the community (or other drainage maintenance agency) has an ongoing program to
reduce drainage maintenance problems. The submittal must include
(i) A master list of the community’s drainage maintenance problem sites that are in
need of elimination or correction;
(ii) Recommended correction measures for the problem sites;
(iii) Documentation that funds are spent on capital improvement projects each year,
and
(iv) [If full credit is requested] Documentation of the engineering analysis.
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542.d. Stream dumping regulations (SDR)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
SDR credit is provided for adopting and enforcing
regulations that prohibit the dumping or disposal of debris
throughout the community’s drainage system. Many local
urban flood problems are caused when shopping carts,
yard waste, or other debris is dumped into channels. This
debris can clog culverts, divert flows, and reduce the
conveyance capacity of channels. Regulations that
prohibit the disposal of all debris within a channel help
reduce this problem.
Credit is not provided for an ordinance that prohibits
littering or similar general nuisances, for ordinance
language directed solely at water quality problems, or for
language limited to activities in the floodplain. The
regulations must specifically address the problem of
keeping channels clear of materials such as brush, fill,
and items normally not covered in littering ordinances.

Figure 540-3. An example of
a “no dumping” sign.

Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 541.b. must be met.
(2) The community must also be receiving credit for CDR.
(3) The regulations that prohibit disposal of debris in the community’s drainage system
must be enforced throughout the entire community. The ordinance or law must designate
an office or official responsible for receiving complaints and monitoring compliance and
it also must include enforcement and abatement provisions.
(4) Additional credit is provided if the community publicizes the regulatory requirements
that prohibit stream dumping. This may be done through the following outreach
projects:
(a) A notice sent to all property owners in the community (which may or may not be
credited under OP in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)); or
(b) Posting “no dumping in the stream” signs at key locations in the drainage system,
such as frequent problem spots, schools, or public parks. An example of a sign that
has been used by several CRS communities is shown in Figure 540-3; or
(c) An outreach project identified in the community’s Program for Public Information
(PPI) credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), provided the PPI discusses
publicizing drainage system maintenance and the regulations that prohibit dumping.

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Credit Points
SDR = EITHER:
SDR = 15, if regulations prohibit dumping in the community’s
drainage system,
OR

SDR = 25, if regulations prohibit dumping in the community’s
drainage system and the community publicizes the regulatory
requirements (see credit criterion (4)(a) or (b)),
OR

SDR = up to 30, if regulations prohibit dumping in the
community’s drainage system and the publicity is covered in the
community’s PPI (see credit criterion (4)(c))

Example 542.d-1.
A community’s code of ordinances deals with nuisances and
misdemeanors. The article states that the police department is
responsible for enforcement of listed violations. It also prescribes
penalties.
The code states:
It shall be unlawful to dump, deposit, or otherwise cause any
trash, landscape debris, or other material to be placed in
any stream, channel, ditch, pond, or basin that regularly or
periodically carries or stores water.
The community’s documentation includes all appropriate sections of
the municipal code with “SDR” marked in the margins. One of the
City’s outreach projects in Activity 330 discusses the need for drainage
system maintenance and what to do if dumping is seen. SDR = 25

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for this element. The regulation must be enforced throughout
the entire community.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the stream dumping ordinance or law prohibiting the disposal of debris in
the affected drainage system. The acronym SDR must be marked in the margin of the
ordinance sections that pertain to this element, including the responsible office or
official.
(b) [If the community is requesting the extra credit for publicizing the regulation] A
copy of how the community publicized the regulations during the year. If the
publicity was in a document credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), a
separate submittal is not needed, provided that the other document (including a PPI,
if credited) is annotated to show where SDR is publicized.
(2) At each recertification,
(a) [If the community is requesting the extra credit for publicizing the regulations] A
copy of how the community publicized the regulations during the year.

542.e. Storage basin maintenance (SBM)
The maximum credit for this element is 120 points.
SBM credit is dependent upon annual inspections and regular maintenance of retention,
detention, infiltration, and other types of storage basins. The community (or other nonfederal agency) must have a program to regularly inspect public and private storage basins
and remove debris as needed. Neither the cost of the work nor the amount of debris
removed affects the credit. A program that responds to complaints and conducts inspections
after storms is required, but such a program alone is not enough to obtain this credit.
After each inspection, appropriate maintenance must be completed where it has been
determined that it is needed.
The maintenance work is normally done by a public works crew, usually without
specialized equipment, but backhoes and trucks are frequently required. The objective of
this activity is to remove accumulated sediment or debris that prevents the storage or
infiltration of excess stormwater. It is important that the community’s procedures spell out
what can and cannot be removed. In some areas detention facilities also provide water
quality treatment. In those situations, special care must be taken when removing sediment
and debris to ensure that the facility still provides all its design functions.
Inspection and maintenance may also be performed by the owner of the basin. The
community’s ordinance (credited under PUB in Activity 450) must require inspections by a
registered design professional at least annually, with the reports submitted to the
community.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 541.b. must be met.

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(2) The community must also be receiving credit for both SZ and PUB within element SMR
under Activity 450.
(3) The community must have a program to inspect and maintain its storage basins, and
inspections must be conducted
(a) At least once each year,
(b) Upon receiving a complaint, and
(c) After each storm that could adversely affect the drainage system.
Action must be taken when an inspection reveals a need for maintenance or cleaning.
Procedures for inspection and maintenance must be in the form of written procedures or
guidelines. These are explained in “SBM Procedures,” below
(4) The location of all public and private storage basins must be mapped.
(5) The community must have a complete inventory of storage basins within its jurisdiction.
(6) All the maintenance and inspection activities must be recorded and the records must be
maintained until the next verification visit.
SBM Procedures
The written SBM procedures or guidelines, which may be a part of the community’s CDR
procedures, must include the following additional information:
(1) An inventory of all storage basins in the community designating
(a) The type of facility (detention, infiltration, retention, below-ground),
(b) Whether it is publicly or privately owned,
(c) Whether it is a natural component or constructed component, and
(d) Whether it is subject to the maintenance program;
(2) An explanation of the procedures for inspection, including when regular inspections are
conducted and how soon inspections are conducted after a complaint or a storm;
(3) The maintenance procedures, i.e., how soon after an inspection an area must be cleared,
and what can and cannot be removed; and
(4) The records that are kept to document both the inspections and the removal projects.
Examples of such procedures are presented in CRS Credit for Drainage System
Maintenance (see Appendix C).
Credit Points
SBM = 120 points for maintenance of storage basins within the
community in accordance with the credit criteria

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Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for SBM is based on all storage basins in the community, rather than
only those that are in development approved since the community started receiving CRS
credit. The community’s SBM procedures must include a list of all public and private
storage or retention basins and note those that are covered by the procedures (nSBM).
rSBM = nSBM , where
nSBC
nSBM = number of storage basins, public and private, inspected
and maintained by the community, and
nSBC = total number of storage basins, public and private,
within the community

If rSBM is less than 0.10, then 0.10 is used.

Example 542.d-1.
A city’s public works department inspects all of the city’s public storage
basins and requires the owners of private storage basins to submit an
annual inspection report to the city. City crews remove critical
accumulations of debris that are found during the annual inspection
and when problems are reported by neighboring residents. In addition,
the city frequently performs maintenance on private facilities and then
bills the owner for the work when the owners do not perform the
required annual inspection or maintenance.
The program inspects and maintains 10 publicly owned basins and 54
of the 102 private basins. The 54 basins were constructed after
passage of an ordinance that requires public maintenance.
nSBM = 10 + 54 = 64
nSBC = 10 + 102 = 112
rSBM = nSBM = 64 = 0.57
nSBC
112

Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the procedures, instructions, or other documents that explain the
community’s storage basin inspection and maintenance program.
(b) The map showing the location of all storage basins in the community.

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(c) The inventory of the storage basins located in the community.
(d) Copies of the records that show that inspections were conducted and maintenance
was performed when the inspections revealed problems.
(e) A completed Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic
Preservation Requirements for Drainage System Maintenance (CC-540EHP), which
can be found in Appendix F.
The ISO/CRS Specialist will visit a sample of sites in the field to verify that
maintenance has been performed in accordance with the procedures.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) Examples of the records that show that inspections were conducted during the year
and maintenance was performed when the inspections revealed problems.

542.f. Coastal erosion protection maintenance (EPM)
Credit for maintaining erosion protection programs in communities with coastal erosionprone areas is described in CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards. The
credit points, cEPM, are added to the other elements in Activity 540.
The CRS encourages communities to devote special attention to areas affected by coastal
erosion. A maximum of 100 points is available for maintaining measures that protect
buildings from coastal flooding or erosion. These include the preservation of dunes or
mangroves, stabilization of bluffs, and beach nourishment. There are several prerequisites
to this credit, including a requirement for coastal erosion setback regulations, which are
described in CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards (see Appendix C or
www.CRSresources.org).
Documentation Provided by the Community
Documentation is described in CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards.

543 Credit Calculation
c540 = ((CDR + PSM + CIP) x rCDR) + SDR + cSBM + EPM,
where
cSBM = SBM x rSBM

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544 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/500.
b. The following documents can be downloaded from www.CRSresources.org or ordered free
(see Appendix C).
CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards.
c. Rural communities can request help on this activity from the Natural Resources Conservation
Service. Requests should be submitted to the local soil and water conservation district, which
is usually located in the county seat.
d. Stream Obstruction Removal Guidelines, C. McConnell et al., eds., American Fisheries
Society, 1983. Copies are available for $8 plus shipping from the American Fisheries Society,
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 or from the online bookstore at
http://afsbooks.org/x55010xm.

545 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 The publicity needed for stream dumping regulations credit (SDR) can be an outreach
project credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects). More credit can be received
if the outreach project was part of a Program for Public Information, which is also
credited under Activity 330.
 Element OSP (open space preservation) under Activity 420 (Open Space
Preservation) reduces the need for channel maintenance.
 Activity 420’s natural shoreline protection element (NSP) encourages communities to
let their shorelines and stream banks go natural, reducing the need for maintenance in
these areas. However, if the natural shorelines are in developed areas, they would still
need to be inspected for debris to receive full credit for CDR. The impact adjustment
map for NSP should be the same as the conveyance system map needed for CDR.
 Stormwater management regulations (SMR) in Activity 450 (Stormwater
Management) establish the criteria and design standards for storage basins within a
community.
 Public maintenance of required facilities (PUB) in Activity 450 (Stormwater
Management) provides the authority for public inspection and maintenance of private
drainage facilities.
 Once a capital improvements project (CIP) is completed, it may qualify for CRS
credit under Activity 530 (Flood Protection). Projects that protect repetitive loss
properties and critical facilities receive higher credit under Activity 530.

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600 WARNING AND RESPONSE
The activities in this series focus on emergency warnings and response, because adequate
notification combined with a plan for how to respond can save lives and prevent and/or
minimize property damage. The activities emphasize coordinating emergency management
functions with a community’s other floodplain management efforts, such as providing
public information and implementing a regulatory program. Separate, parallel activities are
included for levees (Activity 620) and dams (Activity 630). Credit points are based on
threat recognition, planning for a subsequent emergency response, and ongoing testing and
maintenance.

Contents of Series 600
Section

Page

610 Flood Warning and Response .................................................................. 610-1
611 Background...................................................................................... 610-2
612 Elements .......................................................................................... 610-5
613 Impact Adjustment......................................................................... 610-19
614 Credit Calculation.......................................................................... 610-20
615 For More Information .................................................................... 610-21
616 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 610-21
620 Levees ...................................................................................................... 620-1
621 Background...................................................................................... 620-2
622 Elements .......................................................................................... 620-6
623 Impact Adjustment......................................................................... 620-18
624 Credit Calculation.......................................................................... 620-19
625 For More Information .................................................................... 620-19
626 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 620-20
630 Dams ........................................................................................................ 630-1
631 Background...................................................................................... 630-2
632 Elements .......................................................................................... 630-5
633 Impact Adjustment......................................................................... 630-13
634 Credit Calculation.......................................................................... 630-14
635 For More Information .................................................................... 630-14
636 Related Activities under the Community Rating System .............. 630-15

List of Figures
610-1.

Examples of flood inundation maps. ................................................. 610-4

620-1.

Delineating the area affected by levee overtopping .......................... 620-6

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The Community Rating System (CRS) recognizes the importance not only of effective
flood warning and response in a comprehensive floodplain management program, but also
of coordinating public information, regulatory programs, and flood protection with the
efforts of emergency management. Emergency management is included in a number of CRS
activities, but especially the three in the 600 series, which focus on specifically on
emergency warning and response.
 Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response) is based on the principle that an ample
warning combined with a flood response plan can prevent loss of life and damage to
property.
 Activity 620 (Levees) credits the locally coordinated maintenance of levees
combined with a flood response plan that recognizes the hazards of levee failure.
 Activity 630 (Dams) recognizes not only that state dam safety programs benefit
communities downstream from dams but also that a flood response plan that
anticipates possible dam failures can prevent loss
of life and damage to property.
Outreach Projects for Flood
The elements and requirements of these three CRS
Warning and Response
activities have many similarities. They require a positive
Credit for the public outreach
means of recognizing an imminent threat to the
that
is required for the activities in
community, an emergency response plan that provides
the 600 series can be credited in
for warning the affected populations, the activation of
Activity 330.  
community emergency response efforts, and giving
special attention to critical facilities. Each of the
activities also requires public outreach pertaining to
flood warning and response, and an annual exercise of the warning and response plan.

There are differences among these activities, but they should be bound together under the
community’s emergency response plan. All three have similar credits, organized in the
following flood preparedness order:
 Advance notification of an impending flood (threat recognition),
 Issuing warnings to the threatened population (warning),
 Taking steps to protect life and reduce losses during the flood (operations), and
 Coordinating with critical facilities (critical facilities planning).
In all three activities, most of the CRS credit provided is for threat recognition and
emergency response planning. In Activities 620 and 630, there is also credit for locally
coordinated maintenance of levees and recognition of coordination between communities
and state dam safety programs.

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610  FLOOD WARNING AND RESPONSE—Summary 
Maximum credit:  395 points 

612  Elements 
a.  Flood threat recognition system (FTR):  Up to 75 points for a system that 
predicts flood elevations and arrival times at specific locations within the 
community. 
b.  Emergency warning dissemination (EWD):  Up to 75 points for 
disseminating flood warnings to the public. 
c.   Flood response operations (FRO):  Up to 115 points for implementation of 
specific tasks to reduce or prevent threats to health, safety, and property. 
d.  Critical facilities planning (CFP):  Up to 75 points for coordinating flood 
warning and response activities with operators of critical facilities. 
e.  StormReady community (SRC):  25 points for designation by the National 
Weather Service as a StormReady community. 
f.  TsunamiReady community (TRC):  30 points for designation by the National 
Weather Service as a TsunamiReady community. 

Credit Criteria 
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 611.b. 
a.  The community must receive some credit for FTR, EWD, FRO, and CFP. 
b.  The community must have a description of its flood hazard. 
c.  There must be a flood inundation map. 
d.  There must be an adopted flood warning and response plan. 
e.  There must be one or more outreach projects on the warning and safety 
precautions. 
f.   There must be an annual exercise of the plan with a lessons‐learned report. 

Each element has additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
The credits for FTR, EWD, and FRO are adjusted based on the number of 
buildings within the Special Flood Hazard Area affected by each element. There 
is no impact adjustment for CFP, SRC, or TRC. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation.  

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610 FLOOD WARNING AND RESPONSE
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to encourage communities to ensure timely identification
of impending flood threats, disseminate warnings to appropriate floodplain occupants, and
coordinate flood response activities to reduce the threat to life and property.

611 Background
With sufficient warning of a flood, a community
and its floodplain occupants can take protective
measures such as moving furniture, cars, and
people out of harm’s way. When a flood threat
recognition system is combined with an
emergency response plan that addresses the
community’s flood problems, a great deal of
flood damage can be prevented.

A separate publication, CRS Credit for
Flood Warning and Response Programs,
gives examples of community programs and
documentation. Communities are
encouraged to read this document before
applying for this activity. It will improve the
quality of the application and reduce the
need for additional documentation later.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues
For a copy, see Appendix C or
specific flood warnings for many locations along
www.CRSresources.org/600.
major rivers and coastlines. Many communities
have their own flood threat recognition systems,
which enable advance identification of floods on
smaller rivers. The full benefit of early flood warning is only realized if the community
disseminates the warning to the general public and to critical facilities and has a flood
warning and response plan that includes appropriate tasks, such as directing evacuation,
sandbagging, and/or moving building contents above flood levels.

611.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 610 is 395 points.
Credit is provided for a community that, at a minimum, has adopted a flood warning and
response program that includes
 A flood threat recognition system that identifies an impending flood (credited under
FTR),
 Methods to warn the public of the impending flood (credited under EWD),
 A plan for flood response operations (credited under FRO), and
 Coordination with critical facility operators (credited under CFP).
In addition to these four basic parts of a local flood warning and response program, this
activity credits two programs operated by the NWS that recognize communities that are
better prepared for flooding caused by storms: SRC—StormReady communities and
TRC—TsunamiReady communities.
This activity is not intended to be a model for developing a flood warning or flood response
program. As with the rest of the Community Rating System (CRS) activities, its objective is

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to provide a simple way to measure a local program’s potential impact on life, safety, and
property damage. An effective flood warning or response program needs to be carefully
prepared and tailored to the local flood hazards and the specific needs of the community.

611.b. Activity Credit Criteria
(1) The community must obtain some credit in the first four flood warning and response
elements (FTR, EWD, FRO, and CFP) to receive any credit under this activity.
(2) The community must have a description of its flood hazard that includes information
about
(a) The nature of the community’s flood hazard, such as flood depths, velocities,
warning times, historical flood problems, and special flood-related hazards;
(b) The development exposed to flooding, such as the number and types of buildings;
land use (residential, agricultural, open space, etc.); critical facilities; and historic
flood problem areas; and
(c) The expected impacts of flooding on health and safety, community functions, such as
police and utility services, and the potential for secondary hazards.
Local governments may have completed a risk assessment that meets this criterion as
part of their floodplain management or hazard mitigation plan credited under Activity
510. If not, the community can complete the CRS Community Self Assessment
described in Section 240 of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual. The products from either of
these efforts should provide the basis for the flood hazard description.
(3) The community must have a flood inundation map(s), also known as a flood stage
forecast map. The map must show areas that are inundated by at least three different
flood or storm surge levels. It is used in planning the community’s flood response when
different flood levels are predicted. Example maps are shown in Figure 610-1. A
community may show that only one flood level is appropriate for some areas of the
community, such as for an area subject to shallow flooding. More information on
preparing a flood inundation map can be found in CRS Credit for Flood Warning and
Response Programs.
(4) The community must have a flood warning and response plan that has been adopted by
the community’s governing body. A “flood warning and response plan” may have
different names in different communities, such as “flood warning plan,” “flood
preparedness plan,” or “flood annex” to an emergency operations plan. To qualify as a
flood warning and response plan, the plan must
(a) Describe the methods and warning devices used to disseminate emergency warnings
to the general public that are credited under EWD,
(b) Include specific flood response actions that are taken at the different flood levels
that are credited under FRO, and
(c) Be adopted by the community’s governing body or by an office that has been
delegated approval authority by the community’s governing body. If the plan is

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Figure 610-1. Examples of flood inundation maps.

prepared at the county level, it must be adopted by the individual communities
seeking CRS credit for it. Annexes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and other
documents developed pursuant to the flood warning and response plan do not require
formal adoption by the governing body.
(5) The community must implement one or more outreach projects that tells its residents
and businesses how they will be warned and the safety measures they should take during
a flood. This can be done by using one or more of the following approaches:
(a) Sending an outreach project (e.g., a brochure, letter, or newsletter) each year to all
residents and businesses in the community;
(b) Sending an outreach project each year to all residents and businesses in the
floodplain where the warning program is in effect;
(c) Developing an appropriate approach as part of a Program for Public Information
(PPI) credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects);
(d) If the community has at least three days of advance flood notification, such as
coastal areas subject only to tropical storms and hurricanes or communities on large
rivers, it may document that it provides repeated watch, warning, and safety
information to all residents and businesses, beginning at least 72 hours in advance of
the predicted flooding; or

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(e) A community with more than one source of
flooding (e.g., coastal and riverine) may need to
use different types of projects to reach different
audiences.

(6) There must be at least one exercise and evaluation
of the flood warning and response plan each year.
The exercise can be for a flood, levee failure, dam
failure, or hurricane. This criterion can be met if
the plan is implemented in response to an actual
flood or threat of a levee failure. In either case,
there must be an evaluation of the performance of
the plan and recommended changes that may be
needed, as is usually done in an after-action report.

612 Elements
612.a. Flood threat recognition system (FTR)
The maximum credit for this element is 75 points.
FTR credit is based on the level of service provided by
the community’s flood threat recognition system.
Level 1 is a manual flood threat recognition system,
Level 2 is an automated alarm flood threat recognition,
and Level 3 is an automated flood threat warning
system.

Annual Warning and
Response Exercise
Activities 610 (Flood Warning and
Response), 620 (Levees), and 630
(Dams) require an annual exercise of
the warning and response plan. A
flood, levee failure, dam failure, or
hurricane exercise qualifies as an
exercise for all three activities.
An evaluation of the performance
of the warning and response plan
must include
 A description of the exercise;
 An evaluation of the
○ Threat recognition procedures,
○ Warning dissemination,
○ Response operations; and
 Recommended changes to the
plan.
The exercise requirement can also
be met if the community responds to
an actual flood or threat of a levee or
dam failure, provided that the items
listed above are discussed in an afteraction (or similar) report.

A flood threat recognition system provides the
community with the earliest possible notification that a
flood is imminent. The amount of lead time needed
between the recognition of a flood and the successful response to a flood warning is a factor
in determining the level of flood threat recognition system that is necessary.
Designing an effective flood threat recognition system also depends on knowing what areas
of the community are the most vulnerable; what sensor locations will best serve the
vulnerable areas; the type and frequency of measurements that are needed; and startup and
operational costs.
The flood threat recognition system’s level of service is a function of the distribution of
gages, population density, and other factors.
(a) Level 1: Manual flood threat recognition systems. A manual system relies on a
person to interpret the data received from river and/or tide gages, often using paper
tables or graphs. In many cases, the gage data are collected and reported manually,
usually by volunteers.
(b) Level 2: Automated flood alarm systems. These systems issue a signal when a flood
threatens. When water reaches a certain height on a river or tide gage, an alarm is sent

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to the monitoring location. Unlike automated flood warning systems (credited as
Level 3), Level 2 systems do not predict flood heights or provide any data other than the
current water level.
(c) Level 3: Automated flood warning systems. These systems provide information such
as the timing and potential crest of an oncoming flood. On larger rivers, they may be
operated by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Where there are flash floods on smaller rivers, a local ALERT system (Automated Local
Evaluation in Real Time) or IFLOWS (Integrated Flood Observing and Warning
System) may be established.
In coastal areas, the systems use models like the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from
Hurricanes (SLOSH) model. These models determine surge heights and delineate the
areas of the community that are subject to inundation during a particular category of
storm in real time (see the map on the right in Figure 610-1).
A community may determine that different levels of service are appropriate for different
sources of flooding in the community (e.g., both riverine and coastal) and may receive FTR
credit for more than one system. The credit calculation is based on the levels of service and
the number of buildings that benefit from the service.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) The community must have a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 flood threat recognition system
that provides early notice of a flood for at least one location within the community. The
system must be able to receive or provide flood warnings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A community may have different levels of service for different sources of flooding, and
in different locations in the community.
(3) The flood threat recognition system must be correlated to the flood inundation map, so
that the emergency manager can see what areas will be affected by the predicted flood.
Generally, this is done by showing areas affected by different flood levels on the map
using the same terminology as the flood threat recognition system. An example of this is
the riverine map shown in Figure 610-1, which is keyed to the river stages reported by
the river gage.
Credit Points
FTR = EITHER:
(1) 25 points, for a Level 1 manual system, OR
(2) 50 points, for a Level 2 automated flood alarm system,
OR

(3) 75 points, for a Level 3 automated flood warning system

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Example 612.a-1.
A community has a NWS river gage at a bridge in the center of town.
Data from the gage are automatically transmitted to the NWS Weather
Forecast Office and River Forecast Center. The NWS offices process
the data and issue notices that include predicted flood crest levels and
times. The police department monitors the notices 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. FTR = 75

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 613.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist to help the emergency
manager identify all the needed documentation (available at
www.CRSresources.org/600).
(i) A copy of the community’s flood hazard description (credit criterion (2) in
Section 611.b).
(ii) A copy of the flood inundation map (credit criterion (3) in Section 611.b).
(iii) A copy of the flood warning and response plan and documentation that it has
been adopted. If the plan was approved by an office that has been delegated
approval authority by the community’s governing body, a copy of the delegation
authorization. The plan must be marked to show where the credited items appear
(credit criterion (4) in Section 611.b).
(iv) A description of the flood threat recognition system. The description must
identify the rivers, streams, and coastal floodplains where flood stage forecasts
are prepared and each forecast point. If the community has its own gage system,
such as an ALERT system, the description must include the locations of the
stream and precipitation gages.
(v) If the community has its own gage system, such as an ALERT system, a copy of
the maintenance procedures for the system and records showing that the system
is being maintained.
(vi) An impact adjustment map showing the area(s) affected by each element and
documentation showing how the numbers of buildings used in the calculations
were determined.

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(2) At the verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) A copy of the outreach material used to tell people how they will be warned and the
safety measures they should take (credit criterion (5) in Section 611.b). If the
outreach material is also credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), a separate
submittal is not needed, provided that the other document (including a PPI, if used)
is annotated to show where the Activity 610 outreach topics are covered.
(b) A description of the flood exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or
disaster response conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (6) in Section
611.b). The description must include a list of who participated, lessons learned, and
any recommendations for changes to the system. A copy of the after-action report or
any similar report for any actual response is required.

612.b. Emergency warning dissemination (EWD)
The maximum credit for this element is 75 points.
EWD credit is provided for emergency warning alerts and messages that are disseminated to
the public when a flood is imminent.
Flood warning dissemination provides a critical linkage between the recognition of an
impending flood and the community’s response to the emergency. An example of a
dissemination system is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s)
Integrated Public Alert Warning System (known as IPAWS). Once the flood threat
recognition system tells local emergency managers what will be flooded and when,
warnings should be issued to the affected populations. The messages that need to be
conveyed and the appropriate times to deliver them should be thought out in advance, as
part of the flood warning and response plan.
The warning messages should state when flooding is predicted to occur, its expected
severity, and appropriate response actions (e.g., evacuation routes, safe shelters, protective
actions).
Special warning arrangements for schools, nursing homes, and other critical facilities are
credited under CFP, Section 612.d.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) The warning must reach people in a timely manner. For example, television or radio
announcements are not credited in areas subject to flash flooding during the night.
(3) For those warning systems requiring specialized equipment, such as sirens, the
equipment and procedures must be tested at least annually. Equipment that is used
routinely throughout the year, such as television notices and message boards, do not
need testing records for CRS credit.

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Credit Points
EWD = the total of the following, up to the maximum of 75 points
EWD1 = 10 points, if the flood warning and response plan
includes pre-scripted messages and guidance for staff to
quickly issue appropriate flood warnings
EWD2 = 10 points, if the public messages include information
and instruction on the expected elevation of the flood
waters, and instructions on when to evacuate
EWD3 = 10 points, if an outdoor voice-sound system or fixedsiren system is used
EWD4 = EITHER:
(a) 5 points, if the plan identifies the primary and support
agencies responsible for door-to-door or mobile public
address warning; OR
(b) 15 points, if the plan identifies the routes, procedures,
responsible staff, and equipment necessary for door-todoor or mobile public address warning
EWD5 = 10 points, if the Emergency Alert System through all
channels/stations with pre-scripted draft messages is used
EWD6 = 15 points, if telephone warning/enhanced telephone
notification is used
EWD7 = 10 points, if cable television override systems are used
EWD8 = 10 points, if the community uses other forms of public
notification for emergency warnings
EWD9 = 10 points, if all schools, hospitals, nursing homes,
prisons, and similar facilities that need flood warning have
NOAA Weather Radio receivers and at least one other
automated backup system for receiving flood warnings
EWD10 = 10 points, if the flood inundation map is posted online.
This can be either a map such as is shown in Figure 610-1 or a
map showing just the predicted flood

The procedures and messages should be coordinated with the public information activities
credited under flood response preparation (FRP) under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

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Example 612.b-1.
A community’s emergency response plan describes its warning
dissemination system. The city receives credit under the following
sections under EWD.
EWD1: The plan includes pre-scripted messages and guidance on
what warnings to issue, and to whom, when the river is predicted to
reach different stages. [10 points]
EWD3: When the flood threat recognition system shows that the river
is expected to exceed a flood stage of 30 feet, the police
dispatcher sounds the sirens, which are located throughout the
community. [10 points]
EWD4: The Police Department sends a squad car along streets in the
floodplain to warn residents with its public address system.
[15 points]
EWD5: The police dispatcher also activates the Emergency Alert
System and advises area radio stations about the hazard, and prescripted messages are used. [10 points]
EWD6: The guidance authorizes the police dispatcher to initiate the
enhanced telephone notification system. [15 points]
EWD7: The local cable television system programming is overridden
with scripted warning messages developed for different flood
stages identified in the plan. The messages identify evacuation
routes. [10 points]
EWD9: All schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other group
facilities for the care of the elderly that need flood warning have
NOAA Weather Radio receivers and at least one other automated
backup system for receiving flood warnings. [10 points]
Different messages are used based on the predicted flood stage.
Flood stage messages are evaluated each year based on changes in
local conditions such as new construction and lessons learned from
the annual exercises.
Sirens are tested on the first Monday of each month. The Emergency
Alert System is tested every six months. Maintenance of the sirens and
communications equipment is provided for by contracts with the
manufacturers. The squad cars are used daily, so there is no special
testing or maintenance documentation needed for them.
EWD = 10 + 10 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 15 + 10 = 80
Because the maximum value for EWD is 75, EWD = 75.

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 613.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the flood warning and response plan, marked to show where the EWDcredited items appear in the plan.
(b) Copies of any written warning materials, such as handouts or the flood inundation
map credited under EWD 10.
(c) [For EWD1, 2, 5, 6, or 7] A copy of the pre-scripted messages.
(d) [For EWD3] The impact adjustment map, showing the siren locations and their
effective coverage areas.
(e) [For EWD6] A copy of the description of a publicly owned call warning system or a
copy of the contract with a private provider.
(f) [For EWD7] A copy of the cable TV agreement and override procedures.
(g) [For EWD8] A description of the capability and use of other forms of public
notification.
(2) At the verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) The description of the flood exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or
disaster response conducted during the previous year that notes experiences and
lessons learned about the warning dissemination measures.

612.c. Flood response operations (FRO)
The maximum credit for this element is 115 points.
FRO credit is based on the extent of coverage and level of detail that the community’s flood
warning and response plan provides for the flood response operations.
Flood warning and response planning must identify every opportunity to prevent loss of life
and property damage during a flood. Using information from the flood inundation maps, the
planning team should think about how flooding would occur—what areas will be affected
and when. Through this brainstorming, the team can decide what actions and resources will
become necessary.
Developing scenarios can assist this process by helping the community determine what
actions it must plan for, and what resources it is likely to need. Scenarios are produced by
thinking through what will happen in the community at different levels of flooding (e.g.,
where will the water go, who will get flooded, who will lose access because of high water,
what critical facilities will be affected). By accounting for the local geography, the specific
characteristics of the community’s residents, and other factors, scenarios help with the
design of the response operations so that the threats to life and property at those flood
levels can be minimized.
The flood warning and response plan must include appropriate actions to be implemented at
the different flood levels shown on the flood inundation map. For each action that needs to
be taken, the plan must assign a person or office. See the examples below.
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Examples.
■ River at elevation 733 feet: notification phase
○ Activate the emergency operations center (emergency
manager),
○ Monitor water levels (engineering),
○ Etc.
■ River at elevation 736 feet: 25 homes and businesses affected
○ Close [list the names] streets or bridges (police),
○ Shut off power to threatened areas (utility company),
○ Etc.
■ River at elevation 738 feet: 350 homes and businesses affected
○ Close [list the names] streets or bridges (police),
○ Pass out sand and sandbags at [list the locations] (public
works),
○ Relocate equipment in Fire Station #4 to high ground (fire
department),
○ Release children from [name] school (school superintendent),
Open evacuation shelters (Red Cross),
○ Establish security and other protection measures
(police/sheriff).
○

Etc.

Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) For full credit for flood response operations, the plan needs to
(a) Describe the actions to be taken,
(b) Identify the office or official responsible for the action,
(c) Define the time needed to carry out the activity, and
(d) Contain other critical information that designated agencies and organizations will
need in order to perform their assigned responsibilities.
General statements or an assignment of responsibilities with no specifics about what is
to be done are not credited.
(3) Bonus credit is provided under FRO5 if there is a list of the personnel, equipment,
facilities, supplies, and other resources needed to complete each task. For full credit the
list must identify what is available within the community and what is needed from
private suppliers or other jurisdictions.
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The National Incident Management System (NIMS 2007) requires local governments to
validate the inventory of response assets using FEMA Resources Typing Standards.
Department heads and other emergency response team members should know what
kinds of resources they have available. This should be compared with the resources
needed. Shortfalls may require negotiating agreements with private suppliers or other
jurisdictions.
(4) FRO6 provides bonus credit for preparing for mitigation opportunities that may arise in
the aftermath of a disaster—a time when hazard awareness is high, funds are more likely
to be available, and disruption of the status quo makes it possible to rethink the design
and location of facilities and infrastructure. This should be coordinated with the public
information activities credited under flood response preparations (FRP) under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects), which encourages owners to take mitigation measures during
repairs.
(5) FRO7 provides bonus credits for identifying response and recovery measures to take
that support property protection, such as providing a high-ground site for relocated
vehicles, helping move building contents, and distributing sandbags.
Credit Points
FRO = the sum of the following, up to the maximum of 115 points:
FRO1 = 15 points, if the community has developed scenarios
that review how flood incidents might develop at the different
levels shown on the flood inundation map
FRO2 = 2 points, if the plan identifies flood response tasks and
responsible community staff and other public and private
organizations with responsibilities related to the flood tasks in
the plan
FRO3 = 28 points, if specific actions are keyed to the different
flood levels shown on the flood inundation map
FRO4 = 10 points, for maintaining a data base of people with
special needs who require evacuation assistance when a flood
warning is issued and for having a plan to provide transportation
to secure locations
FRO5 = Up to 30 points, if the plan includes a summary of
estimated staff, equipment, supplies, and time required for each
response task and the sources of necessary resources
FRO5 = the sum of the following:
(a) 10 points, for an estimate of the number of personnel
needed for each task,
(b) 5 points, for an estimate of the time required for each

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response task, and
(c) 15 points, for a list of equipment and supplies expected
to be needed and how they will be obtained
FRO6 = Up to 15 points, if the plan includes instructions for
○
○
○
○

When and how returning evacuees can reoccupy their
damaged homes and businesses,
Permit requirements,
Implementing flood loss mitigation measures on
community properties, and
Promoting flood loss mitigation measures for private
property

FRO7 = 20 points, if the plan identifies actions that support
property protection measures that could be carried out during
response and recovery

Example 612.c-1.
A community’s emergency response plan includes the following flood
response information. The city receives credit under the following
sections under FRO:
FRO2 Various public and private organizations are listed, along with
their flood response assignments. [2 points]
FRO3 The tasks are tied to specified flood levels of the river.
[28 points]
FRO5 The plan lists the staff, equipment, and supplies needed for
each response task and the time required for each task. Assets
are identified by departments using NIMS resource typing
standards. [30 points]
FRO6 Instructions for the return of evacuees to affected areas are
also in the plan, including credential instructions and area security
assignments. [5 points, partial credit under FRO6]
FRO = 2 + 28 + 30 + 5 = 65

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for FRO is described in Section 613.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the flood warning and response plan, marked to show where the FROcredited items appear.
(b) Copies of the appropriate documents, for the credited items that are not in the flood
warning and response plan.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) The description of the flood exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or
disaster response conducted during the previous year, which notes experiences with,
and lessons learned from, the flood response operations portion of the plan.

612.d. Critical facilities planning (CFP)
The maximum credit for this element is 75 points.
CFP credit is provided for coordinating the community’s warning and response program
with its critical facilities.
By definition, “critical facilities” are critical to the community. For CRS credit purposes,
critical facilities are defined in Section 120. There are usually two kinds of critical facilities
that a community should address with regard to flooding:
 Facilities that are vital to flood response activities or crucial to the health and safety
of the public before, during, and after a flood, such as a hospital, emergency
operations center, electric substation, police station, fire station, nursing home,
school, vehicle and equipment storage facility, or shelter; and
 Facilities that, if flooded, would make the flood problem and its impacts much worse,
such as a hazardous materials facility, power generation facility, water utility, or
wastewater treatment plant.
Coordinating the flood warning and response planning with these facilities will allow more
timely and effective protection of them and more rapid response and community recovery.
Critical facilities may need special early warning. Every facility should have its own
individual flood warning and response plan. Not only will this make them better prepared,
but also it will reduce the workload on emergency response teams because the critical
facilities will be performing some or all of the response themselves.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) CFP1 is a prerequisite for any CFP credit.
(3) For CFP1, the community’s flood warning and response plan must list the facilities
considered critical in a flood. This can be in a separate document or SOP. In general,
facilities not subject to flooding do not need to be addressed, although in some cases

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loss of access can cause a critical situation. There may also be facilities in flood-free
sites that are needed to support the flood response effort (e.g., sandbag suppliers and
shelters for evacuees). The list must be updated at least annually.
The community must also contact the facilities to determine if they need any special
warning arrangements. For example, a factory where there is a lot of noise may need a
direct telephone call because no one would hear a siren. Another facility may need an
earlier notice because it needs more time to get ready.
The community does not need to provide a special warning to all critical facilities, only
those that need one.
(4) For CFP2, additional credit is provided if flood warning and response plans have been
developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community for individual critical facilities.
Credit Points
CFP = the sum of the following, up to 75 points:
CFP1 = up to 25 points, if the flood warning and response plan
includes
(a) the names and phone numbers of the operators of all
public and private critical facilities affected by flooding,
and
(b) arrangements for special warnings or early notifications
directly to those critical facilities that need advanced
warning
CFP2 = up to 50 points, if critical facilities listed under CFP1
have their own flood warning and response plans that have
been developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community. The
credit is prorated based on the percentage of affected critical
facilities that have creditable plans

Example 612.d-1.
A community’s multi-hazard plan lists all critical facilities in the
community, their operators, and their telephone numbers. The list is
updated by the emergency manager every six months. There are three
critical facilities affected by flooding: the public works garage, a
church, and a school. The first is in the floodplain and the last two are
adjacent to the floodplain but are needed as shelters as described in
the flood warning and response plan. The community’s plan includes
providing special warnings to these three facilities. CFP1 = 25 points
CFP = 25 + 0 = 25

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Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for CFP.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of all public and private critical facilities affected by flooding or needed to be
operational during a flood, with the contact information and agreed-upon warning
needs.
(b) [For CFP2] The list of critical facilities marked to identify those that have
developed their own flood warning and response plans that have been reviewed and
accepted by the community. The ISO/CRS Specialist will ask for samples of the
plans for review.
(2) With the annual recertification,
(a) A page from the latest list of the critical facilities provided for CFP1 that must be
updated at least annually.

612.e. StormReady community (SRC)
The maximum credit for this element is 25 points.
SRC credit is provided to communities that have received a
StormReady designation from the NWS.
StormReady is a nationwide community preparedness program that uses a grassroots
approach to help communities develop plans to handle all types of severe weather—from
tornadoes to tsunamis. The program encourages communities to take a new, proactive
approach to improving local hazardous weather operations by providing emergency
managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.
To be officially StormReady, a community must
 Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;
 Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to
alert the public;
 Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally;
 Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars; and
 Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather
spotters and holding emergency exercises (see
www.stormready.noaa.gov/basics.htm).
There are more than 2,000 StormReady communities in the United States. StormReady
credits communications and educational requirements that go beyond the elements credited
by the CRS. Because of the advantages of being a StormReady community, this element
provides credit to encourage communities to qualify.

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Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) The community must be designated as a StormReady community by the NWS.
Credit Points
SRC = 25, for being designated by the NWS as a StormReady
community and meeting all credit criteria

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for SRC.
Documentation Provided by the Community
No documentation is required from the community. Credit is based on the list of
StormReady communities posted on the NWS website, www.stormready.noaa.gov.

612.f. TsunamiReady community (TRC)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
TRC credit is provided to communities that have received a
TsunamiReady designation from the NWS.
The TsunamiReady program is the NWS’s counterpart to StormReady for communities that
are exposed to a tsunami hazard. There are over 100 TsunamiReady communities in the
country. A community can participate in both programs and receive credit for both
elements, SRC and TRC.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 611.b must be met.
(2) The community must be designated as a TsunamiReady community by the NWS.
(3) The community must meet the CRS tsunami hazards mapping requirements identified in
CRS Credit for Mitigation of Tsunami Hazards. It may be downloaded from
www.CRSresources.org or a hard copy may be ordered (see Appendix C).
(4) The community must have adopted a tsunami hazards operations plan that describes the
actions the community is to take upon receiving a tsunami warning.
Credit Points
TRC = 30, for being designated by the NWS as a TsunamiReady
community and meeting all credit criteria

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Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for TRC.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A copy of the tsunami hazards map and a description of how it was prepared; and
(b) A copy of the tsunami emergency operations plan.
No documentation is required of communities to demonstrate their TsunamiReady status.
Credit is confirmed based on the list of TsunamiReady communities posted on the NWS
website, www.tsunamiready.noaa.gov.

613 Impact Adjustment
The credit points for FTR, EWD, and FRO are adjusted based on the number of buildings
affected by the element. Determining these adjustments usually will require identifying the
area affected and then counting the buildings within that area.
(1) rFTR =

bFTR
bSF

(2) rEWD = bEWD
bSF
(3) rFRO =

bFRO , where
bSF

bFTR = the number of buildings that benefit from the level of the
flood threat recognition system,
bEWD = the number of buildings that benefit from the flood
emergency warnings,
bFRO = the number of buildings in the area covered by the
flood response operations, and
bSF = the number of buildings in the Special Flood Hazard
Area, and
bFRO cannot be greater than bEWD
bEWD cannot be greater than bFTR
rFTR cannot be greater than 1.0

See Section 301 for more information on counting buildings for impact adjustments. Note
that bSF includes all buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), but bFTR,
bEWD, and bFRO can include buildings outside the SFHA that benefit from the flood
warning and response plan. The maximum impact adjustment is 1.0. For example, a
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community with a plan for up to a category 5 hurricane may be providing a safety benefit
for many buildings on ground higher than that flooded by the base flood.
In general, bFTR = bEWD = bFRO, because the flood warning and response plan will
provide the same level of services to the same areas. There may be cases in which the flood
threat recognition system covers a larger area than a detailed flood warning and response
plan, so their impact adjustments are calculated separately.

Example 613-1.
The community in the previous examples has a warning and response
program for its major river. It does not have a program for three small
streams that affect a portion of its SFHA. There are 452 buildings
within the community’s SFHA. Its flood warning and response plan
covers the 410 buildings that are in the major river’s floodplain.
bFTR, bEWD, and bFRO = 410
rFTR = bFTR =
bSF

bSF = 452

410 = 0.91
452

rFRO = bFRO =
bSF

rEWD = bEWD =
bSF

410 = 0.91
452

410 = 0.91
452

614 Credit Calculation
The credit points for each element are multiplied by the impact adjustment ratios and the
products are totaled.
c610 = (FTR x rFTR) + (EWD x rEWD) + (FRO x rFRO) + CFP1 +
CFP2 + SRC + TRC

Example 614-1.
The community’s flood warning and response program is described in
the previous sections’ examples.
FTR = 75

rFTR = 0.91

EWD = 75

rEWD = 0.91

FRO = 65

rFRO = 0.91

CFP1 = 25

CFP2 = 0

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SRC = 25
TRC = 0
c610 = (FTR x rFTR) + (EWD x rEWD) + (FRO x rFRO)
+ CFP1 + CFP2 + SRC + TRC
c610 = (75 x 0.91) + (75 x 0.91) + (65 x 0.91) + 25 + 0 + 25 + 0
= 68.25 + 68.25 + 59.15 + 25 + 25 + 0
= 245.65 = 246 (rounded)

615 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/600.
b. CRS Credit for Flood Warning and Response Programs can be obtained online at
(www.CRSresources.org/600) or a hard copy can be ordered (see Appendix C).
c. Flood Warning Systems Manual. National Weather Service Manual 10-942. Operations and
Services Hydrologic Services Program, NWSPD 10-9. 2010. Silver Spring, MD: Department
of Commerce, NOAA,
www.nws.noaa.gov/os/water/ahps/resources/Flood_Warning_Systems_Manual.pdf.
d. CPG 101: Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal and Local Government
Emergency Plans. March 2009. Washington, D.C.: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/CPG_101_V2.pdf.

616 Related Activities under the Community Rating System
 Developing an appropriate outreach approach to the residents as required in Section
611.b(5) as part of a Program for Public Information can be credited under Activity
330 (Outreach Projects).
 FTR is similar to element LFR under Activity 620 and element DFR under Activity
630. It credits a system that provides the community with the earliest possible
notification that a flood is imminent. The three threat recognition systems should be
closely coordinated.
 EWD is similar to element LFW under Activity 620 and element DFW under Activity
630. It credits a flood warning dissemination system that provides a critical link
between the recognition of an impending flood and the community’s response to the
emergency. The three warning dissemination systems should be closely coordinated.
 FRO is similar to element LFO under Activity 620 and DFO under Activity 630. It
identifies opportunities to prevent loss of life and property damage during a flood.
The three response operations plans should be closely coordinated.

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 FRO6 credit should be coordinated with the public information activities credited as
flood response preparations (FRP) under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects),
regulations under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards), and mitigation
measures under Activity 530 (Flood Protection).
 Documentation of the annual exercise is a prerequisite Activities 610, 620, and 630.
One exercise can meet all three activities’ requirement.

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620  LEVEES—Summary 
Maximum credit:  235 points 

622  Elements 
a.  Levee maintenance (LM):  Up to 95 points if the levee system is 
maintained and operated according to a written maintenance plan. There 
are no credit points for levees that are accredited by FEMA, although 
documentation of annual inspection and maintenance is a prerequisite 
for any credit under this activity. 
b.  Levee failure threat recognition system (LFR):  Up to 30 points for having 
a system to advise the emergency manager when there is a threat of a 
levee’s failure or overtopping. 
c.   Levee failure warning (LFW):  Up to 50 points for disseminating the 
warning to the public. 
d.  Levee failure response operations (LFO):  Up to 30 points for response 
actions to be undertaken to reduce or prevent threats to health, safety, 
and property. 
e.  Levee failure critical facilities planning (LCF):  Up to 30 points for 
coordination of actions with operators of critical facilities. 

Credit Criteria  
Credit criteria for this activity are described in Section 621.b. 
a.  Credit is limited to levee systems that were designed and constructed as 
levee systems and are operated and maintained by a public agency. 
b.  The community must submit a map showing the location of each levee and 
the areas that would be flooded if the levee were to fail or be overtopped. 
c.  Annual inspections of the levee system must be conducted according to a 
written maintenance plan. 
d.  The community must implement an outreach project to the residents and 
businesses in the area(s) that would be inundated if a levee were overtopped. 
e.  To receive any Activity 620 credit, the community must receive some LM 
credit and some credit for LFR, LFW, LFO and LCF, and  

(1)  There must be a levee failure flood warning and response plan that 
has been adopted by the community’s governing body. 
(2)  There must be an annual exercise of the plan and a lessons‐learned report. 
Each element has additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
The credit for LM, LFR, LFW, and LFO are adjusted based on the number of 
buildings within the Special Flood Hazard Area affected by each element. There 
is no impact adjustment for LCF. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation.  

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620 LEVEES
The OBJECTIVE of this activity is to encourage communities to properly inspect and
maintain levees and to identify impending levee failures in a timely manner, disseminate
warnings to appropriate floodplain occupants, and coordinate emergency response activities
to reduce the threat to life and property.

621 Background
The failure or overtopping of a levee poses extreme hazards
to buildings, infrastructure, and people on the landward
side of the levee.
Flood waters near a levee breach usually move at a much
greater velocity than the water within the channel. The
combination of high-velocity flows and rapidly rising water
makes evacuation and other responses difficult or
impossible. Sound emergency response plans for levee
failures are critical, especially if evacuation routes would
be restricted or severed.

Definition of a Levee
A levee is a structure, usually
an earthen embankment,
designed and constructed using
sound engineering practices, to
contain, control, or divert flood
waters in accordance with a
designated risk reduction level.
See Section 120 (Glossary).

Up to a certain point, a levee usually will prevent flooding
to properties on its landward side. However, regardless of the design standard used, levees
can and do fail. Someday there will be a flood that exceeds the levee’s ability to hold flood
waters, and when a levee is overtopped it is far more likely that it will suffer a catastrophic
breach or failure as well. Even well-maintained levees can fail for a variety of reasons.
By doing everything possible to reduce the chance of levee failure and by being prepared
for an event that could lead to a levee failure, a community can reduce the potential hazards
to life, health, and property.

621.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 620 is 235 points.
The items credited by this activity include


Proper maintenance of the levees (credited under LM),



A system to advise local emergency managers of a potential levee failure or
overtopping (credited under LFR),



A warning system for people on the landward side of the levee (credited under LFW),



A plan of action to minimize the threat to life and property during the flood
(credited under LFO), and



Coordination with critical facility operators (credited under LCF).

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For levee maintenance credit, a community must implement a levee maintenance plan,
create and maintain an inventory of levees, identify the vulnerable population and at-risk
structures, and conduct an outreach project to advise the vulnerable population.
Levee maintenance (LM) is a prerequisite for the four emergency preparedness and
response elements (LFR, LFW, LFO, and LCF), which are based on the community’s
adopted levee failure warning and response plan. This activity is not intended to be a model
for developing a levee failure warning and response plan or program. As with the rest of the
Community Rating System (CRS) activities, its objective is to provide a way to measure a
local program’s potential impact on life safety, health, and property damage. An effective
program needs to be carefully prepared and tailored to the local hazards and the specific
needs of the community.

621.b. Activity Credit Criteria
Credit for this activity is based on levee systems, i.e., the levee structure plus all
appurtenant facilities, such as pump stations, that are needed to control flood waters. To
receive credit under this activity,
(1) The levee system(s) for which the community requests credit (or qualification for
credit) must have been designed and constructed as a levee (see Section 120
(Glossary)). Structures such as road and railroad embankments that divert flood waters
are not considered “levees” for the purposes of this credit unless it can be documented
that they were intended to be levees and were
designed and constructed accordingly.
(2) The levee system(s) for which the community
requests credit (or qualification for credit) must
be operated and maintained by a public agency.
This could be a federal or state agency, a levee
district, an office or department of the
community, or other public entity.

Non-Levee Structures
Non-levee structures, such as
roads and railroad embankments,
pose the same hazards as levees
and are more likely to fail.
Communities are urged to mitigate
these hazards by paying special
attention to emergency preparedness
and response for buildings on the
landward side of these structures.

(3) The community must submit a map showing the
location of each levee and the areas that would be
flooded if the levee were to be overtopped or fail
and an inventory of the buildings and critical
facilities that would be flooded upon overtopping
or failure. For each levee, the following information must be submitted:

(a) The approximate protection level of the levee and the expected overtopping
elevation, if different. Newer levee systems may include extra levee height to ensure
overtopping at a predefined location. Older designs often use freeboard, which may
vary along the system;
(b) A map of the levee(s) and the area(s) affected should the levee(s) be overtopped or
fail. If there are no detailed levee breach maps or levee failure studies, then the map

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would show the area below the expected overtopping elevation. Guidance for this
mapping can be found in Section 621.c.
(c) A list of the addresses of all properties with insurable buildings in the inundated
areas. This list is needed for the required outreach project and the impact adjustment
(bLF); and
(d) A list of the critical facilities that would be flooded or otherwise affected by a
failure or by the overtopping of the levee (see Section 622.e, LCF1).
This credit criterion is a prerequisite for Class 4 communities.
(4) The community must have a levee maintenance plan that includes annual inspections
and an emergency action plan for the levee system(s), and the plans must meet the
credit criteria for LM1 and LM2. There are no CREDIT POINTS for accredited levees or
levees owned and operated by the
federal agency, but all levees must be
documented as meeting the LM1 and
LM2 CREDIT CRITERIA in order for the
community to receive credit for the
rest of the elements in this activity.
(5) The community must implement one or
more outreach projects to the residents
and businesses in the area(s) expected
to be inundated by a flood that
overtops a levee. The project(s) must
tell people about their risk of flooding,
how they will be warned of a leveefailure flood, the safety measures they
should take during a flood (e.g.,
evacuation procedures and routes), and
the benefits of purchasing flood
insurance. This can be done by using
one or more of the following
approaches:
(a) Sending an outreach project (e.g., a
letter, brochure, or newsletter) each
year to all properties with insurable
buildings in the area(s) subject to a
flood that overtops the levee, or

Excerpt from the annual outreach project sent by the California
Department of Water Resources
to residents of leveed areas.

(b) Developing an appropriate approach as part of a Program for Public Information
credited Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
(6) The community must obtain some credit in all four levee failure warning and response
elements (LFR, LFW, LFO, and LCF) to received credit for its local levee failure and
response planning.

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(7) To receive LFR, LFW, LFO, and LCF credit, the
community must have a levee failure flood
warning and response plan that has been adopted
by the community’s governing body. The plan
should be part of, and must meet the same criteria
as, the community’s flood warning and response
plan described in Section 611.b(4).
(8) There must be at least one exercise or drill of the
levee failure warning and response plan each year.
This can be an exercise for a flood, levee failure,
dam failure, or hurricane. This criterion can be
met if the plan is implemented in response to an
actual flood or threat of a levee failure. In either
case, there must be an evaluation of the
performance of the plan and recommended
changes that may be needed, as is usually done in
an after-action report.

Annual Warning and
Response Exercise
Activities 610 (Flood Warning and
Response), 620 (Levees), and 630
(Dams) require an annual exercise or
drill of the warning and response plan.
A flood, levee failure, dam failure, or
hurricane exercise qualifies as an
exercise for all three activities.
An evaluation of the performance
of the warning and response plan
must include
 A description of the exercise;
 An evaluation of the
○ Threat recognition procedures,
○ Warning dissemination, and
○ Response operations; and
 Recommended changes to the
plan.

621.c. Map of the Affected Area
Credit criterion Section 621.(b)(3)(b) calls for a map
that is used to identify the area affected should the
levee fail or overtop. This map is central to CRS
credit for this activity. It can help determine the
building inventory (Section 621.(b)(3)(c)), the
addresses that get the outreach project (Section
621.b(5)), and the impact adjustment factors (Section
623).

The exercise requirement can also
be met if the community responds to
an actual flood or an actual threat of a
levee or dam failure, provided that the
items listed above are discussed in an
after-action (or similar) report.

This map is not necessarily the map (or series of maps) the community uses in its flood
warning and response plan, which is credited in Sections 622(b)–(d). A community should
develop a warning and response plan based on different flood level scenarios, including
levee breaks at elevations lower than the overtopping level.
The criteria for an affected area map is the same for levees that have been accredited and
those that have not been accredited on a Flood Insurance Rate Map. There are two ways the
map can be prepared:
(1) If the community or levee agency has an engineering study that identified the area
affected by a levee breach or overtopping, that map can be used. Note that such
studies often have more than one scenario. The total area flooded by all the
scenarios should be used for the affected-area map.
(2) In the absence of an engineering study on areas that would be flooded by a levee
failure or levee overtopping, the affected area is all land below the elevation of the
top of the levee. Figure 620-1 identifies such an area where the top of the levee is

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lower than the base flood elevation. Where the top of the levee is higher than the
base flood elevation, the same approach is used and the affected area would be
larger than the Special Flood Hazard Area.
Note that communities that have levee breach analyses are encouraged to use the larger
levee overtopping area to determine the addresses for the outreach project. It is a safer
standard to use for identifying the properties potentially affected by a worst case/deepest
flooding situation.

Figure 620-1. Delineating the area affected when a levee is overtopped.

622 Elements
622.a. Levee maintenance (LM)
The maximum credit for this element is 95 points.
LM credit is provided for the levee system’s maintenance program and emergency action
plans.
A levee system (the levee structure plus all appurtenant facilities) is only as good as its
weakest part. An operations and maintenance plan needs to include an inspection process
that identifies openings or potential weak points in the levee. Equipment to close these
openings needs to be checked and tested and instructions that define roles and
responsibilities need to be put in place before the levee is threatened by a flood. All of
these items are vital to good maintenance and are credited in this element.
LM credit is provided in two ways:
(1) LM1 credit is provided for the annual inspection and maintenance of the levee system to
identify and correct problems as required in a maintenance plan; and

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(2) LM2 credit is provided for the levee agency’s emergency action plan. This credit is for
having a written operations plan or manual that describes what must be done when a
flood occurs by the agency that owns the levee. The
plan may be in the same document as the LM1
Emergency Action Plans
maintenance plan.
Levees that are accredited by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for mapping purposes are
not eligible for CREDIT POINTS under LM, because they
already are required to have an adequate maintenance
program as a condition of accreditation. There are no
LM credit points for a levee owned or operated by a
federal agency. However, communities can receive
credit points for their levee failure warning and response
plans (LFR, LFW, LFO, and LCF credit) for the areas
protected by accredited or federally owned or operated
levees.
To receive credit points for a levee failure warning and
response plan, the levee must be shown to “qualify” for
LM credit. All levees must “qualify,” but the credit
points for LM are limited to non-accredited and nonfederal levees.

and
Levee Failure Warning and
Response Plans

A levee EMERGENCY ACTION
prepared and implemented by the LEVEE OWNER OR
OPERATOR. It includes actions
such as closing openings and
patrolling for problems along the
levee. It may have another
name, such as a levee operations plan.
PLAN is

A LEVEE FAILURE WARNING AND
RESPONSE PLAN is prepared and
implemented by the LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. It
specifies actions to take to
protect people and property in
the flood-prone area, such as
ordering an evacuation.

Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 621.b must be
met.
(2) The community must qualify for some LM1 and LM2 credit to receive any LM credit or
to qualify for any Activity 620 credit.
(3) To qualify for LM1 credit, the levee system maintenance must
(a) Ensure that the levee system’s stability, height, and overall integrity are maintained.
Encroachments must be controlled to ensure that they do not compromise the levee’s
integrity, hinder operations and maintenance, and/or diminish the ability to engage
in flood fighting activities. Maintenance programs must correct problems posed by
existing encroachments.
(b) Provide written operations and maintenance procedures that include
(1) Annual inspections of the condition of the levee system (i.e., the levee structure,
pump stations, closure devices, etc.);
(2) The maintenance activities to be performed;
(3) The frequency of their performance; and
(4) The person responsible for their performance (by name or title).

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(c) Perform and document annual inspections and needed maintenance of levees and
floodwalls, as well as pumps, interior drainage systems, closures, penetrations, and
transitions that provide for system integrity.
(4) To qualify for LM2 credit, the emergency action plan must have a written operations
plan or manual that describes what must be done by the agency that owns the levee
when a flood occurs. It must include
(a) A list of all actions that need to be taken at different flood levels, including
(1) Procedures to notify the local emergency managers of a potential problem,
(2) All openings and closures that need to be closed and the location of the
equipment and materials to effect the closure, and
(3) Periodic patrols of the levee to detect problems such as erosion and seepage;
(b) The person or office responsible for their performance (by name or title);
(c) Annual inspections of all equipment and material needed for the plan, such as
vehicles and stockpiled sandbags; and
(d) Annual tests of all closures, pumps, and other equipment needed to implement the
emergency action plan. Any equipment that is used routinely throughout the year,
such as vehicles and drainage pumps, do not need testing records for CRS credit.
The plan may be in the same document as
the LM1 maintenance plan.
(5) The community’s levee maintenance program
must be compliant with applicable federal
environmental and historic preservation laws
and executive orders (see Section 507). The
community and/or levee owners must complete
CC-620EHP, Certification of Compliance with
Environmental and Historic Preservation
Requirements for Levee Maintenance, which
can be found in Appendix F. Credit is not
provided if levee maintenance procedures are
not compliant with applicable federal laws and
executive orders.

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Environmental Protection and
Historic Preservation
Because it is a FEMA program , the
CRS must ensure that activities for which
it provides credit are compliant with
applicable federal environmental and
historic preservation laws and executive
orders. Section 507 expands on this
requirement and presents a summary of
FEMA’s policy. Figure 500-5 lists the
federal programs that should be
considered during project development.

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Credit Points
LM = the sum of the following
LM1 = 50 points, for the levee system maintenance plans
LM2 = 45 points, for the levee system emergency action plans

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 623.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation for this activity is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist
and provided to the technical reviewer. There is a checklist to help the emergency
manager identify all needed documentation (available at www.CRSresources.org).
(b) The map and inventory of buildings described in credit criterion (3) in
Section 621.b.
(c) The LM1 maintenance procedures described in credit criterion (3)(b) in Section
622.a, or documentation that the procedures have been approved by FEMA as
meeting PM 63 requirements or approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
(d) The LM2 emergency action plan described in credit criterion (4) in Section 622.a, or
documentation the plan has been approved by FEMA as meeting PM 63 requirements or approved by the Corps of Engineers.
(e) Completed Community Certifications of Compliance with Environmental and
Historic Preservation Requirements for Levee Maintenance (CC-620EHP) from all
levee owners, which can be found in Appendix F.
(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) Documentation that all levees to be credited have been inspected during the previous
year and are being maintained in accordance with the procedures and standards of
the LM1 maintenance plan (credit criterion (3)(c) in Section 622.a).
(b) Records showing the most recent annual inspection of all equipment and material
needed for the LM2 emergency action plan (credit criterion (4)(c) in Section 622.a).
(c) Records showing the most recent annual test of all closures, pumps, and other
equipment needed to implement the LM2 emergency action plan (credit criterion
(4)(d) in Section 622.a).
(d) A copy of the outreach materials used to advise people of the levee failure hazard
and ways to protect themselves from flooding (credit criterion (5) in Section 621.b).
If the outreach material is also credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), a
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separate submittal is not needed, provided that the other document (including a PPI,
if used) is annotated to show where the Activity 620 outreach topics are covered.

622.b. Levee failure threat recognition system (LFR)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
LFR credit is provided for monitoring flood conditions near the levee. LFR credit is
separate from flood threat recognition credit in Activity 610 (FTR), but the levee failure
threat recognition system should be closely coordinated with the FTR system.
The more lead time that a community has, the more that can be done to reduce hazards
associated with a flood. Although a levee may fail suddenly, overtopping is more
predictable. There may be some advance indications of a potential levee failure, such as
seepage and sand boils. Therefore, there are two key aspects of a levee failure threat
recognition system that would provide the early notification needed by emergency
managers to issue timely warnings and implement their flood response operations.
(1) Monitoring flood conditions (LFR1): When flood levels reach (or are predicted to
reach) certain heights, specific actions should be initiated, such as mobilizing
patrols or opening the emergency operations center.
(2) Monitoring levee conditions (LFR2): This is done with patrols (on the ground or
from the air) and checking known problem sites during a flood.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 621.b must be met.
(2) The threat recognition procedures must be in the levee failure warning and response
plan or a related document (credit criterion (7) in Section 621.b).
(3) To receive LFR credit, some credit points must be obtained under both LFR1 and LFR2.
(4) For monitoring flood conditions and LFR1 credit:
(a) The community and the levee owner must have a flood threat recognition system
that monitors conditions. This would be a system that provides early notification of
rising waters that may threaten the levee’s integrity. The system must meet the
credit criteria of FTR in Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response). A National
Weather Service flood potential outlook or flood watch would also be sufficient.
(b) Additional credit is provided for redundant or backup monitoring systems along a
levee that send a signal to the emergency manager if water is rising on the landward
side of the levee. This system could use automated flood alarms or automated flood
warning systems, or it could rely on trained spotters.
(c) The equipment used for the flood monitoring must be tested at least annually. For
CRS credit, testing records are not needed for equipment that is used routinely
throughout the year, such as radios and vehicles.
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(5) For LFR2 credit, the community and/or the levee owner must initiate the monitoring of
levee conditions when certain, pre-defined flood conditions are present, and
(a) The monitoring procedures must cover
o Levee patrol staffing and assigned sections of the levee system,
o How and when the patrol teams are activated,
o What the patrols are to look for in the different sections,
o Methods and frequency for reporting, and
o How the community’s emergency managers are kept posted on the situation.
(b) The procedures for monitoring levee conditions must be exercised at least once each
year, in accordance with credit criterion (8) in Section 621.b.
Credit Points
LFR = the total of LFR1 and LFR2, up to the maximum of 30 points
LFR1 = the sum of
(a) 10 points, for monitoring flood conditions, and
(b) 5 points, for monitoring flood conditions along the levee
LFR2 = up to 15 points, for monitoring levee conditions

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 623.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The levee failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
threat recognition procedures (credit criterion (2) in Section 622.b) and credit
criterion (7) in Section 621.b. The plan or related document must be marked to show
where the credited items appear.
(b) An impact adjustment map showing the area(s) affected by each element and
documentation showing how the numbers of buildings used in the calculations were
determined (credit criteria (3)(b) and (3)(c) in Section 621.b and Section 623 impact
adjustment).
(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) Records showing the most recent annual test of all equipment and material needed
for the system (credit criterion (4)(c) in Section 622.b).

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(b) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (8) in Section 621.b). The
exercise must include the procedures for monitoring levee conditions, if they are
credited.

622.c. Levee failure warning (LFW)
The maximum credit for this element is 50 points.
LFW credit is provided for disseminating warnings of a potential levee failure to the public.
The warning program for LFW credit should be closely coordinated with the flood warning
dissemination activities credited in Section 612.b (EWD).
Once the levee failure flood threat recognition system tells local emergency managers what
will be flooded and when, warnings should be issued to the affected populations. The
messages that need to be conveyed and the timing for delivering them should be thought
out in advance, as part of the levee failure warning and response plan.
The messages should state when flooding is predicted to occur, its expected severity, and
appropriate response actions (e.g., evacuation routes, safe shelters, protective actions). The
messages should be drafted in coordination with the messages and projects credited under
flood response preparations (FRP) under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
Special warning arrangements for schools, nursing homes, and other critical facilities are
also credited under LCF.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 621.b must be met.
(2) The warning procedures must be included the levee failure warning and response plan
or a related document (credit criterion (7) in Section 621.b).
(3) The warning must reach people in a timely manner, especially because there may not be
much lead time between a sudden levee failure and the moment when water reaches
homes and businesses. For example, television or radio announcements are not credited
if they are the only approach used because the failure may occur during the night.
(4) For those warning systems requiring specialized equipment, such as sirens, the
equipment and procedures must be tested at least annually. Equipment that is used
routinely throughout the year, such as television notices and message boards, does not
need testing records for CRS credit.

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Credit Points
LFW = the total of the following, up to the maximum of 50 points
LFW1 = 5 points, if the plan includes pre-scripted messages
and guidance for staff to quickly issue appropriate warnings
keyed to specific triggers, such as when the river reaches a
certain level, or when sand boils appear
LFW2 = 5 points, if the public messages include information on
the expected elevation of the flood waters and instructions
on when to evacuate
LFW3 = 10 points if an outdoor voice-sound system or fixed
siren system is used
LFW 4 = EITHER
(a) 2 points if the plan identifies the primary and support
agencies responsible for door-to-door or mobile public
address warning, OR
(b) 10 points, if the plan identifies the routes, procedures,
staff, and equipment necessary for door-to-door or
mobile public address warning
LFW 5 = 10 points, if the Emergency Alert System through all
channels/stations with pre-scripted draft messages is used
LFW 6 = 10 points, if telephone warnings to residents and
businesses are used
LFW 7 = 10 points, if all schools, hospitals, nursing homes,
prisons, and similar facilities that need flood warning have
NOAA Weather Radio receivers and at least one other
automated backup system for receiving flood warnings,
provided that the community has coordinated with NOAA
and there are arrangements for issuing warnings about
levee failures

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 623.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The levee failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
emergency warning procedures (credit criterion (2) in Section 622.c and credit

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criterion (7) in Section 621.b). The plan or related document must be marked to
show where the credited items appear.
(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) Records showing the most recent annual test of all equipment and material needed
for the system (credit criterion (4) in Section 622.c).
(b) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (8) in Section 621.b). The
exercise must include the procedures for warning people credited under this element.

622.d. Levee failure response operations (LFO)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
LFO credit is provided for the development of levee failure response operations that
identify flood response scenarios, responsibilities, special need populations, and necessary
resources. The operations should be closely coordinated with the flood response operations
credited in Section 611.c (FRO).
Levee failure response operations need to be spelled out in the levee failure warning and
response plan. They include appropriate actions to be implemented when flooding due to
the levee failure threatens or actually occurs. The actions are conducted by the community
and other cooperating agencies and organizations.
Developing scenarios can help this process. Scenarios are produced by thinking through
what will happen in the community if a levee fails or is overtopped. For example, where
will the water go? who will get flooded? who will lose access because of high water? and
which critical facilities will be affected? These sorts of questions, and the scenarios
developed by thinking about them, help with the design of the response operations to
minimize the threats to life and property at those flood levels.
Two types of operations should be in the plan.
(1) Levee protection operations: These are actions taken to prevent or limit a levee’s
failure due to flood waters and/or from overtopping. The levee agency is usually the
lead on levee protection operations, but the community likely will need to provide
resources and support. These actions are often called “flood fighting” and can include


Sandbagging the top of the levee,



Sandbagging and other measures to restrict sand boils, and



Measures taken to limit erosion on the toe of the levee.

(2) Community protection operations: These are actions to minimize the loss of life and
property damage in the area flooded when the levee fails or is overtopped. They should
be similar to, and even a part of, the flood response operations credited in Section 612.c
(FRO). They can include

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

Ordering an evacuation of the threatened area,



Controlling traffic in and out of the flooded area, and



Opening evacuation shelters.

Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 621.b must be met.
(2) The levee failure response operations actions must be in the levee failure warning and
response plan or a related document (credit criterion (7) in Section 621.b).
(3) Levee protection operations actions must be closely coordinated with the levee
emergency action plan credited under Section 622.a (LM2).
(4) Credit is based on the extent and level of detail that the levee failure warning and
response plan provides for the response operations. General statements or an assignment
of responsibilities with no specifics about what is done are not credited. For full credit
for LFO, the plan needs to
(a) Describe the actions to be taken,
(b) Identify the office or official responsible for the action,
(c) Define the time needed to carry out the activity, and
(d) Contain other critical information that designated agencies and organizations need in
order to perform their assigned responsibilities.
(5) LFO4 credit is provided if there is a list of the personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies,
and other resources needed to complete each task. For full credit, the list must identify
what is available within the community and what is needed from private suppliers or
other jurisdictions.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS 2007) requires local governments to
validate the inventory of response assets using FEMA Resources Typing Standards.
Department heads and other emergency response team members should know what
kinds of resources they have available. This should be compared with the resources
needed. Shortfalls may require negotiating agreements with private suppliers or other
jurisdictions.
Credit Points
LFO = the total of the following, up to the maximum of 30 points
LFO1 = 10 points, if the community has developed scenarios
that review what could happen if the levee were to fail or be
overtopped by a flood

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LFO2 = 10 points, if the plan identifies response tasks and
responsible community staff and other public and private
organizations with responsibilities related to the response
tasks in the plan
LFO3 = 5 points, for maintaining a data base of people with
special needs who require evacuation assistance when a
levee failure warning is issued and for having a plan to
provide transportation to secure locations
LFO4 = the sum of the following:
(a) 5 points, if the plan includes a summary of
estimated staff, equipment, supplies, and time required
for each response task, and
(b) 5 points, for identification of the sources of necessary
resources

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 623.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The levee failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
operations and actions credited above (credit criterion (2) in Section 622.d) and
credit criterion (7) in Section 621.b). The plan or related document must be marked
to show where the credited items appear.
(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (8) in Section 621.b). The
exercise must include the actions credited under this element.

622.e. Levee failure critical facilities planning (LCF)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
LCF credit and planning should be closely tied to the critical facilities coordination done
under Section 612.d (CFP).
LCF1 credit is provided for having information in the community’s levee failure response
plan about all critical facilities that could be affected by a levee failure. In general,
facilities not subject to flooding during a levee failure do not need to be addressed,
although in some cases loss of access can cause a critical situation. There may also be
facilities in flood-free sites that are needed to support the flood response effort.

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Additional credit is provided in LCF2 if levee failure warning and response plans for
individual critical facilities have been developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 621.b must be met.
(2) LCF1 is a prerequisite for any LCF credit.
(3) For LCF1 credit, the community’s levee failure response plan must list the facilities
considered critical in a levee failure emergency. The community must contact the
facilities to determine whether they need any special warning arrangements. The
community does not need to provide a special warning to all critical facilities, only to
those identified in the levee warning and response plan as needing one.
There is no impact adjustment for LCF1. The community must include all critical
facilities affected by a levee failure on its list.
(4) For LCF2 credit, levee failure warning and response plans must have been developed,
reviewed, or accepted by the community for individual critical facilities.
Credit Points
LCF = the total of the following
LCF1 = up to 15 points, if the adopted plan includes
(a) a list of the facilities considered critical in a levee failure
emergency
(b) the names and phone numbers of the operators of all
public and private critical facilities affected by levee
failure
(c) arrangements for issuing special warnings or early
notifications directly to those critical facilities that need
advance warning
LCF2 = up to 15 points, if critical facilities listed under LCF1
have their own levee failure response plans that have been
developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community. The
credit is prorated based on the percentage of affected critical
facilities that have creditable plans

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for LCF.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of all public and private critical facilities that would be affected by levee
failure or that would need to be operational during a levee-failure flood.
(b) Contact information (names and phone numbers) of the operators of the facilities on
the above ((1)(a)) list.
(c) The above ((1)(a)) list of critical facilities, marked to identify those needing special
warning or advance notification.
(d) [For LCF2 credit] The above ((1)(a)) list of critical facilities, marked to identify
those that have developed their own flood warning and response plans that have
been reviewed and accepted by the community. The ISO/CRS Specialist will ask for
samples of the plans for review.
(2) With the annual CRS recertification,
(a) A page from the latest list of the critical facilities provided for LCF1, which must be
updated at least annually.

623 Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for LCF. The community must include all critical facilities
affected by a levee failure on its list.
The credit points for LM, LFR, LFW, and LFO are adjusted based on the number of
buildings affected by the element. Determining these adjustments requires identifying the
area affected and then counting the buildings within that area. Identifying the affected area
is described in Section 621.c, Map of the Affected Area.
Counting buildings for an impact adjustment is discussed in Section 302.
(1) rLM =

bLM
bLF

(2) rLFR = bLFR
bLF
(3) rLFW =

bLFW
bLF

(4) rLFO = bLFO , where
bLF
bLM = the number of buildings in the area affected by a flood
resulting from a failure of the levee being maintained,

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bLFR = the number of buildings that benefit from the levee
failure threat recognition system,
bLFW = the number of buildings that benefit from the levee
failure flood warnings,
bLFO = the number of buildings in the area covered by the
levee failure response operations actions, and
bLF = the total number of buildings in the community
affected by levee failure as shown on the affected-area map
(Section 621.c)
bLFO cannot be greater than bLFW
bLFW cannot be greater than bLFR
bLFR cannot be greater than bLM
rLM cannot be greater than 1.0

624 Credit Calculation
c620 = (LM x rLM) + (LFR x rLFR) + (LFW x rLFW)
+ (LFO x rLFO) + LCF1 + LCF2

625 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/600.
b. Levee mapping and public information materials are available on FEMA’s website,
http://www.fema.gov/living-levees-its-shared-responsibility.
c. Each district of the Corps of Engineers has expertise in levee construction, maintenance, and
flood fighting. See www.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx.
d. The California Department of Water Resources has special programs for leveed areas in the
Central Valley, including a flood risk notice that would qualify for the outreach project
prerequisite for this activity. www.water.ca.gov/myfloodrisk.
e. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has a booklet for residents in leveed areas,
“So, You Live Behind a Levee!” it is available at
http://content.asce.org/files/pdf/SoYouLiveBehindLevee.pdf.

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626 Related Activities under the Community Rating System


A community that develops an appropriate approach to the outreach to residents
required in Section 621.b(5) as part of a Program for Public Information can be
credited under Activity 330.



LFR is similar to element FTR under Activity 610 and to element DFR under
Activity 630. It credits a system that provides the community with the earliest
possible notification that a flood is imminent. The three threat recognition systems
should be closely coordinated.



LFW is similar to element EWD under Activity 610 and element DFW under
Activity 630. It credits a flood warning dissemination system that provides a critical
linkage between the recognition of an impending flood and the community’s
response to the emergency. The three warning dissemination systems should be
closely coordinated.



LFO is similar to element FRO under Activity 610 and element DFO under Activity
630. It identifies opportunities to prevent loss of life and property damage during a
flood. The three response operations plans should be closely coordinated.



LCF is similar to credits under Activity 610 and 630 because it requires the
maintenance of a current list of critical facilities in potential levee inundation areas,
the maintenance of up-to-date contact information for each critical facility, and
having plans for warning each critical facility in a timely manner.



Documentation of the annual exercise is a prerequisite for Activities 610, 620, and
630. One exercise can meet the requirements for all three activities.

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630  DAMS—Summary 
Maximum credit:  160 points 

632  Elements 
a.  State dam safety program (SDS):  Up to 45 points based on the credit for 
the state’s program. 
b.  Dam failure threat recognition system (DFR):  Up to 30 points for having 
a system to advise the emergency manager when there is a threat of a 
dam failure. 
c.   Dam failure warning (DFW):  Up to 35 points for disseminating the 
warning to the public. 
d.  Dam failure response operations (DFO):  Up to 30 points for planning 
and practicing specific tasks to be undertaken to reduce or prevent 
threats to health, safety, and property. 
e.  Dam failure critical facilities planning (DCF):  Up to 20 points for 
coordination of dam failure warning and response activities with 
operators of critical facilities. 

Credit Criteria  
Overall criteria for this activity are described in Section 631.b. 
a.  There must be at least one insurable building within the community that 
is subject to inundation from the failure of a high‐hazard‐potential dam. 
b.  The community must have a description of the dam failure threat and a 
dam failure inundation map. 
c.  To receive any Activity 630 credit, the community must receive some 
credit for DFR, DFW, DFO, and DCF. 
d.  There must be an adopted dam failure warning and response plan. 
e.  There must be one or more outreach projects on the warning and safety 
precautions. 
f.  There must be an annual exercise of the plan with a lessons‐learned report. 
Each element has additional criteria specific to that element. 

Impact Adjustment 
There is no impact adjustment for the state dam safety program (SDS). The 
credit for DFR, DFW, and DFO is adjusted based on the number of buildings in 
the community that would be affected by the failure of a high‐hazard‐potential 
dam. There is no impact adjustment for DCF. 

Documentation Provided by the Community 
Each element has a separate section describing needed documentation. 
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630 DAMS
The OBJECTIVES of this activity are to encourage states to provide dam safety information to
communities and to encourage communities, in turn, to provide timely identification of an
impending dam failure, disseminate warnings to those who may be affected, and coordinate
emergency response activities to reduce the threat to life and property.

631 Background
The legal definition of a “dam” for regulatory purposes varies from state to state. A dam
may be as low as 5 feet, with an impoundment of no more than 5 acre-feet of water, or it
may be 100 feet high, creating a recreational reservoir. For the purposes of this activity, a
“dam” is a structure regulated by the state’s dam safety office. This activity focuses less on
the dam structure itself than on the impact of a flood that would result from a breach or
failure of that structure.
Unlike levees, dams do not need flood conditions to fail. They can be breached with little
or no warning and send a wall of water downstream. The combination of high velocity,
great depth, and short notice has proven particularly deadly and destructive. The mostrecognized way to minimize the dam failure hazard is to enforce dam construction and
maintenance standards, usually through a state dam safety program.
In addition to dam failures, normal operations of dams may cause unusual flooding
situations downstream. Dams normally have operations plans to deal with unusual
circumstances, including excessive runoff into the dam and the occasional need to lower the
reservoir level.
Because of the threat of flooding from dam failure or dam operations, the Community Rating
System (CRS) credits cooperation among state dam safety officials, dam owners and
operators, and local emergency managers. Credit is for state and local dam safety programs
that
 Help make the needed information available,
 Improve communications among operators of the dams and downstream
communities, and
 Develop warning and response plans for dam failures.
The credit is keyed to addressing the areas at risk from the failure of a high-hazardpotential dam. A “high-hazard-potential dam” is one for which failure or operational errors
will probably cause loss of human life downstream. Communities must contact their state
dam safety office to determine if they are affected by such a dam.
Communities are encouraged to address other dams whose failure could cause loss of life or
property damage.

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This activity is not intended to be a model for developing a dam failure warning and
response plan program. As with the rest of the CRS activities, its objective is to provide a
simple way to measure a local program’s potential impact on life safety, health, and
property damage. An effective program needs to be carefully prepared and tailored to the
local hazards and the specific needs of the community.

631.a. Activity Description
The maximum credit for Activity 630 is 160 points.
This activity provides credit to communities that would be affected by the failure of an
upstream high-hazard-potential dam. Credit is provided under five elements:
 The state’s dam safety program that sets construction, maintenance, and data
provision standards for dams (credited under SDS),
 A system to advise local emergency managers of a potential dam failure (credited
under DFR),
 A warning system for the areas downstream of the dam (credited under DFW),
 A plan of action to minimize the threat to life and property during the flood (credited
under DFO), and
 Coordination with critical facility operators (credited under DCF).

631.b. Activity Credit Criteria
These activity credit criteria apply to all Activity 630 elements except SDS (Section 632.a).
(1) There must be at least one insurable building within the community subject to
inundation due to the failure of a high-hazard-potential dam.
(2) The community must submit a description of the dam failure threat, including the
following for each high-hazard-potential dam that affects the community. The first three
items should be available from the state’s dam safety office. If they are not available
from the state or the owner of the dam, the community may have to develop the
information and document it.
(a) A general description of the dam, including its distance upstream from the
community;
(b) A dam failure inundation map;
(c) Dam failure flood hazard data, including the arrival time of flood waters at different
locations and peak elevations of the dam failure flood;
(d) The development exposed to dam failure flooding, such as the number and types of
buildings; land use (residential, agricultural, open space, etc.); and critical facilities;
and

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(e) The expected impacts of dam failure flooding
on health and safety; community functions,
such as police and utility services; and the
potential for secondary hazards.
Local governments may have completed a
risk assessment that meets this criterion as
part of their floodplain management or
hazard mitigation plan credited under
Activity 510. If not, the community can
complete the CRS Community Self
Assessment described in Section 240 of the
CRS Coordinator’s Manual. The products
from either of these efforts should provide
the basis for the dam failure flood hazard
description.
This credit criterion is a prerequisite for Class 4
communities.
(3) The community must obtain some credit in all
four dam failure warning and response elements
(DFR, DFW, DFO, and DCF) in order to receive
any credit for its local dam failure warning and
response planning.

Annual Warning and
Response Exercise
Activities 610 (Flood Warning and
Response), 620 (Levees), and 630
(Dams) require an annual exercise or
drill of the warning and response plan.
A flood, levee failure, dam failure, or
hurricane exercise qualifies as an
exercise for all three activities.
An evaluation of the performance
of the warning and response plan
must include
 A description of the exercise,
 An evaluation of the
○ Threat recognition procedures,
○ Warning dissemination,
○ Response operations, and
 Recommended changes to the
plan.
The exercise requirement can also
be met if the community responds to
an actual flood or actual threat of a
levee or dam failure, provided that the
items listed above are discussed in an
after-action (or similar) report.

(4) To receive DFR, DFW, DFO, and DCF credit,
the community must have a dam failure warning
and response plan that has been adopted by the
community’s governing body. The plan should
be part of, and must meet the same criteria as, the community’s flood warning and
response plan described in Section 611.b(4).

(5) To receive DFR, DFW, DFO, and DCF credit, the community must implement one or
more outreach projects to the residents and businesses in the area(s) expected to be
inundated by a dam failure. The project(s) must tell people of their risk of flooding, how
they will be warned of a dam failure flood, and the safety measures they should take
during a flood (e.g., evacuation procedures and routes). This can be done by using one
or more of the following approaches:
(a) Sending an outreach project (e.g., a brochure, letter, or newsletter) each year to all
residents and businesses in the community;
(b) Sending an outreach project each year to all residents and businesses in the area(s)
subject to dam failure flooding; or
(c) Developing an appropriate approach as part of a Program for Public Information
credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).

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(6) To receive DFR, DFW, DFO, and DCF credit, there must be at least one exercise or drill
of the dam failure warning and response plan each year. This can be an exercise for a
flood, levee failure, dam failure, or hurricane. This criterion would be met if the plan is
implemented in response to an actual flood or actual threat of a dam failure. In either
case, there must be an evaluation of the performance of the plan and recommended
changes that may be needed, as is usually done in an after-action report.

632 Elements
632.a. State dam safety program (SDS)
The maximum credit for this element is 45 points.
SDS credit is provided for the state’s dam safety program to a community that would be
affected by the failure of an upstream high-hazard-potential dam. Credit is based on
 The assessment of the condition of dams in the state,
 Risk communication and public awareness, and
 Promotion of emergency action plans by operators of the dams.
All of these are designed to encourage states to provide needed flood threat data to
communities and to encourage operators of the dams to cooperate with local emergency
management planning.
Credit Criteria
(1) The SDS credit earned by the state dam safety office is provided to all communities that
would be affected by a flood from the failure of a high-hazard-potential dam. This must
be documented with a description and a map.
(2) The community must meet state dam safety standards to receive credit for this element.
If the community owns or regulates the construction, operation, or maintenance of any
dams, the community’s dams and/or its dam safety program must meet the state
standards for dam safety.
(3) If the state’s SDS credit changes, the community’s credit for SDS will be updated at the
next verification visit or modification.
Credit Points
SDS = up to 45 points for communities affected by high-hazardpotential dams

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Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for SDS.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The needed documentation is assembled by the ISO/CRS Specialist and provided to
the technical reviewer for this activity. There is a checklist to help the emergency
manager identify all needed documentation, available at
www.CRSresources.org/600.
(b) A map and description of the threat from failure of high-hazard-potential dams
(credit criterion (2) in Section 631.b).

632.b. Dam failure threat recognition system (DFR)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
DFR credit is provided for primary and secondary threat recognition procedures. This credit
is separate from flood threat recognition credit in Activity 610 (FTR), but the dam failure
threat recognition system should be closely coordinated with the FTR system.
The more lead time that a community has, the more that can be done to protect people from
a flood. Although a dam may be breached suddenly, the flood waters may not reach the
community for some time. This credit is for a system that advises the community if a
breach is likely or is occurring, giving the community and residents time to respond.
(1) Primary dam failure threat recognition (DFR1): Credit is provided for primary threat
recognition procedures in which the operator of the dam notifies local emergency
managers of a potential or actual dam breach. This could be based on a predetermined
reservoir level, water flowing over the spillway, structural problems discovered in the
dam, or other cause for alarm.
(2) Secondary dam failure threat recognition (DFR2): Additional credit is provided for a
backup system that includes sensors or cameras on the dam and/or a gage, camera, or
other river-level monitoring system located between the dam and the community. This
information must be directly available to the emergency manager.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 631.b must be met.
(2) For DFR1 and DFR2:
(a) The threat recognition procedures must be in the dam failure warning and response
plan or a related document (credit criterion (4) in Section 631.b).
(b) The threat recognition system must be monitored by the operator and/or the local
emergency manager (or office on behalf of the emergency manager) 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.

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(c) The equipment used must be tested at least quarterly. Equipment that is used
routinely throughout the year, such as a telephone, does not need testing records for
CRS credit.
(3) DFR1 credit is a prerequisite for DFR2 credit.
(4) For DFR1 credit, the primary dam failure threat recognition procedures must include
(a) Procedures and predetermined conditions for when the operator of the dam notifies
local emergency managers of a potential or actual dam breach; and
(b) At least quarterly communication checks between the operator of the dam and
emergency services officials.
(5) For DFR2 credit, the secondary dam failure threat recognition backup system must be
directly available to the emergency manager.
Credit Points
DFR = the total of the following, up to the maximum of 30 points
DFR1 = up to 20 points, for the primary dam failure threat
recognition system
DFR2 = up to 10 points, for the secondary dam failure threat
recognition system

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 633.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The dam failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
threat recognition procedures (credit criterion (2)(a) in Section 632.b and credit
criterion (4) in Section 631.b). The plan must be marked to show where the credited
items appear.
(b) An impact adjustment map showing the area(s) affected by each element and
documentation showing how the numbers of buildings used in the calculations were
determined (credit criteria (2)(b) and (2)(d) in Section 631.b and Section 633 impact
adjustment).

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(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) Records of the quarterly test of all equipment and material needed for the system
(credit criterion (2)(c) in Section 632.b) and the quarterly communication checks
between the operator of the dam and emergency services officials (credit criterion
(3)(b) in Section 632.b).
(b) A copy of the outreach material used to advise people of the dam failure hazard and
of ways to protect themselves from flooding (credit criterion (5) in Section 631.b). If
the outreach material is also credited under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects), a
separate submittal is not needed provided the other document (including a PPI, if
used) is annotated to show where the 630 outreach topics are covered.
(c) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (6) in Section 631.b). The
exercise must include the dam failure threat recognition procedures.

632.c. Dam failure warning (DFW)
The maximum credit for this element is 35 points.
DFW credit is provided for disseminating the warning of a potential dam failure to the
public through messages and other notification systems. This warning program for DFW
credit should be closely coordinated with the flood warning dissemination activities
credited in Section 612.b (EWD).
Once the dam failure flood threat recognition system tells local emergency managers what
will be flooded and when, warnings should be issued to the affected populations. The
messages that need to be conveyed and the time at which they should be delivered should
be thought out in advance, as part of the dam failure warning and response plan.
The messages should state when flooding is predicted to occur, its expected severity, and
appropriate response actions (e.g., evacuation routes, safe shelters, or protective actions).
Special warning arrangements for schools, nursing homes, and other critical facilities are
credited under DCF.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 631.b must be met.
(2) The warning procedures must be included in the dam failure warning and response plan
or a related document (credit criterion (4) in Section 631.b).
(3) The warning must reach people in a timely manner, especially because there may not be
much time between a sudden dam failure and the point at which the water reaches
homes and businesses. For example, television or radio announcements are not credited
if they are the only approach used because the failure may occur during the night. The

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messages should be drafted in coordination with the messages and projects credited
under flood response preparations (FRP) in Activity 330 (Outreach Projects).
(4) For those warning systems requiring specialized equipment, the equipment and
procedures must be tested at least annually. Equipment that is used routinely throughout
the year, such as television notices and message boards, do not need testing records for
CRS credit.
Credit Points
DFW = the total of the following, up to the maximum of 35 points:
DFW1 = 5 points, if the plan includes pre-scripted messages
and guidance for staff to quickly issue appropriate warnings
DFW2 = 5 points, if the public messages include information
on the expected elevation of the flood waters, and instructions
on when to evacuate
DFW3 = 10 points, if an outdoor voice-sound system or fixed
siren system is used
DFW4 = EITHER:
(a) 2 points, if the plan identifies the primary and support
agencies responsible for door-to-door or mobile public
address warning; OR
(b) 10 points, if the plan identifies the routes, procedures,
responsible staff, and equipment necessary for door-todoor or mobile public address warning
DFW5 = 10 points, if the Emergency Alert System through all
channels/stations with pre-scripted draft messages is used
DFW6 = 10 points, if telephone warnings to residents and
businesses are used
DFW7= Up to 10 points, if schools, hospitals, nursing homes,
prisons, and similar facilities that need flood warning have
NOAA Weather Radio receivers and at least one other
automated backup system for receiving flood warnings,
provided that the community has coordinated with NOAA and
there are arrangements for issuing warnings about dam
failures

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 633.

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Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The dam failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
emergency warning procedures (credit criterion (2) in Section 632.c and credit
criterion (4) in Section 631.b). The plan or related document must be marked to
show where the credited items appear.
(2) At each verification visit and with the annual CRS recertification,
(a) Records showing the annual test of all equipment and material needed for the system
(credit criterion (4) in Section 632.c).
(b) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (6) in Section 631.b). The
exercise must include the procedures for warning people credited under this element.

632.d. Dam failure response operations (DFO)
The maximum credit for this element is 30 points.
DFO credit is provided for the development of dam failure response operations that identify
flood response scenarios, responsibilities, special need populations, and necessary
resources. The actions undertaken that receive DFO credit should be closely coordinated
with the flood response operations credited in Section 612.c (FRO).
Dam failure response operations need to be spelled out in the dam failure warning and
response plan. They must include appropriate actions to be implemented when the dam
failure flood threatens or occurs. The actions are conducted by the community and other
cooperating agencies and organizations.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 631.b must be met.
(2) The dam failure operations actions must be included in the dam failure warning and
response plan or a related document (credit criterion (4) in Section 631.b).
(3) Credit is based on the extent and level of detail the dam failure warning and response
plan provides for the response operations. General statements or an assignment of
responsibilities with no specifics about what is to be done are not credited. For full
credit for DFO, the plan needs to
(a) Describe the actions to be taken,
(b) Identify the office or official responsible for the action,
(c) Define the time needed to carry out the activity, and
(d) Contain other critical information that specified agencies and organizations need in
order to perform their assigned responsibilities.

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(4) DFO4 credit is provided if there is a list of the personnel, equipment, facilities,
supplies, and other resources needed to complete each task. For full credit, the list must
identify what is available within the community and what is needed from private
suppliers or other jurisdictions.
The National Incident Management System (NIMS 2007) requires local governments to
validate the inventory of response assets using Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Resources Typing Standards. Department heads and other emergency response
team members should know what kinds of resources they have available. This should be
compared with the resources needed. Shortfalls may require negotiating agreements
with private suppliers or other jurisdictions.
Credit Points
DFO = the sum of the following, up to the maximum of 30 points:
DFO1 = 10 points, if the community has developed scenarios
that explain what could happen if a dam failed
DFO2 = 10 points, if the plan identifies response tasks and
responsible community staff and other public and private
organizations with responsibilities related to the response
tasks in the plan
DFO3 = 5 points, for maintaining a data base of people with
special needs who require evacuation assistance when a
dam failure warning is issued, and for having a plan to
provide transportation to secure locations
DFO4 = up to 10 points, if the plan includes a summary of
estimated staff, equipment, supplies, and time required for each
response task and the sources of necessary resources

Impact Adjustment
The impact adjustment for the activity is described in Section 633.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) The dam failure warning and response plan or related document that describes the
operations and actions credited above (credit criterion (2) in Section 632.d and
credit criterion (4) in Section 631.b). The plan or related document must be marked
to show where the credited items appear.

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(2) At each verification visit and with the annual recertification,
(a) A description of the exercise, drill, or response to an actual emergency or disaster
conducted during the previous year (credit criterion (6) in Section 631.b). The
exercise must include the actions credited under this element.

632.e. Dam failure critical facilities planning (DCF)
The maximum credit for this element is 20 points.
DCF credit should be closely tied to the critical facilities coordination done under Section
612.d (CFP).
DCF1 credit is provided for having information about all critical facilities that could be
affected by a dam failure included in the community’s dam failure response plan. In
general, facilities not subject to flooding during a dam failure do not need to be addressed,
although in some cases loss of access can cause a critical situation. There may also be
facilities in flood-free sites that will be needed to support the flood response effort.
Additional credit is provided in DCF2 if dam failure warning and response plans for
individual critical facilities have been developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community.
Credit Criteria
(1) The activity credit criteria in Section 631.b must be met.
(2) DCF1 is a prerequisite for any DCF credit.
(3) For DCF1 credit, the community’s dam failure response plan must list the facilities
considered critical in a dam failure emergency. The community must contact the
facilities to determine if they need special warning arrangements. The community does
not need to provide a special warning to all critical facilities, only those that need one.
There is no impact adjustment for DCF1. The community must include all critical
facilities affected by a dam failure on its list.
(4) For DCF2 credit, dam failure warning and response plans must have been developed,
reviewed, or accepted by the community for individual critical facilities.
Credit Points
DCF = the sum of the following
DCF1 = up to 10 points, if the adopted plan includes
(a) the names and phone numbers of the operators of all
public and private critical facilities affected by dam
failure, and

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b) arrangements for special warnings or early notifications
directly to those critical facilities that need advance
warning
DCF2 = up to 10 points, if critical facilities listed under DCF1
have their own dam failure response plans that have been
developed, reviewed, or accepted by the community. The credit
is prorated based on the percentage of affected critical facilities
that have creditable plans

Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for DCF.
Documentation Provided by the Community
(1) At each verification visit,
(a) A list of all public and private critical facilities affected by dam failure or needed to
be operational during a dam failure flood, with the contact and warning needs
information.
(b) [For DCF2] The above ((1)(a)) list of critical facilities marked to identify those that
have developed their own flood warning and response plans that have been reviewed
and accepted by the community. The ISO/CRS Specialist will ask for samples of the
plans for review.
(2) With the annual CRS recertification,
(a) A page from the latest list of the critical facilities provided for DCF1, which must be
updated at least annually.

633 Impact Adjustment
There is no impact adjustment for the state dam safety program (SDS). All communities
that benefit from the program receive the same credit. There is no impact adjustment for
DCF.
The credit points for DFR, DFW, and DFO are adjusted based on the number of buildings
affected by the element. Determining these adjustments requires identifying the area
affected and then counting the buildings within that area.

(1) The area affected by a dam failure flood is shown on the inundation map required under
credit criterion (2)(b) in Section 631.b. This area may be larger or smaller than the
community’s Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), depending on the size of the dam’s
reservoir and its distance upstream from the community.

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(2) Counting buildings for an impact adjustment is discussed in Section 302. In most cases,
the number of buildings affected by an element will be the same as the number of
buildings in the area expected to be inundated by a dam failure flood.

(1) rDFR = bDFR
bDF
(2) rDFW = bDFW
bDF
(3) rDFO = bDFO , where
bDF
bDFR = the number of buildings that benefit from the dam
failure threat recognition system,
bDFW = the number of buildings that benefit from the dam
failure flood warnings,
bDFO = the number of buildings in the area covered by the
dam failure operations actions, and
bDF = the number of buildings in the community expected to
be inundated by a failure of all the high-hazard-potential
dams that affect the community
bDFO cannot be greater than bDFW
bDFW cannot be greater than bDFR
rDFR cannot be greater than 1.0

634 Credit Calculation
c630 = SDS + (DFR x rDFR) + (DFW x rDFW)
+ (DFO x rDFO) + DCF1 + DCF2

635 For More Information
a. Additional information, reference materials, and examples can be found at
www.CRSresources.org/600.
b. More information on dam safety activities and state programs can be found on the website for
the Association of State Dam Safety Officials at www.damsafety.org.

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c. The following can be obtained from FEMA’s Dam Safety Office website at
www.fema.gov/protecting-our-communities/plan-ahead-dam-failure/dam-failure-information.
Model State Dam Safety Program, Association of State Dam Safety Officials, FEMA316CD. (2007).
Catalog of FEMA Dam Safety Resources, FEMA. (2008).
Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners, FEMA-64. (2007).

636 Related Activities under the Community Rating System


The outreach to residents required in Section 631.b (5) and developing an appropriate
approach as part of a Program for Public Information can be credited under Activity 330.

 DFR is similar to element FTR under Activity 610 and element LFR under Activity 620. It
credits a system that provides the community with the earliest possible notification that a
flood is imminent. The three threat recognition systems should be closely coordinated.
 DFW is similar to element EWD under Activity 610 and element LFW under Activity 620.
It credits a flood warning dissemination system that provides a critical linkage between the
recognition of an impending flood and the community’s response to the emergency. The
three warning dissemination systems should be closely coordinated.
 DFO is similar to element FRO under Activity 610 and element LFO under Activity 620. It
identifies opportunities to prevent loss of life and property damage during a flood. The
three response operations plans should be closely coordinated.
 DCF is similar to Activity 610 and 620 credits because it requires the maintenance of a
current list of critical facilities in potential levee inundation areas, the maintenance of upto-date contact information for each critical facility, and having plans for warning each
critical facility in a timely manner.
 Documentation of the annual exercise is a prerequisite for Activities 610, 620, and 630.
One exercise can meet all three activities’ requirements.

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700 COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATION CALCULATIONS
In this series, the credit points calculated for each of the Community Rating System (CRS)
activities undergo final adjustment. In Section 710, the scores for Series 400 (Mapping and
Regulations) activities are adjusted to reflect the county’s rate of growth. The points for all
the activities are then totaled in Section 720.

Contents of Series 700
Section

Page

710 County Growth Adjustment..................................................................... 710-1
711 Growth Data..................................................................................... 710-1
712 Growth Adjustment Calculation ...................................................... 710-1
713 Credit Documentation...................................................................... 710-3
720 Community Total Points ......................................................................... 720-1

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710 COUNTY GROWTH ADJUSTMENT
The OBJECTIVE of this credit calculation step is to increase the credit for activities related to
managing new development in areas that are growing.

Background
Flood loss prevention activities have a greater impact in growing areas than in communities
with little or no pressure for future development in their floodplains. Therefore, the credit
points provided for activities in the 400 series (Mapping and Regulations) are adjusted to
reflect the growth rate of the county in which a community is located. The county growth
adjustment (CGA) is applied by multiplying the number of points for the activity by the
growth rate (see Section 720).
Community Rating System (CRS) communities should be aware that if they have a
significant amount of credit for the activities in the 400 series, and if their county has a
high growth rate, then the growth rate is providing a significant proportion of their total
credit. If the growth rate drops in the future, a community will lose credit points, and may
lose its CRS class if it cannot make up those points.

711 Growth Data
The county growth adjustment used to adjust credit for the 400 series activities is
calculated by Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) for the county in which the community
is located. If a community’s corporate limits are in two or more counties, the county growth
rates are averaged.
The annual growth rate for a county is calculated from the growth in dwelling units over a
10-year period beginning five years before and ending five years after the year of the
verification visit. These numbers are updated every year.
The data used are
(1) DU–5: The estimated number of dwelling units in the county five years ago, as reported
by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, and
(2) DU+5: The estimated number of dwelling units in the county five years from now, as
projected by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) demographic
contractor, Applied Geographic Solutions, Inc.

712 Growth Adjustment Calculation
There are three steps to calculating the county growth adjustment. The first is to establish a
county 10-year growth rate. Then the growth rates are converted to an annual county
growth rate. Finally, the CGA is determined.

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NOTE: The county growth adjustment is calculated by ISO and provided to the community.
There is no need for additional calculations. The formulae are shown here to explain how
the number that ISO provides is generated.

712.a. County 10-year growth rate (CGR)
A county’s 10-year growth rate in dwelling units is calculated as
CGR = 1+

DU+5 – DU–5 , where
DU–5

DU+5 = the number of dwelling units projected 5 years
from now, and
DU–5 = the number of dwelling units estimated by the
U.S. Census five years ago

Example 712.a-1.
The estimated number of dwelling units in a county five years ago was
100,000, and the projected number of dwelling units five years from
now is 130,000.
DU–5 = 100,000
DU+5 = 130,000
CGR = 1 + (130,000 – 100,000) = 1 + 30,000
100,000
100,000

= 1+ 0.30 = 1.30

The number of dwelling units in the county is predicted to grow by 30%
over the 10-year period.

712.b. Annual growth adjustment (AGA)
The county 10-year growth rate is a product of 10 years of growth. This is converted to an
annual growth rate. The annual growth rate accounts for the total increase in dwelling units
each year, which changes every year. Therefore, dividing the 10-year growth rate by 10
does not produce a correct annual growth rate. A different formula must be used:

AGA = CGR(1÷10)

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Example 712.b-1.
Using the data in the previous example, CGR = 1.3.
AGA = 1.3(1÷10) = 1.3(0.1) = 1.0266
The number of dwelling units in the county is predicted to grow at a
rate of 2.66% each year.

712.c. County growth adjustment (CGA)
The CGA is 10 times the annual growth adjustment, rounded to two decimal points.

CGA = (AGA x 10) – 9, where
CGA cannot be less than 1.0 or greater than 1.5

Example 712.c-1.
Using the data in the previous examples, AGA = 1.0266.
CGA = (1.0266 x 10) – 9 = 10.266 – 9 = 1.266, rounded to 1.27

The maximum value for CGA is 1.5. Counties with growth rates exceeding the maximum
use 1.5 for CGA. Counties that are losing population are not affected because CGA must be
greater than or equal to 1.0. If a community’s corporate limits are in two or more counties,
the county growth rates are averaged.

713 Credit Documentation
No documentation is required. The ISO/CRS Specialist has the growth rate data and the
value for CGA for all counties. The data are also posted on www.CRSresources.org/700.

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720 COMMUNITY TOTAL POINTS
At this step the points for all of the community’s activities are totaled. The resulting total
decides the community’s Community Rating System (CRS) classification, provided that all
the class prerequisites have been met.
Step 1. The credit for the 400 series activities are multiplied by the current value for CGA
(from Section 710).
Step 2. The results are added to the credits for the other activities to arrive at the
community’s total points (cT).
The result is the community’s total credit points (cT), which determines the community’s
CRS classification, assuming that all class prerequisites have been met. Table 110-1 relates
the total points to the CRS classification and the flood insurance premium discount.
If the community does not have enough total points to attain a better class than it currently
has, then it should request credit for additional activities or elements. A request for a
modification with fewer points than are needed for an improved class will be returned.
The community’s total points are verified by the ISO/CRS Specialist at the verification
visit. The ISO/CRS Specialist submits a verification report to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and FEMA determines the community’s CRS classification.
The classes and the resulting flood insurance premium credits may be revised from year to
year by FEMA, based on experience gained in measuring the impacts of the activities.

Example 720-1.
The verified credits for a community are computed below. The county
growth adjustment (CGA) is from the example in Section 710.
c310=

58

c320=

90

c330=

175

c340=

28

c350=

56

c360=

65

c370=

0

c410 =

0

x CGA 1.27 =

0

c420 = 203

x CGA 1.27 =

258

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c430 = 117

x CGA 1.27 =

149

c440 =

68

x CGA 1.27 =

86

c450 =

60

x CGA 1.27 =

76

c510=

158

c520=

324

c530=

60

c540=

470

c610=

105

c620=

0

c630=

0

cT= total of above

2,158

As seen in Table 110-1, the community has enough points to become
a CRS Class 6. If it meets the Class 9 and Class 6 prerequisites
discussed in Sections 211.a and 211.b, it can be verified as a Class 6.

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Appendix A
ACRONYMS
The acronyms used in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual are listed below. The section number
tells where the first detailed description of the acronym appears.
Most of the acronyms are elements of the credited activities in the 300 through 600 series.
All elements are in capital letters. Attributes of an element are in lower-case letters. The
lower-case letters, “a,” “b,” “c,” and “r,” are prefixes. The letters “i,” “n,” and “s” are
suffixes to the elements. For example, “bAR” represents the number of buildings acquired
or relocated. The “b” is described in Section 302 and the “AR” is described in Section 522.
Acronym

Section

Description

AGA
AMD
aSFHA
ASFPM
aSFT

712
442
402
431
413

aW
AW-nnn
aXXX

452
230
402

annual growth adjustment
additional map data
area of the Special Flood Hazard Area
Association of State Floodplain Managers
the area of the Special Flood Hazard Area for the community at the time of
adoption of a study
area of a community’s watersheds
Activity Worksheet number nnn
area affected by element XXX

bAR
bARSF
BC
BCEGS
bCF
BFE
bLF
BMM
BMP
bPO
bPR
bRL
bSF
bSRL
bVZ
bXXX

522
523
432
211
522
120
623
442
452
302
302
522
302
522
522
302

number of buildings acquired or relocated
buildings acquired or relocated in the Special Flood Hazard Area
building code
Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule
number of critical facilities acquired or relocated
base flood elevation
number of buildings affected by levee failure
benchmark maintenance
best management practices (for stormwater quality)
number of post-FIRM buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area
number of pre-FIRM buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area
number of buildings on the repetitive loss list acquired or relocated
number of buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area
number of Severe Repetitive Loss Properties acquired or relocated
number of buildings acquired or relocated within V or coastal A Zones
number of buildings affected by element XXX

CAZ
CBRA
CBRS
CC-nnn
CC-nnnEHP

432
320
320
230
507

coastal A Zone regulations
Coastal Barrier Resources Act
Coastal Barrier Resources System areas
Community Certification number nnn
Community Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic
Preservation Requirements number nnn

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Appendix A

Acronym

Section

Description

CDR
CEO
CFM®
CFP
CFR
CGA
CGR
CIP
CORS
CP
CPI
CRS
CSI
cT
CTP
cXXX

542
212
432
612
712
712
542
442
372
372
p. v
432
720
412
223

channel and basin debris removal
Chief Executive Officer of a community
Certified Floodplain Manager
critical facilities planning
Code of Federal Regulations (in the Federal Register)
county growth adjustment
county 10-year growth rate
capital improvement plan
Continuously Operating Reference Stations
coverage improvement plan
coverage improvement plan implementation
Community Rating System
cumulative substantial improvement regulations
community’s total credit points under the Community Rating System
Cooperating Technical Partner
credit points for element or Activity XXX

DCF
DFH
DFIRM
DFO
DFR
DFW
DL
DOH
DR
DS
DU

632
342
411
632
632
632
432
342
422
452
711

dam failure critical facilities planning
disclosure of the flood hazard by real estate agents
digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
dam failure response operations
dam failure threat recognition system
dam failure warning
development limitations
disclosure of other hazards, such as subsidence
deed restrictions placed on open space properties
design storms used in stormwater management regulations
dwelling units counted toward the county growth rate

EC
ECPO
ECPR
EDM
EMI

312
312
312
442
362

ENL
EPM
ESC
EWD

432
542
452
612

maintaining FEMA Elevation Certificates
maintaining post-FIRM elevation certificates
maintaining pre-FIRM elevation certificates
erosion data maintenance
the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency
regulations limiting enclosures below elevated floors
coastal erosion protection maintenance
erosion and sedimentation control regulations
emergency warning dissemination

FAA
FDN
FEMA

362
432
p. v

financial assistance advice
foundation protection regulations
Federal Emergency Management Agency

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Appendix A

Acronym

Section

Description

FIA
FIRM
FM
FMP
FPB
FPI
FPP
FRB
FRO
FRP
FTR
FWS

372
p. v
442
511
532
532
532
432
612
332
612
412

flood insurance coverage assessment
Flood Insurance Rate Map
Flood Insurance Rate Map maintenance
floodplain management planning
flood protection level before the project was constructed
flood protection improvement
flood protection provided by the project
freeboard
flood response operations
flood response preparations
flood threat recognition system
more restrictive floodway standard

GIS

442

geographic information system

HSS

412

higher study standard

ICC

432

ISO

114

Increased Cost of Compliance (a claim provision of a National Flood
Insurance Program policy)
Insurance Services Office, Inc.

LCF
LDP
LEV
LFO
LFR
LFW
LIB
LID
LiMWA
LM
LOMA
LOMR
LPD
LSI
LZ

622
432
412
622
622
622
352
452
432
622
321
321
352
432
422

levee failure critical facilities planning
local drainage protection
leverage
levee failure response operations
levee failure threat recognition system
levee failure warning
flood protection library
low-impact development
limit of moderate wave action
levee maintenance
Letter of Map Amendment
Letter of Map Revision
locally pertinent documents for a library
lower substantial improvement threshold
low-density zoning

MAP
MAPSH
MHP
MI
MLS

412
412
432
322
342

mapping credit (the sum of all 410 elements)
mapping credit for special flood-related hazards
manufactured home park regulations
providing map information and Flood Insurance Rate Map data
Multiple Listing Service

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Appendix A

Acronym

Section

Description

NAVD
nCDC
nCDR
NFIP
NFOS
NFP
NGS
NGVD
NOAA
NS
nSBC
nSBM
NSP
NSRS

120
542
542
p. v
422
512
442
120
612
412
542
542
422
442

North American Vertical Datum
total number of conveyance system components in the community
number of inspected and maintained conveyance system components
National Flood Insurance Program
natural functions open space
natural floodplain functions plan
National Geodetic Survey
National Geodetic Vertical Datum
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
new flood study
total number of public and private storage basins in the community
number of storage basins inspected and maintained by the community
natural shoreline protection
National Spatial Reference System

ODR
OHS
OP
OSI
OSP

342
432
332
422
422

other disclosure requirements
other higher regulatory standards
outreach projects
open space incentives
open space preservation

PB
PBi
PCF
PPA
PPI
PPV
PSM
PUB

532
532
432
362
332
362
542
452

protected buildings
protection credit for building “i”
regulations that protect critical facilities
property protection advice
program for public information
flood protection site visit
problem site maintenance
stormwater facilities subject to public maintenance

RA
REB
RLAA
rXXX

432
342
512
222

regulations administration
real estate agent brochure (explains flood hazards)
repetitive loss area analysis
ratio of the buildings or area affected by XXX

SBC
SBM
SDR
SDS
SFHA
SHOS
SHR
SMR

542
542
542
632
p. v
422
432
452

storage basins in the community
storage basin maintenance
stream dumping regulations
state dam safety program
Special Flood Hazard Area
open space preservation in areas subject to special flood-related hazards
special flood-related hazards regulations
stormwater management regulations

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Appendix A

Acronym

Section

Description

SMS
SR
SRC
STK
SZ

432
412
612
332
452

state-mandated regulatory standards
state review of a new flood study
StormReady community
stakeholder delivery of outreach projects
size of development subject to stormwater management

TA
TNG
TRC
TUB
TUC
TUD
TUE
TUF
TUi
TUS
TUW

372
362
612
532
532
532
532
532
532
532
532

technical assistance
training credit
TsunamiReady community
barrier, levee, or floodwall technique used to protect a single building
channel modification or other techniques used to protect buildings
dry floodproofing technique used to protect a building
elevation technique used to protect a building
storage facility technique used to protect buildings
technique used to protect building “i”
sewer backup prevention technique used to protect buildings
wet floodproofing technique used to protect a building

URL

352

universal resource locator

WEB
WMP
WQ

352
452
452

flood protection website
watershed master plan
stormwater management regulations for water quality

XXX

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element acronym or variable number

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Appendix B
A Comparison of the Minimum NFIP Requirements
and the CRS
The Community Rating System provides credits for exceeding the minimum requirements of the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Many local officials are not sure whether their regulations
exceed the NFIP requirements or just meet them. The minimum NFIP requirements for communities
are spelled out in 44 CFR Part 59–General Provisions and Part 60–Criteria for Land Management and
Use. This Appendix compares these minimum requirements with specific CRS credits.
NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

Part 59 General Provisions
Subpart A—General
59.1 Definitions

“Exceeding” the definitions for substantial
improvement and substantial damage is
recognized in Sections 432.d and e, which
credit cumulative substantial improvements
(CSI) and lower substantial improvement
thresholds (LSI).

59.2 Description of program

N/A

59.3 Emergency program

N/A

59.4 References

N/A

Subpart B—Eligibility Requirements

N/A

Part 60—Criteria for Land Management and Use
Subpart A—Requirements for Flood Plain
Management Regulations
60.1 Purpose of subpart
(c) “Nothing in this subpart shall be construed as
modifying or replacing the general requirement
that all eligible communities must take into
account flood, mudslide (i.e., mudflow) and
flood-related erosion hazards, to the extent that
they are known, in all official actions...”

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

(d) “The criteria set forth in this subpart are
minimum standards...”

N/A

60.2 Minimum compliance with flood plain
management criteria: describes the procedures for getting the local regulations
approved.

N/A

60.3 Flood plain management criteria for floodprone areas: the requirements in sections
(a)—(e) are based on the type of flood data
provided by FEMA.
(a) When no flood data are provided by FEMA,
the community shall:
1. Require permits for development everywhere to determine if the development is
in a flood-prone area.

Section 412.a, new study (NS) credits
identifying and regulating additional floodprone areas

2. Make sure proposed developments have
permits from other agencies.

N/A

3. Make sure building sites will be reasonably
safe from flooding. If in a flood-prone area,
new buildings and substantial
improvements must be anchored,
constructed with materials and methods
resistant to flood damage, and have their
utilities protected.

This NFIP requirement should not be
confused with the credit for engineered
foundations under Section 432.c (FDN).

4. New subdivisions must meet similar
requirements.

There is credit for higher standards for
subdivisions in Section 422.e (OSI).

5. New and replacement water systems must
be protected.

N/A

6. New and replacement sanitary and septic
systems must be protected.

There is credit for adopting the International
Private Sewage Disposal Code in Section
432.h (BC).

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

(b) When FEMA provides a flood map but no
flood elevations, the community shall:
1. Require permits for development in the
A Zone.

Section 412.a credits providing regulatory
flood elevations where not available (NS).

2. Require development to meet the
requirements in 60.3(a). 2–6.

N/A

3. Require larger subdivisions and developments to produce flood elevations.

Section 412.a (NS) credits providing
regulatory flood elevations for all new
developments, not just large ones.

4. “Obtain, review and reasonably utilize”
available flood elevations.

Section 412.a (NS) credits providing
regulatory flood elevations for all new
developments, not just those where data are
readily available.

5. Obtain and maintain records of the
elevations and floodproofing protection
levels of new buildings.

Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates) credits
keeping the records on the FEMA Elevation
and Floodproofing Certificates.

6. Tell the State and other communities if a
watercourse will be altered.

There is credit for keeping watercourses in
their natural state in Section 422.g (NSP).

7. Assure that the flood carrying capacity of
an altered watercourse is maintained.

There is credit for keeping watercourses in
their natural state in Section 422.g (NSP).
There is credit for maintaining watercourses
in Activity 540 (Drainage System
Maintenance), which includes an
environmental review requirement if maintenance activities or capital improvement
programs alter a watercourse.

8. Require that manufactured homes be
elevated and anchored.

N/A

(c) When FEMA provides a Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM) with flood elevations, the
community shall:

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

1. Meet all the requirements of 60.3(b) in all
types of A Zones.

N/A

2. Make sure that residential buildings and
substantial improvements are elevated to or
above the base flood elevation in those
A Zones with flood elevations or depths.

Section 412.a credits providing regulatory
flood elevations where not available (NS).
Section 432.b, Freeboard, credits going
higher than the base flood elevation.

3. Make sure that non-residential buildings
and substantial improvements are elevated
or floodproofed in those A Zones with
flood elevations or depths.

See (c)2, above.

4. Obtain an architect’s or engineer’s
certification for floodproofing nonresidential buildings.

Activity 310 credits certifications on FEMA
forms. This language does not receive credit
for engineered foundations (FDN) under
Section 432.c.

5. Make sure that the areas below elevated
buildings allow for the entry of water.

This is often confused with the credit for
engineered foundations under Section 432.c
(FDN), but it is a minimum NFIP requirement. Prohibiting enclosing the lower area is
credited under Section 432.g (ENL).

6. Make sure that mobile homes outside of
existing mobile home parks are elevated.

N/A

7. Require new and substantially improved
residential buildings in AO Zones to be
elevated above the specified depth or,
where none is specified, two feet.

Section 432.b, Freeboard, credits going
higher than the base flood depth. Freeboard
(FRB) credit criterion (2)(c) notes that the
two feet language is not eligible for
freeboard credit.

8. Require new and substantially improved
non-residential buildings in AO Zones to
be elevated or floodproofed above the
specified depth or, where none is specified,
two feet.

See (c)7, above.

9. Require the standards of (a)1–4 and (b)5–9
in A99 Zones.

N/A

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

10. Make sure there is no cumulative increase
in flood heights in areas with no floodway
designated.

Section 412.a credits new floodway mapping
as additional data (NS).

11. Require drainage paths around buildings in
AH and AO Zones, areas of shallow
flooding without defined channels.

N/A

12. Require mobile homes in existing mobile
home parks to be elevated above the base
flood elevation or at least three feet above
grade.

Section 432.j credits higher regulatory
standards for existing manufactured home
parks (MHP).

13. Apply for a conditional FIRM revision if a
development will increase the base flood
elevation by more than one foot.

Section 412.e credits a floodway standard
more restrictive than one foot (FWS).

14. Require that recreational vehicles on a site
for more than 180 days be treated as a
manufactured home.

N/A

(d) When FEMA provides a floodway map, the
community shall:
1. Meet all the requirements of 60.3(c).1–14.

N/A

2. Adopt a regulatory floodway that does not
result in increasing the base flood by more
than one foot.

Section 412.e credits a floodway standard
more restrictive than one foot (FWS).

3. Prohibit encroachments in the floodway
from causing any increase in the base flood.

This should not be confused with Section
432.a, which credits preserving floodplain
storage capacity (DL1b).

4. Apply for a conditional FIRM revision if a
development in the floodway will increase
the base flood elevation.

N/A

(e) When FEMA provides a FIRM that shows the
coastal high hazard area (V Zone), the
community shall:
1. Meet all the requirements of 60.3(c).1–14

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

2. Keep records of the lowest structural
member of new buildings.

Activity 310 (Elevation Certificates) credits
keeping the records on the FEMA Elevation
Certificate.

3. Make sure all new buildings are landward
of mean high tide.

N/A

4. In V Zones with base flood elevations,
require all new buildings to be elevated on
pilings and columns so (i) the lowest
horizontal structural member is elevated
above the base flood level and (ii) an
engineer or architect certifies the
foundation anchoring.

Credit criterion (2)(a) in Section 432.b
provides freeboard credit for requiring
buildings outside of V Zones to have the
lowest horizontal member elevated above
the base flood. Credit under Section 432.c
for engineered foundations (FDN) is not
available in V Zones because they are
required there. Section 432.k (CAZ) credits
extending the V-Zone standards to coastal A
Zones.

5. Make sure that the areas below elevated
buildings are open or enclosed with
breakaway walls.

Section 432.g (ENL) credits prohibiting all
enclosures of the lower area.

6. Prohibit fill for structural support in
V Zones.

Section 432.a credits prohibition of all fill in
the floodplain (DL1), including CLOMR-Fs
and filling in V Zones.

7. Prohibit man-made alteration of sand dunes
and mangrove stands in V Zones.

CRS Credit for Management of Coastal
Erosion Hazards credits prohibiting
alteration of dunes outside of V Zones and
regulations that restrict traffic on dunes.

8. Require mobile homes outside of existing
mobile home parks to meet the
requirements of (e)2–7 and mobile homes
in existing parks to meet the requirements
of (c)12.

N/A

9. Require that recreational vehicles on a site
for more than 180 days meet the
requirements of (b)1 and (e)2–7.

N/A

60.4 Flood plain management criteria for
mudslide (i.e., mudflow) -prone areas.

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

See Special Flood-related Hazards
Supplement to the CRS Coordinator's
Manual.

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Appendix B

NFIP Requirement

Related CRS Credit

60.5 Flood plain management criteria for floodrelated erosion-prone areas.

See Special Flood-related Hazards
Supplement to the CRS Coordinator's
Manual.

60.6 Variances and exceptions.

N/A

60.7 Revisions of criteria for flood plain
management regulations.

N/A

60.8 Definitions (references the definitions in Part
59).

N/A

Subpart B - Requirements for State Flood Plain
Management Regulations

N/A

Subpart C - Additional Considerations in
Managing Flood-Prone, Mudslide (i.e., Mudflow)Prone, and Flood-Related Erosion-Prone Areas

N/A: These are planning considerations, not
requirements. Implementing them would
exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

Part 65 has criteria for development and adoption
of flood elevation data and floodplain maps.
Section 65.3 requires communities to submit data
on changes in data and maps to FEMA.

Credit criterion (2) for new studies (NS) in
Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping) states
that NS credit is contingent on submitting
the data and map(s) to FEMA.

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Appendix B

Regulations Credited by the CRS
not Related to Minimum NFIP Requirements
Regulations Credited under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)
Section 432.c: Requiring that fill and building foundations be designed to protect them
from damage due to erosion, scour and settling (FDN).
Section 432.f: Requiring that critical facilities, such as hospitals and hazardous materials
storage sites, be protected from higher flood levels (PCF).
Section 432.a: Maintaining floodplain storage by prohibiting fill or by requiring compensatory storage (DL1). Although floodway regulations preserve flood conveyance, they
allow the flood fringe to be filled in, which can have a significant effect on downstream
flood heights.
Section 432.a: Prohibiting new buildings in the floodplain (DL2). Credit is prorated for
prohibiting certain kinds of buildings.
Section 432.a: Prohibiting storage of materials or storage of hazardous materials in the
floodplain (DL3).
Section 432.m: Implementing other regulations that exceed the minimum requirements of
the NFIP Regulations (OHS).
The NFIP regulations are oriented toward the more common overbank and coastal flooding.
Special flood-related hazards regulations (“SH”) are requirements tailored to different
conditions. They are described in publications on special flood-related hazards and coastal
hazards listed in Appendix C.
Regulations Credited under other Activities
Section 342.b: Requiring developers or sellers to publicize or disclose the flood hazard on
their properties (ODR).
Section 422.a: Prohibiting new buildings and filling in the floodway, V Zone, or other part
of the floodplain to preserve open space (OSP).
Section 422.e: Regulations that encourage preserving floodplain lands as open space.
Section 422.f: Zoning to minimize the number of buildings in the floodplain to reduce the
damage potential and help maintain flood storage capacity (LZ).
Section 422.g: Programs that protect natural channels and shorelines.

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Appendix B

Section 452.a: Requiring new developments to provide retention or detention of their
stormwater runoff to minimize the increase in flood flows due to watershed urbanization
(SMR).
Section 452.c: Requiring erosion and sedimentation control during construction projects to
reduce siltation and the resulting loss of channel carrying capacity (ESC).
Section 452.d: Requiring developers to implement appropriate “best management
practices” that will improve the quality of stormwater runoff (WQ).
Section 452.e: Prohibiting dumping or placing debris in stream channels (SDR).

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Appendix C
COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM PUBLICATIONS
The following documents are available at no cost. The end of this appendix includes two
order forms. Many more publications are available online through the websites of the
publishing agencies and organizations.
Other Community Rating System (CRS) handouts and materials are available at
www.CRSresources.org.
FEMA’s online library of publications can be found at www.fema.gov/library.

General References on the Community Rating System
CRS Coordinator’s Manual, 2013. The CRS Coordinator’s Manual is the primary document
used by communities for the Community Rating System. It includes detailed discussion of
credits provided for various floodplain management activities and instructions for
calculating credit. The Coordinator’s Manual is used to verify CRS credit and to modify a
community’s CRS credit for a better classification.
The National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System. These color brochures
summarize the CRS and are intended to be distributed to elected officials, residents, and
others who want an overview of the program.

References on Specific Activities
CRS Credit for Outreach Projects, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of the credit
available under Activity 330 (Outreach Projects) in the Coordinator’s Manual.
CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of the
credit available under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards) in the Coordinator’s
Manual.
CRS Credit for Stormwater Management, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of the credit
available under Activity 450 (Stormwater Management) in the Coordinator’s Manual.
CRS Credit for Floodplain Management Planning, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of credit
available under Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) in the Coordinator’s Manual.
CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of the credit
available under Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance) in the Coordinator’s Manual.
CRS Credit for Flood Warning and Response Programs, 2013. A discussion, with examples, of
the credit available under Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response) in the Coordinator’s
Manual.
CRS Credit for Dam Failure Warning and Response Programs, 2013. A discussion, with
examples, of programs credited under Activity 630 (Dams) in the Coordinator’s Manual.

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Appendix C

References on Special Flood-related Hazards
The following references cover the special flood-related hazards. They must be used by
communities that want to apply for CRS credit for management of areas prone to one or
more of the seven special flood-related hazards. The first one covers the inland special
flood-related hazards of uncertain flow paths (alluvial fans, moveable bed streams, and
channel migration), closed basin lakes, ice jams, land subsidence, and mudflows.
Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual, 2013.
CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards, 2013.
CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards, 2013.

Software
“CRS Calculation Software,: 2013. A stand-alone program (on a CD) for IBM-compatible
personal computers that guides data entry and calculates credit points. A copy of the user’s
guide is included.

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Community Rating System Publications
A free CD containing all of the following publications can be obtained by sending a fax request to
(201) 469-1936 or emailing [email protected]. (The calculation software is a separate CD.)
Single printed copies of the listed publications are available by checking off the title on this form
and faxing it to (317) 848-3578 or mailing it to
Flood Publications
NFIP/CRS
P.O. Box 501016
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1016

General References
CRS Coordinator’s Manual
The National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (color brochures)
CRS Record-keeping Guidance

Specific Activities
CRS Credit for Outreach Projects
CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
CRS Credit for Floodplain Management Planning
CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
CRS Credit for Flood Warning and Response Programs
CRS Credit for Dam Failure Warning and Response Programs

Special Flood-related Hazards
Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards
CRS Credit for Management of Tsunami Hazards

Software
CRS Calculation Software (CD)

Please send these publications to [please specify a street address, not a post office box]:
Name:
______________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
City:
State:
Zip: _____________
Community name: _______________________________________________________________

Publications for a Community’s Library

A community needs the following publications to obtain credit for the flood protection library
(LIB) under Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information). Free copies can be obtained by faxing
this form to (240) 699-0525. For more than one copy, call (800) 480-2520. These publications also
can be downloaded from www.fema.gov/library.
Above the Flood: Elevating Your Floodprone House, FEMA-347 (2000)
Answers to Questions About the National Flood Insurance Program, F-084 (2011)
Coastal Construction Manual, FEMA-P-55 (2011)
Elevated Residential Structures, FEMA-54 (1984)
Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, F-083 (2008)
Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards, FEMA P-85 (2009)
Mitigation of Flood and Erosion Damage to Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas,
FEMA-257 (1994)
Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage, FEMA-P-348 (1999)
Protecting Floodplain Resources, FEMA-268 (1996)
Reducing Damage from Localized Flooding, FEMA-511 (2005)

Please send these publications to:
Name:

____________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
City:
Community name:
(if applicable)

State:

Zip: ______________
NFIP number: _______________
(if applicable)

Appendix D
A HISTORY OF CHANGES TO CRS CREDITS
This appendix notes the major changes in the scoring for CRS activities that have been
made since the CRS was initiated in 1990. The changes were introduced in the year noted.
Other changes, such as added examples, minor revisions to documentation requirements,
and alterations to format, are not discussed.
1994: Each section and activity in the 200 through 700 series was summarized in an
outline on the first page of the section.
2013: Pursuant to the CRS Strategic Plan and after the first full weighting forum since the
program began, the credit points for all the activities were re-weighted, resulting in a
redistribution of credit points while maintaining the same overall level of premium
discount.

Application Procedures
In each year, one or more activities had additional documentation required with the initial
application instead of being reviewed at the verification visit. This approach has helped to
prevent communities from losing credit points after the verification visit.
1992: The application worksheets were revised to reduce the amount of work needed to
complete them.
1993 and 1994: The procedures for submitting modifications were revised. A modification
of one element in an activity required an application worksheet and documentation for all
the elements of the activity. A modification that resulted in a two-class improvement
required a reverification that included the application worksheets and documentation for all
activities.
1994: A new Section 234 was added to explain the criteria for reverifying a community’s
credit points every few years.
1994: A new Short Form Application was introduced as a separate publication to provide a
simpler way to submit an initial application.
1996: The Short Form Application was expanded to include all activities and elements and
was named the CRS Application. New applicants for CRS credit were required to use the
CRS Application.
1999: A new requirement was added for a community to attain a Class 7 or better
classification: a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) of Class 6 or
better. To attain a Class 4 or better, a community must demonstrate that it has taken
appropriate steps to eliminate or minimize future flood losses.

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Appendix D

2013: The formal application process was replaced with a letter of intent plus
documentation showing that the community can obtain at least 500 points for its floodplain
management activities. The full processing of the community’s program is set to take place
at the verification visit conducted in response to the letter of intent.

Activity 240 (Floodplain Management Plan)
1992: Credits for planned activities were changed to modify the activities rather than the
elements. The “p” credit for an element was changed to a “p” credit for that activity’s total
credit.
Calculating the credits for the plan was moved from the activity’s application worksheet to
AW-720. As a result of this scoring change, the total credit points for a given activity either
remained the same or increased.
1994: The planning process was revised to be more explicit and to include reviewing
activities that protect natural and beneficial functions. Credit for five activities could be
increased by 15% if natural and beneficial functions are protected.
1996: Credit for the floodplain management plan was moved to Section 510 and revised to
provide credit for the planning process rather than the content of the plan.
2013: A new Section 240 was initiated to describe the CRS Community Self Assessment.

300 Series (Public Information)
Activity 310 (Elevation Certificate)
1992: To simplify the formulae, ECCF—Elevation certificates in computer format, was
changed from being a multiplier worth up to 12.7 points to a separate variable worth up to
15 points. The total possible points increased from 140 to 142. However, few if any
communities had enough points for the multiplier to be worth more than 10 points.
Therefore, for most communities, the total credit for this activity either stayed the same or
increased slightly.
1994: A default impact adjustment was added for communities holding elevation
certificates for at least 25% of their post- or pre-FIRM buildings or at least 25% in
computer format.
2002: A new element, ECWS—Elevation certificate data on a website, was added.
2013: Three elements were moved to other activities. ECCF—Elevation certificates in a
computer format, became a new, similar credit termed AMD—Additional Map Data, under
Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance). ECWS—Elevation certificates on the community’s

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Appendix D

website, was moved to Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information), with the rest of the
CRS website credits. ORS—Off-site record storage was moved to a new element,
Regulation administration (RA), under Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards).

Activity 320 (Map Information Service)
1994: More guidance was provided about telling inquirers of the flood insurance purchase
requirement.
1999: More explicit guidance was given on providing information about areas designated
as part of the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
2006: Partial credit was allowed for providing the service through a website or remote
computer terminal.
2013: Having all the credit dependent on reading the Flood Insurance Rate Map for
inquirers was replaced with a menu of map information from which a community can
choose topics to provide for credit. Reading the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is a
prerequisite for the other credits.

Activity 330 (Outreach Projects)
1994: Three new topics were added, bringing the total possible points up from 175 to 250:
a map of the local flood hazard, the substantial improvement requirements, and natural and
beneficial functions. A fourth element, FML—Floodplain mailing list, was added.
1996: FML was dropped.
2006: A new element was added to credit outreach projects that encourage the purchase or
retention of a flood insurance policy.
1999: A new element was added to allow a community to receive more points by
implementing outreach projects pursuant to an adopted public information program strategy
(OPS).
2013: The emphasis on nation-wide, standard project formats was replaced with an
emphasis on locally selected messages and more credit for more repetition of the messages.
The public information program strategy (OPS) was replaced with a Program for Public
Information (PPI) and two new credits were introduced: Flood response preparations—
FRP, and credit for projects delivered by stakeholders—STK.

Activity 340 (Hazard Disclosure)
1992: To simplify the formulae, REB—Real estate agents’ brochure, and DOH—Disclosure
of other hazards, were changed from being multipliers worth 9.2 points to separate
variables worth 10 points. The total credit for this activity either stayed the same or
increased slightly.
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Appendix D

1999: An alternative approach was initiated for crediting DFH—Disclosure of the flood
hazard by real estate agents.

Activity 350 (Flood Protection Information)
1994: Credit was increased for having documents related to protecting natural and
beneficial functions and the Floodplain Management Resource Center. The requirement for
publicity and related documentation was dropped, but documents were still required to be
kept in the card catalog or equivalent retrieval system.
2002: New credit was provided for reference material available on or through a
community’s website. The points were increased and the title of the activity was changed
from “Flood Protection Library” to “Flood Protection Information.”
2013: The relative credit for the website was increased and the prerequisites were revised.

Activity 360 (Flood Protection Assistance)
1994: The credit criteria were substantially revised, although the total possible points
remained the same.
1996: Points were added if the person providing the assistance graduated from the
Emergency Management Institute’s retrofitting course.
2013: The activity was reorganized to focus on providing one-on-one property protection
advice to an inquirer (PPA), with more credit for providing it on the inquirer’s property
during a site visit (PPV). New credits were introduced for providing advice on financial
assistance programs (FAA) and for attending training on those programs (TNG).

Activity 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion)
2013: This new activity was added to credits communities that take an active role in
encouraging residents and businesses to purchase and maintain adequate flood insurance
coverage. A three-step planning and implementation process is credited, along with credit
for providing technical assistance.

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Appendix D

400 Series (Mapping and Regulations)
1994: More references to the special flood-related hazards were added. Coastal erosion
was added as a creditable special hazard. More information was provided in CRS
Commentary Supplement for Special Hazards Credit, which can be ordered as explained in
Appendix C.

Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping)
1992: The approach to identifying and measuring the elements in this activity was
significantly revised and simplified. The scoring was also changed, so a direct conversion
was not possible. The three elements NDS—New detailed study, SSA—Site-specific
analysis, and HED—Higher standards for existing data, were replaced by one, AFD—
Additional flood data.
The relative scores for the NDS and SSA approaches were incorporated into a new variable,
RFE—Regulatory flood elevation. If a community received credit for NDS (a detailed study
on a relatively long reach), then RFE = 50. An SSA approach (a study of only the
development site before a permit is issued) resulted in RFE = 25.
Credit for additional data in areas studied in detail on the FIRM was formerly credited by
HED. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided a base flood
elevation, then RFE = 0, similar to the credit for HED. However, a new credit was added
for a new study of an area that was already studied in detail on the FIRM. While previously
there was no credit for such a restudy, RFE became = 20.
To simplify the formulae, the old variables of AD—Additional delineations, HHS—Higher
hydrology standard, and SRAD—State review of additional data, were changed from
multipliers. They were combined into one element, ADS—Additional data standards.
FWS—More restrictive floodway standard, was still worth approximately the same, but the
basis of its credit points was shifted from a formula to discrete value ranges. A similar
simplification was done to calculate the local cost sharing. The former variable, LCS—
Local cost sharing, was replaced by NFS—Non-FEMA share. Applicants no longer needed
to research the original study costs because credit was based simply on whether there was
any non-FEMA cost sharing.
Three options were introduced for the impact adjustment. The inclusion of a default value
was expected to make using the impact adjustment easier.
The denominator in the impact adjustment has been changed from aRF—area of the
regulatory floodplain, to aSFHA—area of the Special Flood Hazard Area. The maximum
value for the impact adjustment changed from 1.0 to 2.0. These changes resulted in higher
scores, especially where the activity covered large areas not mapped as SFHA on the FIRM.

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Appendix D

The maximum points for Activity 410 increased from 247 to 360. The maximum was
attainable only if the impact adjustment was 2.0. If a more common impact adjustment of
1.0 was used, the maximum would decrease from 247 to 180.
1996: The Coordinator’s Manual clarified the credit for providing additional flood data in
areas affected by one of the special hazards that covered in the CRS Commentary
Supplement for Special Hazards Credit.
1999: Credit points for most of the elements were increased and the credit criteria revised.
2002: A new element, CTP, was added to credit studies and mapping done under a
Cooperating Technical Partner agreement with FEMA.
2006: The activity was substantially revised to better support FEMA’s Map Modernization
effort and to increase the credit points for new maps and those done to higher standards.
2013: The credit for state review of new studies was made a separate element—SR.

Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation)
1992: To simplify the formulae, DR—Deed restrictions, was changed from being a
multiplier worth up to 75 points to a separate variable worth 75 points. There was no
change in the total credit for DR when combined with the impact adjustment.
The impact adjustment then had three options, including a default value for those who do
not want to calculate the affected areas.
1994: A new element was added: NB—Natural and beneficial functions, worth up to 100
points for open space preserved or restored to its natural state.
1999: The credit points for Preserving open space—OS, were significantly increased.
2013: NB—Natural and beneficial functions, was replaced with NFOS—Natural functions
open space, with more points and more options for credit. Two elements, OSI—Open space
incentives, and LZ—Low-density zoning, were transferred from Section 430LD (Land
Development Criteria), which was eliminated. A new credit was introduced for keeping
shorelines in their natural state—NSP.

Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)
Most of the changes to Activity 430 have been aimed at simplifying the formulae and
crediting partial approaches to an element. Maximum points increased from 35 to 100 for
five special hazards. Incorporating low-density zoning from Activity 420 increased the total
possible points.

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Appendix D

1992: Another partial credit was made possible for tracking improvements over 5–10
years. The changes did not alter existing applications; they only made it easier to credit
alternative approaches to CSI.
The formula for the LSI—Lower substantial improvement threshold, was replaced with
discrete value ranges.
The impact adjustment had three options, including a default value for those who do not
want to calculate areas.
1994: Credit was provided under foundation protection for adopting the soil testing and
compaction language of one of the three national building codes. The credit for regulating
additions was no longer mutually exclusive from other cumulative substantial improvement
credit. Prohibiting fill under PSC—Protection of storage capacity, increased from 50 to 80
points while compensatory storage decreased from 80 to 70.
Three new elements were added, bringing the total possible points up to 905 (including
low-density zoning):
NBR—Natural and beneficial functions regulations: Up to 25 points for prohibiting
development in the floodplain that is hazardous to public health or water quality.
ENL—Enclosure limits: 50 points for prohibiting first floor enclosures.
OHS—Other higher standards: Up to 25 points for other regulations that will be
reviewed and scored by FEMA.
1996: Points were added if the person responsible for floodplain permitting graduated from
the Emergency Management Institute’s course on managing floodplain development.
1999: The credit points were significantly increased for FRB—Freeboard, PCF—
Protection of critical facilities, and ENL—Enclosure limits. Credit for CSI—Tracking
cumulative substantial improvements, was revised. Two new elements, credit for SMS—
State-mandated regulatory standards, and BCS—Building code and staffing, were
introduced.
2002: The Building Code and Staffing element was split into two new elements, BC—
Building code, and STF—Staffing. More points were provided under each new element.
Two other new elements were added: MHP—Manufactured home parks, to credit
protection of manufactured homes in existing parks, and CAZ—Coastal A Zones, to credit
higher regulatory standards in these hazardous coastal areas.
2002: Section 430LZ, Low-density Zoning, was renamed 430LD, Land Development
Criteria. Points were added under an new element, LDC—Land development criteria, to
recognize local regulations that encourage preserving floodplain lands as open space.
2013: Various credits for discouraging floodplain development were consolidated into a
new element, DL—Development limitations, for credit for prohibiting fill, buildings, and/or

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storage of materials in the floodplain. FRB—Freeboard, and FDN—Foundation protection,
credits were increased, with the higher credits tied to prohibiting fill or requiring
compensatory storage. LDP—Local drainage protection, was revised and transferred from
Activity 450 (Stormwater Management). A new element, RA—Regulations administration,
was added to encourage better management of local floodplain management regulations.
Credits for natural and beneficial functions regulations (NBR) were transferred to NFOS
and NSP under Activity 420 (Open Space Preservation).

Activity 440 (Flood Data Maintenance)
1992: DMD—Digitized map data, was split into two elements, GIS—Geographic
information system, and DPD—Digitized parcel data. More credit was provided for GIS
mapping. MAM—More accurate base map, and OM—Overlay map, were combined so that
more credit is provided for OM.
GIS, DPD, and OM were made no longer mutually exclusive, which allowed more credit
where new systems are being installed gradually or where one system does not receive
maximum credit. Due to the elimination of MAM as a separate element, the maximum
points decreased slightly, from 125 to 120.
The impact adjustment had three options, including a default value for those who do not
want to calculate areas.
1994: The element GIS was renamed DMS—Digital mapping system to avoid confusion
with real geographic information systems. Full credit was only possible if the community
had a real GIS that works on FEMA’s systems.
Ten more points became available for DMS, DPD, and OM for showing special hazard
areas, including coastal erosion. A new element was added: EDM—Erosion data
maintenance, for keeping track of coastal erosion. It was described in CRS Commentary
Supplement for Special Hazards Credit.
1996: Credit for DMS, DPD, and OM were modified slightly for clarification and
consistency.
1999: Three approaches to maintaining flood data were combined under one element,
AMD—Additional map data. A new element was added to provide credit for maintaining
copies of all FIRMs that have been issued for the community—FM.
2013: New credit for supporting GPS surveying was added to the benchmark maintenance
element—BMM.

Activity 450 (Stormwater Management)
1992: A review of this activity resulted in several credit point revisions. SZ—Size of
development, dropped from a maximum of 64 to 40 points, and PUB (Public Maintenance)

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was reduced from 32 to 30 points. These reductions were offset by an increase in DS—
Design storm, from 130 to 155 maximum points.
To simplify the calculation, the formulae for SZ and PUB were replaced by discrete range
values. This changed the credit for SMR—Stormwater regulations, for many communities.
Total credit for communities with 100-year design storms increased, while the scores for
communities that regulate to 10-year or smaller storms generally decreased.
SMP—Stormwater management master plan, and SRSM—State review of stormwater
management plans, were changed from 10% multipliers to discrete values of 25 points.
ESC—Erosion and sediment control, was moved from Activity 540 to this activity. The 45
points for ESC accounted for most of the increase in the maximum points, from 331 to 380.
1994: There was some reorganization to clarify the importance of the stormwater
management regulation language. No credit was to be provided under this activity if only
very large developments are regulated.
A new element was added: WQ—Water quality, for stormwater management regulations
that require use of best management practices to minimize the impact of stormwater runoff
from new development.
1999: The points for the various sub-elements in SMR—Stormwater management
regulations, were revised to provide relatively more credit for PUB—Public maintenance of
stormwater facilities. The maximum for SMP—Stormwater management master plan, was
greatly increased and the points for partial credit were clarified.
2013: Credits were increased for management of volume and LID—Requiring low-impact
development techniques that improve downstream natural floodplain functions. Most of the
credits for PUB—Public maintenance of new storage basins, were moved to Activity 540
(Drainage System Maintenance).

500 Series (Flood Damage Reduction)
1994: The description of the repetitive loss list and application requirements was clarified.
A new Section 503 discussed why the CRS does not credit structural projects.
1996: The repetitive loss requirements were moved from Section 510.

Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning)
1992: The formula for the credits from Activity 330 was corrected to account for the
number of years between projects. Because Activity 610 was revised, the credits for the
contributing elements from 610 were revised. As a result, the maximum points decreased
from 444 to 441.

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1996: This section was changed to 510 (Floodplain Management Planning). Credit for
floodplain management planning was moved from Section 240. Repetitive loss
requirements were moved to Section 500. Credit for floodplain management planning and
repetitive loss planning were combined and revised to provide credit for the planning
process rather than the content of the plan.
2002: The credit criteria were revised and expanded to be consistent with the mitigation
planning requirements for other FEMA programs. Additional points were provided to
encourage preparing multi-hazard plans and involving more stakeholders in the planning
process.
2006: A new element was added to credit a detailed analysis of the community’s repetitive
loss areas and identify ways to mitigate flood damage to each building.
2013: The credit criteria for FMP—Floodplain management planning, were revised to
improve implementation of plans. The habitat conservation plan element was replaced with
a new element that credits more types of natural floodplain functions plans—NFP.

Activity 520 (Acquisition and Relocation)
1994: A default impact adjustment was added. If the community has acquired or relocated
at least 5 buildings, it can receive 16 points.
1999: The credit points were significantly increased. Additional credit was provided for
acquiring or relocating buildings on FEMA’s repetitive loss list. A new default impact
adjustment formula was instituted.
2006: Bonus points were added to encourage acquiring or relocating buildings from among
the Severe Repetitive Loss Properties.
2013: Bonus points were added to encourage acquiring or relocating buildings in V Zones
and critical facilities. A new bonus was introduced for clearing out more than 30% of the
buildings in the community’s SFHA.

Activity 530 (Flood Protection)
1994: The retrofitting credits were substantially revised to provide less credit for projects
that were not engineered or otherwise have a higher possibility of failure. A default impact
adjustment was added. If the community has at least 5 buildings that have been retrofitted,
it can receive 14 points. A new five-page supplement explained retrofitting techniques.
1999: The credit points were significantly increased. Additional credit was provided for
acquiring or relocating buildings on FEMA’s repetitive loss list.
2002: CRS credit for protecting buildings with structural flood control projects was
incorporated into this activity. The name was changed from “Retrofitting” to “Flood
Protection.”

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2006: Bonus points were added to encourage protecting buildings from among the Severe
Repetitive Loss Properties.
2013: New environmental compliance review criteria were introduced.

Activity 540 (Drainage System Maintenance)
1992: Because it is a stormwater management regulation, ESC was moved to Activity 450
(Stormwater Management). This resulted in a lowering of the total possible points from 375
to 330. However, the maximum points for Activity 450 were increased accordingly.
To simplify the formulae, SDR—Stream dumping regulations, was changed from being a
multiplier worth up to 30 points to a separate variable worth up to 30 points. The impact
adjustment had three options, including a default value for those who do not want to
calculate areas.
The requirements for the documentation for CDR—Channel and basin debris removal, were
changed. Most communities would need to prepare new program explanations when
resubmitting their application for this activity.
1994: In most cases, the application documentation was required to include a map of the
drainage system. A new prerequisite was introduced for stream dumping regulations: the
community must publicize the regulations through an annual outreach project. A new
element was added: EPM—Coastal erosion protection maintenance, as described in CRS
Commentary Supplement for Special Hazards Credit.
1999: The approach to crediting CDR—Channel and basin debris removal, and SDR—
Stream dumping regulations, was revised to allow more flexibility in recognizing local
programs.
2013: Credits for problem site maintenance and capital improvement programs were
created as separate elements (PSM and CIP). Storage basin maintenance was separated
from CDR—Channel and basin debris removal, and incorporated credits from Activity 450
(Stormwater Management). New environmental compliance review criteria were
introduced.

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Appendix D

600 Series (Warning and Response)
2013: The three activities’ elements were aligned following a standard flood preparedness
process.

Activity 610 (Flood Warning and Response)
1992: This activity was completely revised. Credit was no longer given for LSDS—Local
data sharing. The same basic documentation was required: a description of the flood threat
recognition system and excerpts from the flood response plan. However, all the elements
and the scoring were changed.
The impact adjustment had three options, including a default value for those who do not
want to calculate the affected areas. The maximum points decreased slightly from 205 to
200.
2002: A new element was added: SRC—StormReady Community, to credit communities
that participate in the National Weather Service’s StormReady Community Program.
2013: The credit criteria were revised to encourage more attention to pre-planning
response actions at different predicted flood levels.

Activity 620 (Levees)
1994: A default impact adjustment was added. If the levee protects at least five buildings,
the community can receive 9 points. The requirements for levee certification were revised
to allow determinations made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
2013: This activity was reorganized and renamed. Credit prerequisites include an
inventory of all areas protected by levees, a documented maintenance program (LM), and
an outreach project to protected areas. Four new elements more closely coordinate a levee
failure warning and response program with the community’s emergency management
program:
LFR—Levee failure threat recognition system,
LFW—Levee failure warning,
LFO—Levee failure response operations, and
LCF—Levee failure critical facilities planning.

Activity 630 (Dams)
1992: The impact adjustment had three options, including a default value for those who do
not want to calculate the affected areas.

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Appendix D

2002: Credit for dam failure regulations was deleted. The credit for DFP—Dam failure
emergency action plans, was expanded, with a net increase in points.
2013: This activity was reorganized and renamed. SDS—State dam safety program, credit
criteria were revised to reflect FEMA’s new directions to have state programs more active
with local emergency preparedness programs. Credit prerequisites for local programs
included an inventory of all areas subject to flooding from the failure of a high hazard dam
and an outreach project to affected areas. Four new elements more closely coordinate a dam
failure warning and response program with the community’s emergency management
program:
DFR—Dam failure threat recognition system,
DFW—Dam failure warning,
DFO—Dam failure response operations, and
DCF—Dam failure critical facilities planning.

Activity 710 (Community Growth Adjustment)
1994: The Donnelley Report Growth Rate was dropped from the calculations for average
growth rate.
2013: A new approach was initiated that uses a 10-year average growth in dwelling units
for the county. Averaging city growth rates that may be higher than the overall growth
pressure in the whole county was eliminated.

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Appendix E
CRS COMMUNITY CERTIFICATIONS
This appendix contains forms for the community certifications that are part of the documentation needed to obtain credit for certain activities under the National Flood Insurance
Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). The certification forms are designed to be
used in conjunction with the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Two required certifications are not included here. The AW-501 (Repetitive Loss Update
Certification) and the AW-501 Transmittal Sheet are generated separately by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and provided to the community when needed.
The certifications of compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements
can be found in Appendix F.
Instructions for completing the forms can be found on page CC-ii.

Contents


CC-213 Recertification



CC-230 Verification



CC-RL The Repetitive Loss List



CC-530 Retrofitted Buildings

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OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013

National Flood Insurance Program
Community Rating System

COMMUNITY
CERTIFICATIONS

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013

Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 8 hours for annual
recertification, per response. The burden estimate includes the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed,
and completing and submitting the form. This collection of information is required to obtain
voluntary benefits. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it
displays a valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden
estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Information Collections
Management, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
500 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472, Paperwork Reduction Project (1660-0022).
N OTE : Do not send your completed form to this address.

CRS COMMUNITY CERTIFICATIONS
The following community certifications are part of the documentation needed to obtain credit for certain
activities under the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). These certifications
are designed to be used in conjunction with the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Sections in each certification correspond to the same numbered sections in the Coordinator’s Manual. If a
section appears to be missing, it is because that section does not call for the submission of a specific item.
It is recommended that these certifications be photocopied before they are used. They are also available in
Microsoft Word® at www.CRSresources.org/200.
The “CID” at the top of each page signifies the six digit National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community
identification number, which can be found on the community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map and other NFIP
documents.

FEMA Form Number 086-0-35A

Community Certifications

CC-ii

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

CC-213 Recertification
Date
If there are any changes or corrections to the information below, please cross out the old item and write
in the correction.

Chief Executive Officer

CRS Coordinator

Name

Title
Address

Phone
E-mail

I hereby certify that ___________________________ [community name] is continuing to
implement the activities on the attached pages as credited under the Community Rating System
and described in our original application to the CRS and subsequent modifications.
I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, we are maintaining in force all
flood insurance policies that have been required of us as a condition of federal financial
assistance for insurable buildings owned by us and located in the Special Flood Hazard Area
(SFHA) shown on our Flood Insurance Rate Map. I further understand that disaster assistance for
any community-owned building located in the SFHA is reduced by the amount of National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance coverage (structure and contents) that a community
should be carrying on the building, regardless of whether the community is carrying a policy.
Signed _________________________________________________ (Chief Executive Officer)

Community Certifications

CC-213-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CRS Program Data Table

A. In the
SFHA

CID ____________________

B. In a regulated
floodplain
outside the
SFHA

C. In the rest
of the
community

1. Last report’s number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF) (line 6, last report)
2. Number of new buildings constructed since last report

+

3. Number of buildings removed/demolished since last report

–

4. Number of buildings affected by map revisions since last report (+ or –)
5. Number of buildings affected by corporate limits changes (+ or –)
6. Current total number of buildings in the SFHA (bSF) (total lines 1–5)
7. Number of substantial improvement/damage projects since last report
8. Number of repetitive loss properties mitigated since last report
9. Number of LOMRs and map revisions (not LOMAs) since last report
10. Acreage of the SFHA (aSFHA) as of the last report (line 13, last report)
11. Acreage of area(s) affected by map revisions since last report (+ or –)
12. Acreage of area(s) affected by corporate limits changes (+ or –)
13. Current acreage of the SFHA (aSFHA) (total lines 10−12)
14. Primary source for building data:
15. Primary source for area data:
16. Period covered:

Current FIRM date

If available, the following data would be useful:
17. Number of new manufactured homes installed since last report
18. Number of other new 1–4 family buildings constructed since last report
19. Number of all other buildings constructed/installed since last report

Comments:
(Please note the number of the line to which the comment refers.)

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-213-2

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

Instructions
At the first verification visit after the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual takes effect, ONLY LINES 6 AND 13 NEED TO
BE COMPLETED. These lines form the baseline data about the number of buildings and area of the SFHA for
when the table is completed as part of the next annual recertification. The “period covered” entered in line 16
is the date that lines 6 and 13 are first completed.
The entire table is completed at all subsequent annual recertifications and cycle verification visits. The
information in lines 6 and 13 from the last report is transferred to lines 1 and 10 in the next report.

Instructions for the Columns
Column A numbers are for the SFHA (the A and V Zones shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map) (FIRM)). Use the
FIRM currently in effect, not a draft or pending revision.
Column B is completed only if the community receives CRS credit for regulating floodplain development
outside the SFHA under Activity 410 (Floodplain Mapping) or Activity 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards).
Column C numbers help relate what happens in the floodplain to what is happening in the rest of the
community.
Enter “0” if there are no numbers to report for this period. Do not leave a cell blank. Do not fill in the shaded boxes.

Instructions for the Lines
Lines 1-7 deal with buildings.
o

Section 301.a of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual defines what constitutes a “building” and lists
examples of structures that are not counted as “buildings” by the CRS.

o

Section 302.a of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual describes how the CRS counts buildings. For
example, accessory structures are not counted.

o

As noted in Section 302.a, to determine building counts, communities may use any method that yields
reasonably good estimates of the number of buildings. Examples of acceptable methods are listed in
Section 302.a. Precision is less important for large numbers. For example, the impact of the numbers
will not change much if there are 10,000 buildings or 10,100 buildings.

o

If a building is out of the SFHA, but in a parcel that is partly in the SFHA, it is not counted in column
A—In the SFHA.

o

In line 14, note how the building counts were obtained or estimated. Use the comments area, if needed.

Line 4 refers to map revisions. These include physical map revisions, Letters of Map Revision (LOMR), and
Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA). If a building is removed from the SFHA by FEMA through a LOMA, but
the community still administers its floodplain management regulations on the property, the building should not
be included in the line 4 count in column A—In the SFHA. However, communities that still regulate areas
removed by LOMAs can receive credit under Activities 410 or 430. If the community is receiving such credit,
the building should be counted under column B—In a regulated floodplain outside the SFHA.
Line 7 is for the total number of buildings that were substantially improved plus the number of buildings that
were substantially damaged during the period covered.

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-213-3

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

Lines 10–13 deal with areas.
o Section 403.e of the CRS Coordinator’s Manual discusses calculating areas for CRS purposes.
o Section 403.e notes that communities “should not spend an inordinate amount of time measuring
areas.” As with buildings, communities may use any method that yields reasonably good estimates.
Examples of acceptable approaches are listed in Section 403.e.
o Line 13 asks for the current acreage of the SFHA. The best source for this number is a GIS layer that
shows the SFHA. If the community does not have GIS, the county, regional agency, or state NFIP
mapping office may have SFHA layers and may be able to provide the data. If the community has a
relatively recent FIRM, the study contractor or consulting engineer may have the data.
o In line 15, note how the area calculations were obtained or estimated. Use the comments area, if
needed.
Lines 17–19 are voluntary, if the numbers are readily available.
o Line 17 includes replacing an existing manufactured home with a new one. The newly placed
manufactured home is counted as a new, post-FIRM, building.
o The total of lines 17–19 should equal the value entered in line 2.

Community Certifications

CC-213-4

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

CC-230 Verification
Date of visit

FIRM Effective Date

Population

Current FIRM Date

County

ISO/CRS Specialist

Coordinator’s Manual Year
Chief Executive Officer

CRS Coordinator

Name

Title
Address

Phone
E-mail
I hereby certify that ___________________________ [community name] is implementing the
following activities [check the ones that apply]. We will continue to implement these activities and
will advise FEMA if any of them are not being conducted in accordance with this certification. We
will cooperate with the ISO/CRS Specialist’s verification visit and will submit the documentation and
annual recertification needed to validate our program.
____ 310 (Elevation Certificates)
____ 320 (Map Information Service)
____ 330 (Outreach Projects)
____ 340 (Hazard Disclosure)
____ 350 (Flood Protection Information)
____ 360 (Flood Protection Assistance)
____ 370 (Flood Insurance Promotion)
____ 410 (Floodplain Mapping)
____ 420 (Open Space Preservation)
____ 430 (Higher Regulatory Standards)

____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____

440 (Flood Data Maintenance)
450 (Stormwater Management)
(Repetitive Loss Requirements)
510 (Floodplain Management Planning)
520 (Acquisition and Relocation)
530 (Flood Protection)
540 (Drainage System Maintenance)
610 (Flood Warning and Response)
620 (Levees)
630 (Dams)

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, we are maintaining in force all flood
insurance policies that have been required of us as a condition of Federal financial assistance for
insurable buildings owned by us and located in the Special Flood Hazard Area shown on our Flood
Insurance Rate Map. I further understand that disaster assistance for any community-owned building
located in the Special Flood Hazard Area is reduced by the amount of National Flood Insurance
Program flood insurance coverage (structural and contents) that a community should be carrying on
the building, regardless of whether the community is carrying a policy.
Signed ______________________________________________ (Chief Executive Officer)
Community Certifications

CC-230-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

CC-RL The Repetitive Loss List
(See Section 501 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual).

___ We have reviewed the repetitive loss list dated ______________, 20_____, and [check one]
___ Attached are updated Repetitive Loss Update Certifications, AW-501; OR
___ There are no changes to FEMA’s repetitive loss list.
As the current CRS Coordinator for ______________________[community name], I have examined
the repetitive loss data provided for each of our _____________[number] assigned repetitive loss
properties. For each property in need of update, I have attached an AW-501 that reflects the current
and accurate address, the correct National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community identification
number, and all known mitigation actions with the primary source of funding noted. To the best of my
knowledge and belief, any AW-501 not updated and submitted as part of this application has been
checked and is not in need of update at this time.
Signature: ___________________________________________ (Community CRS Coordinator)

To facilitate verification, please provide the names of the CRS Coordinator and local repetitive loss contact
person, if other than the CRS Coordinator

CRS Coordinator

Repetitive Loss Contact

Name
Title
Phone
Fax
Address

E-mail

Comments:

Community Certifications

CC-RL

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

CC-530 Retrofitted Buildings
This certification is used for retrofitting projects that are not in a high-hazard area and that do not need to be
designed or approved by a registered design professional. Completed FEMA Elevation Certificates are used
for buildings retrofitted by elevation (TUE).

Part 1. For Credit Calculations Option 1 and Option 2
Part 1 is used for all submissions for credit under TUD, TUW, TUS, and TUB.

I certify that, for the buildings on the attached list,
____

All retrofitting projects were completed after the effective date of our initial FIRM:
__________________________ [date];

____

All retrofitting projects provide protection to at least the 25-year flood level;

____

All required permits were issued for each project, or the project complies with all federal,
state, and local codes and regulations;

____

None of the retrofitting projects was mandated by the substantial improvement or
substantial damage requirements of our floodplain management regulations; and

____ All retrofitting projects are currently in good condition.

Part 2. For Credit Calculation Option 2
Part 2 is needed only if the community is requesting credit under Section 533.b. Option 2 for buildings
submitted for credit under TUD, TUW, and TUS.
One copy of this certification can be used for multiple properties that have the same score.

Dry floodproofed buildings (TUD)
The buildings listed as property numbers _____________________________________________
have been dry floodproofed and [check one]
_____ The project was designed by a registered design professional and the design accounts for
openings, internal drainage, seepage, and underdrainage. (TU = 0.6)
_____ The project does not depend on human intervention to close openings; the project protects to a
level less than 3 feet over the first floor; the design accounts for internal drainage, seepage,
and underdrainage; and the building does not have a basement (i.e., any floor below grade on
all sides). (TU = 0.4)
_____ There is no documentation of how openings, interior drainage, seepage, or underdrainage are
handled. (TU = 0.2)
[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ______________________________

State ________

CID ____________________

Wet floodproofed buildings (TUW)
The buildings listed as property numbers _____________________________________________
have been wet floodproofed and [check one]
____

The project was designed by a registered design professional. (TU = 0.5)

____

The project was not designed by a registered design professional. (TU = 0.3)

____

The furnace, water heater, electrical breaker box, and other utilities are relocated above flood
level. (TU = 0.2)

Buildings protected from sewer or sump backup (TUS)
This technique was used for property numbers ____________________________________ , which
have been protected from sewer or sump backup and [check one]
____ The building is located in the SFHA. (TU = 0.2)
____

The building is located outside of the SFHA and the community has a building code or other
regulations that require positive drain sewers or other measures that prevent sewer backup
into new buildings. (TU = 0.1)

I certify that the items checked above are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signature

Date

Name (printed)

Title

Community Certifications

CC-530-2

Edition: 2013

Appendix F

CRS COMMUNITY CERTIFICATIONS
FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
This appendix contains forms for a community’s certification of its compliance with
environmental and historic preservation requirements. These certifications are part of the
documentation needed to obtain credit for certain activities under the National Flood
Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). The certification forms are
designed to be used in conjunction with the 2013 CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Community certification forms for non-environmental aspects of the CRS can be found in
Appendix E.
Instructions for completing the certification forms can be found on each page.

Contents


CC-520EHP Acquisition and Relocation—Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements



CC-530EHP Flood Protection—Certification of Compliance with Environmental
and Historic Preservation Requirements



CC-540EHP Drainage System Maintenance—Certification of Compliance with
Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements



CC-620EHP Levees—Certification of Compliance with Environmental and Historic
Preservation Requirements

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

F-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013

National Flood Insurance Program
Community Rating System

COMMUNITY CERTIFICATIONS
for

ENVIRONMENTAL and HISTORIC
PRESERVATION

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013

Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 1.6 hours for the environmental and
historic preservation certifications, per response. The burden estimate includes the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and submitting the form. This collection of information is required to obtain voluntary
benefits. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a valid
OMB control number. Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate and any
suggestions for reducing the burden to Information Collections Management, Department of
Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20472, Paperwork Reduction Project (1660-0022). NOTE: Do not send your completed form to this
address.

FEMA Form Number 086-0-35B

Community Certifications for
Environmental & Historic Preservation

ii

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

CC-520EHP Acquisition and Relocation
Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements
(see Section 521.b(7) in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual)

In the table below, list each property for which credit is desired under Activity 520, indicate the project date,
and check the box that identifies the source of the project funding. Add additional copies of this page (CC520EHP-1) as necessary. Then, complete pages CC-520EHP-2 and CC-520EHP-3, as appropriate, based on
the project’s funding source.
If any FEMA funding was included in the project, then the source of funding is “FEMA.” FEMA funding includes
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants (under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or the Pre-disaster
Mitigation, Flood Mitigation Assistance, Repetitive Flood Claims, or Severe Repetitive Loss programs) and
FEMA Public Assistance funds. If no FEMA funding was used but any other federal funds were included (e.g.,
from the Corps of Engineers), then the funding source is “Other Federal Agency.” If the project was funded
only by state, local, and/or private funds, the source is “No Federal Funds.” An NFIP claim payment, including
funds provided under Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, is considered “No Federal Funds.”

N OTE : The self-certification of compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements
incorporated into this certification applies only to projects implemented after the effective date of the
2013 Coordinator’s Manual.

Property Address

Date Project
Permitted or
Initiated

Source of Project Funding
Other
No Federal
FEMA
Federal
Funds
Agency

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-520EHP-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

Acquisition and Relocation Projects
Project Name:
Project or Grant Number:
Project Description (or include as an attachment):

On each row of the table below, initial the box that applies to the project, signifying that the appropriate
steps were taken (shaded areas are “not applicable”). Then sign at the end of the certification. More
information on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 of the Coordinator’s Manual.
Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

Certification Statement for Acquisition and Relocation Projects
All properties marked “FEMA Funded” on CC-520EHP-1 were included in the above
description of the FEMA-funded project.
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, this project took into consideration the requirements of all state and local
environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and permits that apply to this type of
project. Communication with the appropriate state agency and/or local government entity took
place before project implementation. Any recommendations made by the agency or office were
carried out.
National Historic Preservation Act: If any acquired or relocated structure affected by this
project was 50 years of age or older at the time of the acquisition, communication with the State
Historic Preservation Officer or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (if on tribal land or
reservation) took place to determine if the structure was either on or eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places (historic property) and to resolve any adverse effect(s) to the historic
property.
Protection of floodplains (E.O. 11988—Floodplain Management): Consideration was given
to the project’s long- and short-term adverse impacts that are associated with the occupance and
modification of floodplains, and to avoiding direct and indirect support of floodplain
development wherever there was a practicable alternative.
E.O. 11990—Protection of Wetlands: Consideration was given to the possible loss or
degradation of wetlands associated with the construction of this project, as well as to the
preservation and enhancement of the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.
E.O. 12898—Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations:
Consideration was given to the possible negative impacts associated with the implementation of
this project on minority and low-income populations, and to avoiding those impacts where
practicable.

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-520EHP-2

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for Acquisition and Relocation Projects (cont.)
For projects in areas subject to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act: There was
communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding this project’s potential to
jeopardize any ecologically sensitive coastal barrier resources. Any recommendations made
by the Service were carried out.
For projects in coastal communities: There was communication concerning this project
with the state’s lead coastal zone management agency regarding the enforcement of the
policies of the state’s coastal zone management program in carrying out federally funded or
federally authorized construction activities. Any recommendations made by the agency were
carried out.

In addition to the above, for projects that also involved the development of a new site on which to place the
relocated building(s), continue initialing in the appropriate boxes, below.
Endangered Species Act: Consideration was given to the protection and preservation of
threatened and/or endangered species (including plants and animals and their habitat) whose
existence may have been threatened by the construction activities. Communication took
place with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or the National Marine Fisheries Service if
the project is in a coastal area) and the applicable state agencies for state-protected species
and/or their habitat. Any recommendations made by the Services or state agencies were
carried out.
Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act: The effects of the proposed relocation on
archaeological sites were considered.
Point source and non-point source discharge (Clean Water Act, Section 402):
Consideration was given to all permit requirements for municipal point source discharge
(sewage treatment plant discharge) as well as non-point discharge (surface runoff) of a
pollutant into surface waters. Communication with the Environmental Protection Agency or
designated state office took place. Any recommendations made by the agencies were carried
out.
Dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration was given to all
permit requirements for discharging dredge or fill material into waters of the United States,
including wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took place.
Any recommendations made by the Corps were carried out.
Farmland Protection Policy Act: Consideration was given to the protection of prime and
unique farmlands in the construction of this project. Communication with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service took place. Any
recommendations made by the Service were carried out.
I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Name
(signed):
Name
(printed):
Title:

Community Certifications

Date:

CC-520EHP-3

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

CC-530EHP Flood Protection
Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements
(see Section 531.b(4) in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual)

N OTE : The self-certification of compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements
incorporated into this certification applies ONLY to projects implemented AFTER the effective date of the
2013 Coordinator’s Manual.

Part A. Retrofitting Projects (TUE, TUD, TUW, TUS)
In the table below, list each retrofitted property for which credit is desired under Activity 530, indicate the type
of project, check the box that identifies the source of project funding, and insert the project date. Add additional
copies of this page (CC-530EHP-1) as needed for the number of properties. Then, complete pages CC530EHP-2 and CC-530EHP-3 as appropriate, based on the project’s funding source.
If any FEMA funding was included in the project, then the source of funding is “FEMA.” FEMA funding includes
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants (under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or the Pre-disaster
Mitigation, Flood Mitigation Assistance, Repetitive Flood Claims, or Severe Repetitive Loss programs) or
FEMA Public Assistance funds. If no FEMA funding was used but any other federal funds were included (e.g.,
from the Corps of Engineers), then the funding source is “Other Federal Agency.” If the project was funded
only by state, local, and/or private funds, the source is “No Federal Funds.” An NFIP claim payment, including
funds provided under Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, is considered “No Federal Funds.”

Property Address
for Retrofitted Building

Type of Project
TUE=Elevation
TUD=Dry floodproofing
TUW=Wet floodproofing
TUS=Sewer backup

Source of Project Funding

FEMA
Funding

Other
Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funds

Date Project
Permitted or
Initiated

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

Part A. Retrofitting Projects (TUE, TUD, TUW, TUS) (cont.):
Project Name:
Project or Grant
Number:
Project Description (or include as an attachment):

On each row of the table below, initial the box that applies to the project, signifying that the appropriate steps
were taken (shaded areas are “not applicable”). Then sign at the end of the certification. More information on
these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

Certification Statement for Retrofitting Projects
All properties marked as “FEMA Funded” on CC-530EHP-1 were included in the project
description of the above FEMA-funded project.
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, this project took into consideration the requirements of all state and local
environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and permits that applied to this type of
project. Communication with the appropriate state agency and/or local government entity took
place before project implementation. Any recommendations made by the agency or office were
carried out.
For projects that affected buildings 50 years of age or older (National Historic
Preservation Act): If any retrofitted structure affected by this project was 50 years of age or
older at the time of the acquisition, communication with the State Historic Preservation Officer
or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (if on tribal land or reservation) took place to determine
if the structure was either on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (historic
property) and to resolve any adverse effect(s) to the historic property.
Protection of floodplains (E.O. 11988—Floodplain Management): Consideration was given
to the project’s long- and short-term adverse impacts that are associated with the occupance and
modification of floodplains, and to avoiding direct and indirect support of floodplain
development wherever there was a practicable alternative.
E.O. 11990—Protection of Wetlands: Consideration was given to the possible loss or
degradation of wetlands associated with the construction of this project, as well as to the
preservation and enhancement of the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-2

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for Retrofitting Projects (cont.)
E.O. 12898—Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations:
Consideration was given to the possible negative impacts associated with the implementation of
this project on minority and low-income populations, and to avoiding those impacts where
practicable.
For projects in areas subject to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act: There was
communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding this project’s potential to
jeopardize any ecologically sensitive coastal barrier resources. Any recommendations made by
the Service were carried out.
For projects in coastal communities: There was communication concerning this project with
the state’s lead coastal zone management agency regarding the enforcement of the policies of the
state’s coastal zone management program in carrying out federally funded or federally
authorized construction activities. Any recommendations made by the agency were carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge
Name
(signed):
Name
(printed):

Title:

Date:

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-3

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

Part B. Flood Control Projects (TUB, TUC, TUF)
In the table below, list each property for which credit is desired under Activity 530 for flood control projects
(TUB, TUC, and TUF), indicate the type of project, check the box that identifies the source of project funding,
and insert the project date. Add additional pages (page CC-530EHP-4 as necessary. Then, complete pages
CC-530EHP-5 through CC-530EHP-11 as appropriate, based on the project’s funding source.
If any FEMA funding was included in the project, then the source of funding is “FEMA.” FEMA funding includes
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants (under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or the Pre-disaster
Mitigation, Flood Mitigation Assistance, Repetitive Flood Claims, or Severe Repetitive Loss programs) or
FEMA Public Assistance funds. If no FEMA funding was used but any other federal funds were included (e.g.,
from the Corps of Engineers), then the funding source is “Other Federal Agency.” If the project was funded
only by state, local, and/or private funds, the source is “No Federal Funds.” An NFIP claim payment, including
funds provided under Increased Cost of Compliance coverage, is considered “No Federal Funds.”
N OTE : The self-certification of compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements
incorporated into this certification applies ONLY to projects implemented AFTER the effective date of the
2013 Coordinator’s Manual.

Property Address of
Flood Control Project

Type of Project
Source of Project Funding
TUB=Barriers, levees,
floodwalls
TUC=Bridge or culvert
projects, channel
modifications, storm
drain improvements,
Other
No
FEMA Federal Federal
diversions
Funding Funding Funds
TUF=Storage facilities

Date
Project
Permitted
or
Initiated

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-4

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

TUB—Barriers, Levees, Floodwalls
Project Name:
Project or Grant Number:
Project Description (or include as an attachment):

On each row of the table below, initial the box that applies to the TUB project, signifying that the
appropriate steps were taken (shaded areas are “not applicable”). Then sign at the end of the certification.
More information on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Federal
Funding

No Federal
Funding

Certification Statement for Barriers, Levees, and Floodwalls (TUB)
All properties marked as “FEMA Funded” on CC-530EHP-1 were included in the project
description of the above FEMA-funded project.
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, this project took into consideration the requirements of all state and local
environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and permits that applied to this
particular type of project. Communication with the appropriate state agency and/or local
government entity took place before project implementation. Any recommendations made by
the agency or office were carried out.
For projects that affected buildings 50 years of age or older: (National Historic
Preservation Act and Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act): (1) If any structure
affected by this project was 50 years of age or older at the time of the project implementation,
communication with the State Historic Preservation Officer or Tribal Historic Preservation
Officer (if on tribal land or reservation) took place to determine if the structure was either on
or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (historic property) and to resolve any
adverse effect(s) to the historic property. (2) The effects of the project on archaeological sites
were considered.
Protection of threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act):
Consideration was given to the protection and preservation of threatened and/or endangered
species (including plants and animals and their habitat) whose existence may have been
threatened by the construction activities. Communication took place with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (or the National Marine Fisheries Service if the project is in a coastal area)
and the applicable state agencies for state-protected species and/or their habitat. Any
recommendations made by the Services or state agencies were carried out.
Discharge of dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration was
given to all permit requirements for discharging dredge and fill materials into waters of the
United States, including wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers took place. Any recommendations made by the Corps were carried out.

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-5

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for
Barriers, Levees, and Floodwalls (cont.)
Protection of floodplains (E.O. 11988—Floodplain Management): Consideration was given
to the project’s long- and short-term adverse impacts that are associated with the occupance and
modification of floodplains, and to avoiding direct and indirect support of floodplain
development wherever there was a practicable alternative.
E.O. 11990—Protection of Wetlands: Consideration was given to the possible loss or
degradation of wetlands associated with the construction of this project, as well as to the
preservation and enhancement of the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.
E.O. 12898—Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations:
Consideration was given to the possible negative impacts associated with the implementation of
this project on minority and low-income populations, and to avoiding those impacts where
practicable.
For projects in areas subject to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act: There was
communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding this project’s potential to
jeopardize any ecologically sensitive coastal barrier resources. Any recommendations made by
the Service were carried out.
For projects in coastal communities: There was communication concerning this project with
the state’s lead Coastal Zone Management agency regarding the enforcement of the policies of
the state’s coastal zone management program in carrying out federally funded or federally
authorized construction activities. Any recommendations made by the agency were carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Name (signed):
Name (printed):
Title:

Date:

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-6

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

TUC— Bridge or Culvert Projects, Channel Modification, Channel Diversion,
Pump Station Improvements, Storm Drain Improvements, or Other Projects
Project Name:
Project or Grant Number:
Project Description (or include as an attachment):

On each row of the table below, initial the box that applies to the TUC project, signifying that the appropriate
steps were taken (shaded areas are “not applicable”). Then sign at the end of the certification. More information
on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
The creditable projects include
Bridge or culvert projects;
Channel modification or channel diversion;
Pump station improvements;
Storm drain improvements; and
Other (project not listed in Activity 530, but being considered for CRS credit).
Also see the matrix of the various environmental and historical preservation compliance requirements as they relate to these
types of projects. It is available at www.CRSresources.org/500.

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

Certification Statement for
Bridge or Culvert Projects, Channel Modification, Channel Diversion, Pump
Station Improvements, Storm Drain Improvements,
or Other Projects (TUC)
All properties marked as “FEMA Funded” on CC-530EHP-1 were included in the project
description of the above FEMA-funded project.

For bridge or culvert projects, channel modification, channel diversion, storm drain improvements,
pump station improvements, or other projects:
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, this project took into consideration the requirements of all state and local
environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and permits that applied to this type of
project. Communication with the appropriate state agency and/or local government entity took
place before project implementation. Any recommendations made by the agency or office were
carried out.
Protection of threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act): Consideration
was given to the protection and preservation of threatened and/or endangered species (including
plants and animals and their habitat) whose existence may have been threatened by the construction activities. Communication took place with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or the National
Marine Fisheries Service if the project is in a coastal area) and the applicable state agencies for
state-protected species and/or their habitat. Any recommendations made by the Services or state
agencies were carried out.
Protection of floodplains (E.O. 11988—Floodplain Management): Consideration was given to
the project’s long- and short-term adverse impacts that are associated with the occupance and
modification of floodplains, and to avoiding direct and indirect support of floodplain development
wherever there was a practicable alternative.
[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-7

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for
Bridge or Culvert Projects, Channel Modification, Channel Diversion,
Pump Station Improvements, Storm Drain Improvements,
or Other Projects (cont.)

No
Federal
Funding

Bridge or culvert projects, channel modification, channel diversion, storm drain improvements, pump station
improvements, or other projects (cont.)
E.O. 11990—Protection of Wetlands: Consideration was given to the possible loss or
degradation of wetlands associated with the construction of this project, as well as to the
preservation and enhancement of the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.
E.O. 12898—Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations:
Consideration was given to the possible negative impacts associated with the implementation of
this project on minority and low-income populations, and to avoiding those impacts where
practicable.
For projects in areas subject to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act: There was
communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding this project’s potential to
jeopardize any ecologically sensitive coastal barrier resources. Any recommendations made by
the Service were carried out.
For projects in coastal communities: There was communication concerning this project with
the state’s lead coastal zone management agency regarding the enforcement of the policies of the
state’s coastal zone management program in carrying out federally funded or federally authorized
construction activities. Any recommendations made by the agency were carried out.
In addition to the above, for bridge or culvert projects, storm drain improvements, or other projects:
For projects that affected structures 50 years of age or older: (National Historic
Preservation Act): If any protected structure affected by this project was 50 years of age or
older at the time of the project, communication with the State Historical Preservation Officer or
Tribal Historical Preservation Officer (if on tribal land or reservation) took place to determine if
the structure was either on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (historic
property) and to resolve any adverse effect(s) to the historic property.
In addition to the above, for bridge or culvert projects, channel modification, channel diversion, storm drain improvements,
or other projects:
Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act: The effects of the project on archaeological
sites were considered.
In addition to the above, for bridge or culvert projects, channel modification, channel diversion, and other projects:
Dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration was given to all
permit requirements for discharging dredge and fill material into waters of the United States,
including wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took place. Any
recommendations made by the Corps were carried out.
Rivers and Harbors Act, Section 10: Consideration was given to any permit requirements for
the project’s impact on navigable waterways. Communication with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers took place.

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-8

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for
Bridge or Culvert Projects, Channel Modification, Channel Diversion,
Pump Station Improvements, Storm Drain Improvements; or Other Projects (cont.)

For bridge or culvert projects, channel modification, channel diversion, and other projects (cont.):
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: Consideration was given to the potential for this project to
result in the control or modification of a natural stream or body of water. Communication with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or National Marine Fisheries Service if the project is in a coastal
area) took place. Any recommendations made by the agencies were carried out.
For pump station improvements, storm drain improvements, and other projects:
Point source and non-point source discharge (Clean Water Act, Section 402): Consideration
was given to all permit requirements for municipal point source discharge (sewage treatment plant
discharge) as well as non-point discharge (surface runoff) of a pollutant into surface waters.
Communication with the Environmental Protection Agency or designated state office took place.
Any recommendations made by the agencies were carried out.
For channel modification, channel diversion, and other projects:
Farmland Protection Policy Act: Consideration was given to the protection of prime and unique
farmlands in the construction of this project. Communication with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service took place. Any recommendations made by the
Service were carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Name (signed):

Name (printed):

Title:

Date:

[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-9

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

TUF—Storage Facilities
Project Name:
Project or Grant Number:
Project Description (or include as an attachment):

On each row of the table below, initial the box that applies to the TUF project, signifying that the appropriate
steps were taken (shaded areas are “not applicable”). Then sign at the end of the certification. More
information on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual.
Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

Certification Statement for Storage Facilities (TUF)
All properties marked as “FEMA Funded” on CC-530EHP-1 were included in the project
description of the above FEMA-funded project.
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, this project took into consideration the requirements of all state and local
environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and permits that applied to this type
of project. Communication with the appropriate state agency and/or local government entity
took place before project implementation. Any recommendations made by the agency or office
were carried out.
Archeological and Historic Preservation Act): The effects of the project on archaeological
sites were considered.
Protection of threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act): Consideration
was given to the protection and preservation of threatened and/or endangered species (including
plants and animals and their habitat) whose existence may have been threatened by the
construction activities. Communication took place with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or
the National Marine Fisheries Service if the project is in a coastal area) and the applicable state
agencies for state-protected species and/or their habitat. Any recommendations made by the
Services or state agencies were carried out.
Point source and non-point source discharge (Clean Water Act, Section 402):
Consideration was given to all permit requirements for municipal point source discharge
(sewage treatment plant discharge) as well as non-point discharge (surface runoff) of a pollutant
into surface waters. Communication with the Environmental Protection Agency or designated
state office took place. Any recommendations made by the agencies were carried out.
Dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration was given to all
permit requirements for discharging dredge and fill materials into waters of the United States,
including wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took place.
Any recommendations made by the Corps were carried out.
[continued on next page]

Community Certifications

CC-530EHP-10

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

Federal
Funding

No
Federal
Funding

State ________

CID ______________________

Certification Statement for Storage Facilities (cont.)
Farmland Protection Policy Act: Consideration was given to the protection of prime and
unique farmlands. Communication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service took place. Any recommendations made by the Service were carried out.
Protection of floodplains (E.O. 11988-Floodplain Management): Consideration was given to
the project’s long- and short-term adverse impacts that are associated with the occupance and
modification of floodplains, and to avoiding direct and indirect support of floodplain
development wherever there was a practicable alternative.
E.O. 11990—Protection of Wetlands: Consideration was given to the possible loss or
degradation of wetlands associated with the construction of this project, as well as to the
preservation and enhancement of the natural and beneficial values of wetlands.
E.O. 12898—Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-income Populations:
Consideration was given to the possible negative impacts associated with the implementation of
this project on minority and low-income populations, and to avoiding those impacts where
practicable.
For projects in areas subject to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act: There was
communication with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding this project’s potential to
jeopardize any ecologically sensitive coastal barrier resources. Any recommendations made by
the Service were carried out.
For projects in coastal communities: There was communication concerning this project with
the state’s lead coastal zone management agency regarding the enforcement of the policies of the
state’s coastal zone management program in carrying out federally funded or federally authorized
construction activities. Any recommendations made by the agency were carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.

Name (signed):

Name (printed):

Title:

Community Certifications

Date:

CC-530EHP-11

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

CC-540EHP Drainage System Maintenance
Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements
(see Section 541.b(4) in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual).

On each row of the table below, initial to signify that the described steps were (or are) taken. Sign at the end
of the certification. More information on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the Coordinator’s
Manual.
N OTE : To receive credit under Activity 540, the self-certification of compliance with environmental
and historical preservation requirements incorporated in this certification must be submitted with a
CRS application, a modification, or a cycle verification.

All
Projects

Certification Statement for Drainage System Maintenance
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, our drainage maintenance activities take into consideration the applicable
requirements of all state and local environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and
permits.
Protection of threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act): Consideration is
given to the protection and preservation of threatened and/or endangered species (including plants
and animals and their habitat) whose existence may be threatened by the maintenance activities.
Communication takes place with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or the National Marine
Fisheries Service if activity is in a coastal area) and the applicable state agencies for state-protected
species and/or their habitat. Any recommendations made by the federal or state agencies are carried
out
Dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration is given to all permit
requirements for discharging dredge and fill material into waters of the United States, including
wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes place. Any
recommendations made by the Corps are carried out.
For all activities that involve heavy equipment and result in the disturbance and release of
sediment, such as dredging, channel alteration, bank stabilization, debris removal, and other
activities, consideration is given to any permit requirements under the Clean Water Act,
Section 404. Communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes place. Any
recommendations made by the Corps are carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Name (signed):

Name (printed):

Title:

Community Certifications

Date:

CC-540EHP-1

Edition: 2013

OMB No. 1660-0022
Expires: September 30, 2013
Community ________________________________

State ________

CID ______________________

CC-620EHP Levees
Compliance with Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements
(see Section 622.a in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual).

On each line of the table below, initial to signify that the described steps were (or are) taken. Sign at the end of
the form. More information on these programs can be found in Figure 500-5 in the
Coordinator’s Manual.

N OTE : To receive credit under Activity 620, the self-certification of compliance with environmental and
historical preservation requirements incorporated in this form (CC-620EHP-1) must be submitted with
a CRS application, a modification, or a cycle verification.

All Projects

Certification Statement for Levee Maintenance
State and local requirements: In addition to federal laws, implementing regulations, and
executive orders, our levee maintenance activities take into consideration the applicable
requirements of all state and local environmental and historic preservation laws, ordinances, and
permits.
Protection of threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act): Consideration is
given to the protection and preservation of threatened and/or endangered species (including plants
and animals and their habitat) whose existence may be threatened by the maintenance activities.
Communication takes place with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (or the National Marine
Fisheries Service if the activities are in a coastal area) and the applicable state agencies for stateprotected species and/or their habitat. Any recommendations made by the federal or state agencies
are carried out.
Dredge and fill materials (Clean Water Act, Section 404): Consideration is given to all permit
requirements for discharging dredge and fill material into waters of the United States, including
wetlands, and communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes place. Any
recommendations made by the Corps are carried out.
For all activities that involve heavy equipment and result in the disturbance and release of
sediment, such as dredging, channel alteration, bank stabilization, debris removal, and other
activities, consideration is given to any permit requirements under the Clean Water Act,
Section 404. Communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes place. Any
recommendations made by the Corps are carried out.

I certify that the items initialed above are correct to the best of my knowledge.
Name (signed):
Name (printed):
Title:

Community Certifications

Date:

CC-620EHP-1

Edition: 2013

INDEX
Activity/Element/Term

Section

-AAcquisition and Relocation..........................................................................................................520
buildings acquired or relocated (bAR)................................................................................522.a
buildings on the repetitive loss list (bRL)...........................................................................522.b
buildings on the Severe Repetitive Loss list (bSRL)..........................................................522.c
buildings located in the V Zone or coastal A Zone (bVZ)) ................................................522.e
critical facilities (bCF) ........................................................................................................522.d
Activity credit points ................................................................................................................113.c
Advice, technical assistance ........................................................................330, 350, 360, 370, 510
All-hazard mitigation ........................................................................................................116.b, 510
Alluvial fans..............................................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Application procedures ................................................................................................................212
application documentation ..................................................................................................212.b
application request ..............................................................................................................212.a
reinstating previous CRS communities...............................................................................212.d
verification processing........................................................................................................212.c
Area analysis.............................................................................................................................512.b
Area calculations.......................................................................................................................403.e
Assistance [See: Advice]
Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)..........................................................625, 635
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) .........................................................370, 432

-BBarriers......................................................................................................................................532.c
floodwalls....................................................................................................................532.c, 620
levees .............................................................................................................................620, 625
Base flood ....................................................................................................................................120
Base flood elevation (BFE), new elevation data...............................................................120, 412.a
Base map...........................................................................................................................400, 403.a
Benchmarks (BMM) ................................................................................................................442.c

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

i-1

Edition: 2013

Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

Best management practices (BMPs ..........................................................................................452.a
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Building code ...................................................................................110, 210, 430, .450, 510, 532.a
Credit for building codes (BC) ...........................................................................................432.h
Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) ................................211.b, 211.c, 432.h
Building, definition of ..............................................................................................................301.a
Buildings ...........................................................................................................................120, 301.a
acquisition of..........................................................................................................................520
county growth adjustment......................................................................................................710
counting for impact adjustment ..........................................222, 302.a, 523, 533, 613, 623, 633
dams .......................................................................................................................................630
levees .....................................................................................................................................620
post-FIRM...........................................................................................................................301.b
pre-FIRM ............................................................................................................................301.b
regulation of new construction ......................................................................................430, 450
relocation of ...........................................................................................................................520
repetitive loss .........................................................................................501, 502, 503, 504, 505
retrofitting of..........................................................................................................................530
in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) .........................................................................302.b
substantial improvement of......................................................213, 310, 330, 340, 432.d, 432.e

-CCalculating areas.......................................................................................................................403.e
Capital improvements program (CIP).......................................................................................542.c
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM®).....................................................................................432.o
Changes in CRS Credit ................................................................................................................215
changes initiated by the community ...................................................................................215.a
changes in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual ........................................................................215.b
changes in CRS credits over time ............................................................................Appendix D
changes in the floodplain map ............................................................................................215.c
new development ................................................................................................................215.d
Channel debris removal (CDR) ................................................................................................542.a
See also: CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) .................................................. 120, 211, 213, 214.a, 232.c, 310.a
Climate change............................................................................................ 116.c, 322.c, 342.d, 510
Closed basin lakes.......................................................................................... 320, 401, 422.d, 432.l
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

i-2

Edition: 2013

Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

Coastal ..............................................................................................................................120, 432.k
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards and
Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Coastal A Zones (CAZ) ...................................................................................................432.k, 422
Coastal Barrier Resources System....................................................................................120, 322.b
Coastal dunes/beaches .................................................................................................................401
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards
Coastal erosion (CE) ....................................................................................................................401
coastal erosion protection maintenance (EPM) .................................................................. 542.f
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Erosion Hazards
Coastal velocity zone mapping .................................…………………………………………412.a
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) ...................................................................... 310, Appendix B
Community ..................................................................................................................................120
Community (CRS) classification calculations ..................................................113.a, 120, 225, 700
county growth adjustment......................................................................................................710
community total points ..........................................................................................................720
previous applicants .....................................................................................................114.b, 213
Computer aided design (CAD) .................................................................................................442.a
County growth adjustment (CGA)....................................................................224, 710, 712.c, 720
annual growth adjustment (AGA).......................................................................................712.b
annual growth rate (AGR) .....................................................................................................712
county 10-year growth rate .................................................................................................712.a
growth adjustment calculation ...............................................................................................712
growth data ............................................................................................................................711
Community Rating System (CRS)............................................................................. Foreword, 110
Community’s role [See: The community’s role]
Community Self Assessment [See: CRS Community Self Assessment]
Community total points ...............................................................................................................720
Compensatory storage regulations ...........................................................................................432.a
See also: CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
Computer-aided design (CAD) [See: Digitized mapping]
Contour ........................................................................................................................................120
Contractors, assistance with...........................................................................................362.b, 362.d

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

i-3

Edition: 2013

Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

Conveyance system...........................................................................................................120, 541.a
Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) .....................................................................................412.g
CORS .......................................................................................................................................442.c
Costs and benefits ........................................................................................................................115
Credit calculation..........................................223, 312, 321, 332, 342, 352, 362, 372, 412, 422 432
442, 452, 512, 523, 533, 542, 614, 624, 634
Step 1. Element credit points .................................................................................................221
Step 2. Impact adjustment......................................................................................................222
Step 3. Credit calculation.......................................................................................................223
Step 4. Community growth adjustment .................................................................................224
Step 5. Community classification ..........................................................................................225
Credit documentation...................................312, 322, 332, 342, 352, 362, 372, 412, 422, 432, 442
452, 522, 524, 534, 542, 612, 622, 632
Credit points and credited activities ............................................................................................113
activities not listed ..............................................................................................................113.d
activity credit points............................................................................................................113.c
credited activities ................................................................................................................113.b
credit points and classification............................................................................................113.a
Critical facilities............................................................................................. 432.f, 612.d, 622, 632
definition of............................................................................................................................120
planning for (CFP) ..............................................................................................................612.d
protection for (PCF)............................................................................................................ 432.f
CRS application process ......................................................................................................212, 230
See also: Application procedures, CRS credit points
CRS classification................................................................................................113, 123, 120, 225
CRS Community Self Assessment...............................................................................................240
CRS Coordinator..................................................................................................................110, 120
CRS Coordinator’s Manual .................................................................................................110, 120
CRS credit points .........................................................................................................................120
activity credit points...............................................................................................................121
application for credit..............................................................................................................122
CRS Quick Check ..................................................................................................................122

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

i-4

Edition: 2013

Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

CRS credit points ................................................................................................ Table 120-1, 113.c
courtesy review ...................................................................................................................214.b
cycle verification....................................................................................................................230
documentation................................................................................................................213, 231
effect of revisions...................................................................................................................215
modifications..........................................................................................................................214
preparations for ......................................................................................................................211
prerequisites ...........................................................................................................................211
procedures ..............................................................................................................................212
Quick Check........................................................................................................110, 212.a, 220
recertification .........................................................................................................................213
verification .............................................................................................................................230
CRS Quick Check .....................................................................................................110, 212.a, 220
Cumulative substantial improvement (CSI) regulations...........................................................432.d
See also CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
Cycle .......................................................................................................................120, 112, 232.a
See also: Application, Verification

-DDams ..........................................................................................................................................630
dam failure inundation area ................................................................................................631.b
dam failure threat recognition system (DFR) .....................................................................632.b
dam failure warning (DFW)................................................................................................632.c
dam failure warning and response plan ..............................................................................631.b
dam failure response operations (DFO)..............................................................................632.e
dam failure critical facilities planning (DCF).....................................................................632.e
exercise and evaluation......................................................................................................631.b.
public outreach...................................................................................................................631.b.
state dam safety program (SDS) .........................................................................................632.a
Datum ..........................................................................................................................................120
Deed disclosure regulations ......................................................................................................342.b
Deed restrictions (DR) ..............................................................................................................422.b
Design storm (DS) .................................................................................................................452.a.2
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Detention/retention basins ...................................................................................................530, 540

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

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Edition: 2013

Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

Detention/retention regulations.................................................................................................452.a
public maintenance of facilities (PUB)...............................................................................452.a
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Development ................................................................................................120, 420, 430, 450, 542
Digitized mapping.....................................................................................................................442.a
Discharge ....................................................................................................120, 412.d, 452.a, 452.b
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Disclosure of flood hazard (DFH) ............................................................................................341.a
other disclosure requirements (ODR) .................................................................................341.b
real estate agents brochure (REB) ......................................................................................341.c
Disclosure of other hazards (DOH) ..........................................................................................341.d
Documentation provided by the community................................................................................231
digital documentations ........................................................................................................231.a
maps ....................................................................................................................................231.d
ordinances ...........................................................................................................................231.b
uniform minimum credit .....................................................................................................231.c
Drainage...............................................................................................................331, 361, 452, 542
advice, technical assistance.................................................................................................361.d
channel debris removal (CDR) ...........................................................................................542.a
drainage requirements for new construction.......................................................................452.c
drainage system maintenance ................................................................................................540
erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC) ........................................................452.d
public information/outreach projects .....................................................................................331
retention/detention regulations ...........................................................................................452.a
stream dumping regulations (SDR) ....................................................................................542.b
See also: CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
Drainage system maintenance......................................................................................................540
capital improvement program .............................................................................................542.c
channel and basin debris removal (CDR) ...........................................................................542.a
coastal erosion protection maintenance (EPM) ..................................................................542.e
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards
conveyance system..............................................................................................................541.a
drainage system...................................................................................................................541.a
problem site maintenance (PSM)........................................................................................542.b
storage basins ......................................................................................................................541.a
storage basin maintenance (SBM) ......................................................................................542.d
stream dumping regulations (SDR) ....................................................................................542.d

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

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Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

-EElement credit points ...................................................................................................................221
See also: Credit points
Elevation certificates (EC)................................................................................................310, 311.a
elevation certificates, post-FIRM (ECPO)..........................................................................312.b
elevation certificates, pre-FIRM (ECPR) ...........................................................................312.c
See also: Floodproofing certificates
maintaining (EC).................................................................................................................312.a
Elevation reference marks
[See: Benchmarks]
Emergency management ..............................................................................................612, 622, 632
dams .......................................................................................................................................630
flood warning and response ...................................................................................................610
See also: CRS Credit for Flood Warning Programs
levees .....................................................................................................................................620
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) .................................................. 113, 334.b, 361.f, 364.d,
432.n, 435.d, 445.d, 535.f
Community Rating System course.........................................................................................110
D-FIRM mapping course. ......................................................................................................444
managing floodplain development through the NFIP course .............................................432.o
retrofitting floodprone residential buildings course ...........................................................362.d
Emergency warning dissemination (EWD) ..............................................................................612.b
See also: CRS Credit for Flood Warning Programs
outreach requirements for ........................................................................................332.b, 352.c
See also: CRS Credit for Outreach Projects
Enclosure limits (ENL) .............................................................................................................432.g
Environmental compliance ..........................................................................507, 520, 530, 540, 620
environmental and historic preservation ...............................................................................507
community certifications for..................................................524, 534, 542, 622.a, Appendix F
Erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC)..............................................................452.c
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Erosion data maintenance (EDM).............................................................................................442.d
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards
Erosion protection maintenance, coastal (EPM)....................................................................... 542.f
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards

CRS Coordinator’s Manual

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Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

-FFEMA ........................................................................................................ Foreword, 113, 120, 211
Federal lands .....................................................................................................................403, 422.a
Financial assistance...................................................................................................................362.c
Flood control projects [see: Structural flood control projects]
Flood damage reduction activities ...............................................................................................500
acquisition and relocation ......................................................................................................520
drainage system maintenance ................................................................................................540
environmental compliance .....................................................................................................507
floodplain management planning...........................................................................................510
flood protection......................................................................................................................530
Flood data maintenance ...............................................................................................................440
additional map data (AMD) ................................................................................................442.a
FIRM maintenance (FM) ....................................................................................................442.b
benchmark maintenance (BMM) ........................................................................................432.c
erosion data maintenance (EDM) .......................................................................................442.d
Flood Hazard Boundary Map ...................................................................................................301.b
Flood insurance............................................................................................310, 320, 330, 350, 370
library references .............................................................................................................351.a.2
mandatory purchase requirement........................................................................320, 344, 352.a
Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) .................................................. 113.a, Table 110-1, Figure 500-3
promotion...............................................................................................................................370
public information/outreach projects .....................................................................................330
zones ......................................................................................................................................120
Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) ................................................... Foreword, 120, 310, 320, 410
copies in library ..................................................................................................................352.b
See also: Flood studies/delineation; Map information
terminology ...................................................................................... Figure 410-1, Figure 410-2
Flood Mitigation Assistance Program .................................................................................510, 520
Floodplain management planning (FMP) .........................................................................510, 512.a
repetitive loss area analysis (RLAA) ..................................................................................612.b
natural floodplain functions plan (NFP) .............................................................................612.c

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Floodplain mapping ....................................................................... 410, Figure 410-3, Figure 410-4
Cooperating Technical Partner (CTP) ................................................................................412.g
new study (NS) ...................................................................................................................412.a
for Special flood-related hazards (MAPSH)............................................................... 401, 412.f
See also: Flood Insurance Study Guidelines and
Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners ......................... 411.a, 415.e
future-conditions hydrology ...............................................................................................412.d
leverage (LEV) ...................................................................................................................412.b
more restrictive floodway standard (FWS).........................................................................412.e
non-FEMA share ................................................................................................................412.c
regulatory flood elevation credit.........................................................................................412.a
state review (SR).................................................................................................................412.c
higher study standards (HSS) .............................................................................................412.d
topographic data..................................................................................................................412.c
FIRM......................................................................... Figure 410-1, Figure 410-2, Figure 410-3
floodplain mapping area (MAP) .........................................................................................411.a
Flood protection ..........................................................................................................................530
flood protection improvement (FPI) ...................................................................................532.b
flood protection project technique used (TU_)...................................................................532.a
protected building (PB).......................................................................................................532.c
retrofitting technique
elevation (TUE) ............................................................................................................532.a
dry floodproofing (TUD) ..............................................................................................532.a
wet floodproofing (TUW).............................................................................................532.a
sewer backup (TUS) .....................................................................................................532.a
structural flood control technique
barriers (TUB)...............................................................................................................532.a
channel modifications (TUB) .......................................................................................532.a
storage facilities (TUF).................................................................................................532.a
Flood protection assistance (FPA).......................................................................................350, 360
publicity ..............................................................................................................................362.a
technical qualifications .......................................................................................................362.d
topics ......................................................................................................................................362
Flood protection improvement (FPI) ........................................................................................532.d
levee protection level (LPL) .................................................................................... 622.a, 624.a
retrofitted buildings.............................................................................................532.b, 532, 534
Flood protection information .......................................................................................................350
Flood protection level before the project was constructed (FPB) ............................................532.b
Flood protection provided by the project (FPP) .......................................................................532.b

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Flood protection website (WEB) ..............................................................................................352.c
Flood studies/delineation .............................................................................................................412
floodway mapping .................................................................................................................412
hydrology standards ...............................................................................................................412
public information..................................................................................................................330
state review of floodplain studies .......................................................................................412.b
Flood threat recognition system (FTR).....................................................................................612.b
See also: Flood warning program
Flood warning and response ........................................................................................................610
exercise and evaluation.......................................................................................................611.b
critical facilities planning (CFP).........................................................................................612.d
emergency warning dissemination (EWD).........................................................................612.b
flood response operations (FRO) ........................................................................................612.c
flood inundation maps.........................................................................................................611.b
flood threat recognition system (FTR)................................................................................612.a
flood warning and response plan ........................................................................................611.b
public information/outreach projects ..................................................................................611.b
StormReady community (SRC) ..........................................................................................612.e
TsunamiReady community (TRC)......................................................................................612.e
See also: CRS Credit for Flood Warning and Response Programs,
CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards,
CRS Credit for Mitigation of Tsunami Hazards
Floodplain ....................................................................................................................................120
flood fringe.............................................................................................................................120
floodway ................................................................................................................................120
See also: Flood Insurance Rate Map; Special Flood Hazard Area; Flood studies
Floodplain management planning (FMP) .........................................................................510, 512.a
Floodplain storage capacity ......................................................................................................432.a
Floodproofing [See: Flood protection]
Floodproofing certificates............................................................................................................310
residential basement floodproofing certificate ......................................................................310
Floodwalls............................................................................................................................530, 620
Floodway mapping.......................................................................................................................412
Floodway standard (FWS) ........................................................................................................412.e
See also: Additional flood data

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Fluctuating lake levels .................................................................................................................401
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Foreword ..................................................................................................................................page i
Foundation protection (FDN) regulations.................................................................................432.c
Freeboard
feet above base flood elevation (FRB) ...............................................................................432.b
for new buildings in B, C, D, and X Zones (local drainage protection) ............................. 432.i
for levees............................................................................................................................621.b.

-GGeographic information system (GIS)............................. 231, 302.a, 311.a, 321.a, 372.a, 403, 410
..........................................................................................................420, 430, 440, 510, 610
Glossary .......................................................................................................................................120
Goals ..........................................................................................................................................112
Growth rate [See: County growth adjustment]

-HHabitat Conservation Plans........................................................................................... 422.c, 512.c,
Habitat protection .......................................................................................................... 422.c, 512.c
Hazard disclosure...........................................................................................................page vi, 340
disclosure of the flood hazard (DFH) .................................................................................342.a
disclosure of other hazards (DOH) .....................................................................................342.d
other disclosure requirements (ODR) .................................................................................342.b
real estate agents brochure (REB) ......................................................................................342.c
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program ...............................................................................................510
Hazus-MH.............................................................................................................510, Figure 510-1
Higher regulatory standards...........................................................................................page ix, 430
See also: CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
building code (BC)..............................................................................................................432.h
coastal A Zones (CAZ) .......................................................................................................432.k
cumulative substantial improvement (CSI) ........................................................................432.d
development limitations (DL).............................................................................................432.a
enclosure limits (ENL)........................................................................................................432.g

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foundation protection (FDN) ..............................................................................................432.c
freeboard (FRB) ..................................................................................................................432.b
local drainage protection (LDP) ......................................................................................... 432.i
lower substantial improvement (LSI) .................................................................................432.e
manufactured home parks (MHP)....................................................................................... 432.j
other higher standard (OHS)............................................................................................. 432.m
protection of critical facilities (PCF) .................................................................................. 432.f
regulation administration (RA)...........................................................................................432.o
special hazards regulations (SHR)...................................................................................... 432.l
state-mandated regulatory standards (SMS) .......................................................................432.n
Home study courses [See: Independent study courses]
Hydrology .................................................................................................................120, 410, 452.a

-IIce Jams ....................................................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Impact adjustment ......................................................................................222, 301, 302, 402, 403,
Impact adjustment for buildings ..................................................................................................301
See also: Buildings, counting for impact adjustment; definition of)
Impact adjustment for areas ..................................................................................402, Figure 402-1
Impact adjustment map ................................................................................................................403
selecting a base map ...........................................................................................................403.a
watershed impact adjustment map ......................................................................................403.d
Impact adjustment ratio ...................................................................................................302, 402.a
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)........................................................120, 310, 330, 360, 432.d
Independent study courses .....................................................................................362.d, 432.o, 435
Insurance [See: Flood insurance]
Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) ...............................................................................114.a, 120
International Building Code Series (I-Codes) ..........................................................................432.h
ISO/CRS Specialist....................................................................................................113c, 114, 120
ISO/CRS Technical Reviewer ...............................................................120, 410, 432.k, 440, 512.a

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-LLand subsidence........................................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Letters of Map Change (LOMC) ................................................................................................320
Letter of Determination Review (LODR)..............................................................................320
Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) .....................................................................................320
Letter of Map Revision (LOMR)...........................................................................................320
Levee ..................................................................................................................................120, 621
Levee system................................................................................................................................120
Levees [See: Levee and Levee system] ...........................................................................532.a, 620
accredited levee............................................................................................................................
exercise and evaluation.......................................................................................................621.b
levee failure critical facilities planning (LCF)....................................................................622.e
levee failure response operations (LFO).............................................................................622.d
levee failure threat recognition system (LFR) ....................................................................622.b
levee failure warning (LFW) ..............................................................................................622.c
levee failure warning and response plan.............................................................................621.b
levee maintenance (LM) .....................................................................................................622.a
levee protection level (LPL) ...........................................................................622, Figure 620-1
public outreach....................................................................................................................621.b
Library [See: Flood protection information]
Local drainage protection (LDI) ............................................................................................... 432.i
Logs

..................................................................................................................................320, 362

Low-density zoning (LZ).......................................................................................................... 422.f
minimum lot size................................................................................................................. 422.f
Low impact development (LID) ...............................................................................................452.a
Lower substantial improvement threshold (LSI) ......................................................................432.e
See also: CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards

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-MMaintenance.................................................................................................331, 452, 532, 540, 622
of drainage system ...........................................................................................331, 452.a.3, 540
See also: CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
of levees .................................................................................................................................622
of stormwater facilities ......................................................................................... 452.a.3, 542.a
of structural flood control projects .....................................................................................532.a
public information/outreach projects .....................................................................................331
Mandatory purchase requirement .............................................. 321, 322, 324.a, Figure 320-1, 340
Manufactured home parks (MHP) ............................................................................................432.o
Map information service (MI) ............................................................................ page vi, 320, 361.a
Mapping and regulations .............................................................................................................400
flood data maintenance ..........................................................................................................440
floodplain mapping ................................................................................................................410
higher regulatory standards....................................................................................................430
open space preservation .........................................................................................................420
special flood-related hazard areas..........................................................................................401
stormwater management ........................................................................................................450
Maps [See: Base map, Flood Insurance Rate Map; Impact adjustment map]
Modifications ...............................................................................................................................214
courtesy reviews ...........................................................................................................214.b
modification criteria......................................................................................................214.a
Moveable bed streams ..............................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Mudflow hazards (MF) .............................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Multi-hazard mitigation [See: All-hazard mitigation]
Multiple listing service (MLS) ....................................................................................................340

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-NNational Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)...........................Foreword, 120, 311, 505, Appendix B
compliance with .....................................................................................................................211
Reform Act of 1994 ...............................................................................................................506
National Geodetic Survey (NGS) .............................................................................................442.c
National Inventory of Dams.........................................................................................................635
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ....................................................................632
National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) ...........................................................................442.c.
natural floodplain functions .......................................................................116.a, 120, 420, 430
Natural floodplain functions ..........................................................................116, 120, 331.b, 422.c
open space (NFOS) .............................................................................................................432.c
plan (NFP)...........................................................................................................................612.c
public information/outreach...................................................................................................330
references in library ............................................................................................................352.a
sensitive areas ............................................................................ 120, 422.c, 422.e, 441.a, 512.a
Natural shoreline protection (NSP)...........................................................................................422.g
Newsletters..........................................................................................................321.b, 362.a, 372.d
Newspapers ....................................................................................................................331.b, 332.d
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) ...............................................................................120
Nonconversion agreement ........................................................................................................432.g
Non-FEMA share of Flood Insurance Study costs/leverage (LEV) .........................................412.c

-OOpen space
regulating areas preserved as ..............................................................................................402.c
incentives (OSI) ..................................................................................................................420.e
Open space preservation (OSP) ................................................................. 420, Figure 420-1, 422.a
deed restriction (DR) ..........................................................................................................422.b
natural functions open space(NFOS) ..................................................................................422.c
special hazard areas preserved as (SHOS)..........................................................................422.d
low-density zoning (LZ) ..................................................................................................... 422.f
natural shoreline protection (NSP) .....................................................................................422.g
Operation of the CRS...................................................................................................................113

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Other Program Priorities ..............................................................................................................116
all-hazard mitigation ...........................................................................................................116.b
future conditions and impacts of climate change................................................................116.c
natural floodplain functions ................................................................................................116.a
Outreach Projects .................................................................330, 370, 420, 510, 540, 610, 620, 630
See also: CRS Credit for Outreach Projects
flood response preparations FRP).......................................................................................332.b
general outreach projects .......................................................................................................331
informational materials ..........................................................................................................331
outreach projects (OP) ................................................................................................330, 332.a
program for public information (PPI) ................................320, 331, 332.c, 340, 350, 360, 370,
stakeholder delivery (STK).................................................................................................332.d
targeted outreach project........................................................................................................331
topics and example messages..................................................................................Figure 330-1

-PParks ...............................................................................................................................400, 422.a
Plans, planning.............................................................................................450, 510, 610, 620, 630
See also: Example Plans
critical facilities planning (CFP).........................................................................................612.d
dam failure emergency action plan .....................................................................................632.b
emergency response plan ....................................................................................................612.b
flood response plan .............................................................................................................614.b
floodplain management planning (FMP) ...............................................................................510
habitat conservation plan ....................................................................................................510.c
levee emergency response plan...........................................................................................622.c
outreach project strategy (OPS).......................................................................................331.c.2
references in library .................................................................................................351.a, 351.b
repetitive loss plans.......................................................................502, 510, 512.b, 512.b, 512.c
watershed master plan (WMP)............................................................................................452.b
Ponding ........................................................................................................................................120
Post-FIRM buildings [See: Buildings, post-FIRM]
Post-visit actions ..........................................................................................................................233
Preferred risk policy (PRP) [See: Flood insurance, preferred risk policy]
Pre-FIRM buildings [See: Buildings, pre-FIRM]
Prerequisites [See: Procedures, prerequisites]

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Procedures....................................................................................................................................200
application documentation ..................................................................................................212.b
application procedures ...........................................................................................................212
application request ..............................................................................................................212.a
changes in CRS credit............................................................................................................215
changes in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual ........................................................................215.b
changes in the floodplain map ............................................................................................215.c
changes initiated by the community ...................................................................................215.a
courtesy reviews .................................................................................................................214.b
credit calculations ..................................................................................................................220
CRS Community Self Assessment.........................................................................................240
modification criteria............................................................................................................214.a
modifications..........................................................................................................................214
new development ................................................................................................................215.d
Program Data Table ............................................................................................................213.a
prerequisites, for program......................................................................................................211
prerequisites, for Class 1.....................................................................................................211.d
prerequisites, for Class 4 ...................................................................................................211.c
prerequisites, for Class 6.....................................................................................................211.b
prerequisites, for Class 9.....................................................................................................211.a
recertification .........................................................................................................................213
reinstating previous CRS communities...............................................................................212.d
requesting CRS credit ............................................................................................................210
verification processing........................................................................................................212.c
verification .............................................................................................................................230
Program Overview .......................................................................................................................110
activities not listed ..............................................................................................................113.d
activity credit points............................................................................................................113.c
all-hazard mitigation ...........................................................................................................116.b
background.............................................................................................................................111
changes in CRS credits ............................................................................................Appendix D
credited activities ................................................................................................................113.b
credit points and credited activities .......................................................................................113
credit points and classification............................................................................................113.a
community participation .....................................................................................................114.a
community responsibilities .................................................................................................114.b
costs and benefits ...................................................................................................................115
CRS activities .....................................................................................................................113.b
goals .......................................................................................................................................112
future conditions and impacts of climate change................................................................116.c
natural floodplain functions ................................................................................................116.a
other program priorities .........................................................................................................116
the community’s role .............................................................................................................114

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Section

Program for Public Information (PPI) ..............................................................331, 332.c, 370, 540
PPI committee.....................................................................................................................332.c
See also: Developing a Program for Public Information
Property protection [See: Acquisition and relocation; Retrofitting; Figure 360-1]
Protected buildings (PB)...........................................................................................................532.e
Protection of critical facilities (PCF) ........................................................................................432.e
Public information [See: Outreach Projects]
Public information activities........................................................................................................300
elevation certificates ..............................................................................................................310
flood insurance promotion .....................................................................................................370
flood protection assistance.....................................................................................................360
flood protection information ..................................................................................................350
hazard disclosure....................................................................................................................340
map information service ........................................................................................................320
outreach projects ....................................................................................................................330
Public meetings.........................................................................................................................512.a
Public maintenance (PUB)........................................................................................................452.a
Purpose and scope........................................................................................................................110
all-hazard mitigation ..............................................................................................................119
background.............................................................................................................................111
community responsibilities ....................................................................................................114
costs and benefits ...................................................................................................................115
CRS activities ........................................................................................................................117
natural and beneficial functions.............................................................................................116
objective.................................................................................................................................112
operation ................................................................................................................................113
uniform minimum credit ........................................................................................................118

-QQuick Check of a Community’s Potential CRS Credit.............................................................113.c

-RReal estate agent activities...........................................................................................................340
Real estate agents brochure (REB) ...........................................................................................342.c
Real estate disclosure...................................................................................................................342

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Section

Recertification..............................................................................................................................213
Program Data Table ............................................................................................................213.a
Record-keeping guidance [See: CRS Record-Keeping Guidance]
Registered design professional ................................................................... 120, 432.a, 432.c, 432.k
Regular program/phase ........................................................................................................120, 211
Regulations administration .......................................................................................................432.o
Regulation of new construction ...................................................................310, 410, 420, 430, 450
See also: CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
public information/outreach projects .....................................................................................330
standards ........................................................................................................410, 420, 430, 450
Regulatory flood elevation (RFE).................................................................................. 411.a, 412.a
Regulatory floodplain (RF).......................................................120, 402.c, 412, 422, 432, 442, 632
Relocation of buildings ................................................................................................................520
See also: Acquisition and Relocation
Repetitive loss..............................................................................................120, 501, 502, 503, 504
510, 512, 512, 522.b, 532.f
acquisition and relocation credit for ...................................................................................522.b
area analysis ........................................................................................................................512.b
definition of....................................................................................................................120, 501
repetitive loss category ..........................................................................................................502
repetitive loss list ...................................................................................................................501
repetitive loss mitigation activities ........................................................................................505
repetitive loss outreach project .......................................................................Figure 500-3, 503
repetitive loss plans..................................................................................502, 510, 512.b, 512.b
See also: Example Plans
retrofitting credit for ........................................................................................................... 532.f
Severe Repetitive Loss Properties .........................................................................501, 522, 532
Requesting CRS Credit ................................................................................................................210
program prerequisites ............................................................................................................211
Class 1 prerequisites .....................................................................................................211.d
Class 4 prerequisites .....................................................................................................211.c
Class 6 prerequisites .....................................................................................................211.b
Class 9 prerequisites .....................................................................................................211.a
application procedures ...........................................................................................................212
application documentation ............................................................................................212.b
application request ........................................................................................................212.a
reinstating previous CRS communities.........................................................................212.d
verification processing..................................................................................................212.c

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Section

recertification .........................................................................................................................213
Program Data Table ......................................................................................................213.a
modifications..........................................................................................................................214
courtesy reviews ...........................................................................................................214.b
modification criteria......................................................................................................214.a
changes in CRS credit............................................................................................................215
changes initiated by the community .............................................................................215.a
changes in the CRS Coordinator’s Manual ..................................................................215.b
changes in the floodplain map ......................................................................................215.c
new development ..........................................................................................................215.d
Required activities ...............................................................................................................211, 231
Reservoirs .........................................................................................................................510, 532.a
flood control projects .............................................................................................................530
retention/detention basins ..............................................................................................452, 540
Retention/detention regulations ...................................................................................................450
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
Retrofitting....................................................................................................120, 530, Figure 530-1
credit for retrofitted buildings.............................................................................................532.b
credit for repetitive loss buildings ...................................................................................... 532.f
public information/outreach projects ....................................................331.a, 331.b, 361, 364.d
library....................................................................................................................... 354.a, 351.a
references ........................................................................................... 354.a.3, 364.c, 364.e, 535
technical assistance ............................................................................................................. 361.f
technique used (TU_)..........................................................................................................532.b
elevation (TUE) ............................................................................................................532.a
dry floodproofing (TUD) ..............................................................................................532.a
wet floodproofing (TUW).............................................................................................532.a
sewer backup (TUS) .....................................................................................................532.a
Riparian ecosystems .............................................................................................. 120, 352.a, 422.c
Riverine........................................................................................................................................120

-SSand dunes ...............................................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards
Self Assessment [See: CRS Community Self Assessment]
Sensitive areas..............................................................................................................................120
See also: Natural floodplain functions

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Section

Severe Repetitive Loss Properties ...............................................................................501, 522, 532
Sheet flow ....................................................................................................................................120
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) ...............................................................page ii, 120, 220, 402
See also: Floodplain
Special flood-related hazards............................................................................120, 322.e, 401, 412
coastal erosion protection maintenance (EPM) ..................................................................542.c
erosion data maintenance (EDM) .......................................................................................442.c
mapping.................................................................................................................... 412.e, 442.a
real estate disclosure ...........................................................................................................341.b
Special hazard regulations ...............................................................................401, 422.d, 432.k
Stakeholder delivery (STK) ......................................................................................................332.d
Stakeholders.................................................................................................................................120
State activities ......................................................................................................118, 211, 412, 630
Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO)....................................................630, 635
state dam safety program (SDS) .........................................................................................632.a
state-mandated regulatory standards (SMS) ......................................................................432.n
state review of floodplain studies (SR)...............................................................................412.b
uniform minimum credit .....................................................................................................231.c
State-mandated regulatory standards (SMS) ............................................................................432.n
Storage basins ..............................................................................................................120, 450, 540
Storm drain improvements............................................................................................. 531.a, 532.a
StormReady, StormReady community (SRC) ..........................................................................612.e
Storage basin maintenance (SBM) ...........................................................................................542.d
Stormwater management .............................................................................................................450
See also: CRS Credit for Stormwater Management
design storms used in regulations (DS) ..............................................................................452.a
erosion and sedimentation control regulations (ESC) ........................................................452.c
low impact development (LID)...........................................................................................452.a
public maintenance of facilities (PUB)...............................................................................452.a
size of development regulated (SZ) ....................................................................................452.a
stormwater management regulations (SMR) ......................................................................452.a
watershed impact adjustment map ...........................................................................403.b, 452.a
watershed master plan.........................................................................................................452.b
water quality regulations (WQ) ..........................................................................................452.d

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Section

Stream dumping regulations (SDR)..........................................................................................542.d
See also: CRS Credit for Drainage System Maintenance
Stream maintenance, channel clearing [See: Channel debris removal]
Structural flood control projects ..................................................................................................530
barriers (TUB).....................................................................................................................532.a
channel modifications (TUB) .............................................................................................532.a
storage facilities (TUF).......................................................................................................532.a
Studies [See: Flood studies/delineation]
Subdivisions............................................................................. 321.b, 342.b, 411.a, 422.e, 432, 442
disclosure on plats...............................................................................................................342.b
regulations [See: Regulation of new construction, Open space]
Subsidence (SU) [See: Land subsidence]
Substantial improvement ..............................................................120, 310, 331, 432.c, 432.d, 530
regulations................................................................................................................432.c, 432.d
public information/outreach projects .....................................................................................330
See also: CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards
Surcharge .........................................................................................................................120, 412.e.
See also: Floodway standard
Surveys, surveying..............................................................................................310, 442.b, 341.b.5
benchmarks .........................................................................................................................442.c
elevation certificates ..............................................................................................................310
lot surveys ...........................................................................................................................342.b

-TTechnical assistance [See: Advice]
Technique used for retrofitting (TU_) ......................................................................................532.b
See also: Retrofitting
The Community’s Role................................................................................................................114
community participation .....................................................................................................114.a
community responsibilities .................................................................................................114.b
Topographic data, topographic maps............................................................................. 412.c, 442.a
Training.....................................................................................................................................362.d
Tsunamis ......................................................................................................................120, 401, 612

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TsunamiReady community (TRC)...................................................................................... 612.f
See also: CRS Credit for Management of Coastal Hazards

-UUncertain flow paths .................................................................116.b, 120, 320, 401, 410, 420, 430
See also: Special Flood-related Hazards Supplement to
the CRS Coordinator’s Manual
Undeveloped coastal barrier .....................................................................................................322.b
Uniform minimum credit ..........................................................................................................231.c
Using the Coordinator’s Manual....................................................................................... Foreword

-VVariable........................................................................................................................................120
Velocity Zones [See: Coastal velocity zone mapping]
V-Zone Design Certificate............................................................................................Figure 310-1
Verification ..................................................................................................................................230
documentation provided by the community ..........................................................................231
digital documentation ...................................................................................................231.a
maps ..............................................................................................................................231.d
ordinances .....................................................................................................................231.b
uniform minimum credit ...............................................................................................231.c
post-visit actions ....................................................................................................................233
verification visit .....................................................................................................................232
conduct..........................................................................................................................232.c
cycle scheduling............................................................................................................232.b
verification thresholds...................................................................................................232.d
visit scheduling .............................................................................................................232.a

-WWarning [See: Warning and response]
Warning and response..................................................................................................................600
flood warning and response ...................................................................................................610
levees .....................................................................................................................................620
dams .......................................................................................................................................630
Water quality regulations (WQ) ...............................................................................................452.d

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Index

Activity/Element/Term

Section

Watershed impact adjustment map ...........................................................................................403.d
Watershed master plan..............................................................................................................452.b
Watershed management master plan (WMP) ...........................................................................452.b
Websites...............................................................................................................................310, 350
Elevation Certificates on a website.....................................................................................352.c
CRS credit for a community website (WEB) ....................................................................352.c
Wetland preservation .......................................................................................... 422.a, 422.c, 422.g
See also: Natural floodplain functions

-YYears between checks of elevation reference marks ................................................................442.c

-ZZones [See: Flood insurance, zones]
Zoning ..........................................................................................................................................420

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