Preliminary data may include: new or revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, and FIRM Databases. | ||
| • | A FIRM is the official map that shows Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) and the risk premium zones applicable to a community. Risk zones indicated on FIRMs provide a basis for establishing flood insurance coverage premium rates offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) | |
| • | FIS Reports provide background information on the analysis performed and more precise data on the flood elevations in a community | |
| • | A FIRM Database is a collection of the digital data that are used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications for creating new FIRMs. These datasets cover a county or a community | |
| For more information on what these three types of data entail, visit FEMA‘s Preliminary Flood Hazard Data webpage. | ||
| Your community‘s preliminary FIRM and FIS Report will be displayed in a PDF file. You have the option to view and save these PDF files. To begin, start with the Flood Insurance Rate Map Index file to find your location and what map number to view. For more information on how to read a FIRM, view the tutorial. | ||
| Your community‘s FIRM Database will be displayed in a zip file. To open and view your community‘s FIRM Database after download and extraction, you will need a Geographic Information System (GIS) software application. If you do not have your own GIS software, you can view the data in free GIS viewing programs which can be found online. | ||
| Disclaimer: Preliminary data are for review and guidance purposes only. By viewing preliminary data and maps, the user acknowledges that the information provided is preliminary and subject to change. Preliminary data, including new or revised FIRMs, FIS reports, and FIRM Databases, are not final and are presented on the MSC as the best information available at this time. Additionally, preliminary data cannot be used to rate flood insurance policies or enforce the Federal mandatory purchase requirement. FEMA will remove preliminary data once effective data are available. | ||