THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

DETERMINE FLOOD RISK

HOW TO USE THE FEMA MAP SERVICE CENTER

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THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

OVERVIEW

Would you like to know whether a property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area? In this tutorial you will learn how to:

Locate the FEMA Map Service Center

Enter property information

Locate the property on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

View the FEMA Flood Zone determination for the property

Print the FIRMETTE (a Flood Insurance Rate Map section)

Use the green arrows above to navigate around the tutorial.

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ENTERING INFORMATION

Step 1: In the upper left hand corner of the page, select Address tab, and select Flood Maps as the product.

Step 2: Enter the entire address of the property of interest. Make sure the Map-Based Search box is checked.

Step 3: Click on “Search”

Next

This is the website homepage for the FEMA Map Service Center. https://msc.fema.gov/

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THE LOCATOR MAP

This is the first map view after the property information is entered.

As you can see, this is a very close up view of the property street.

In order to have a more comprehensive map, a broader view is needed.

Therefore, before we go any further, we will make changes to this map.

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THE LOCATOR MAP CONT’D

Step 4: Using the zoom tool on the right-hand side of the screen, zoom out until you can identifythe map boundaries on the FIRM panel. This will help you find the correct area on the flood map.

Step 5: Notice the dialogue box. It points to the property location on the map. It also Shows the FIRM panel number.

Step 6: Zoom back in and locate property location landmarks to help you site the property on the flood map. Examples include major intersections, water or structures.

Step 7: Click on the FIRM Panel number hyperlink.

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THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

LOCATE THE WEBSITE

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The FIRM panel hyperlink brings you to the Map Search Results screen.

Step 8: This is a good time towrite down the map panel number.

Step 9: Click on the View icon

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THE FIRM

This is the first screen shot of the FIRM panel. It shows why it was importantto (a) locate the panel borders, and (b) fix the property position relative to the panel borders.

In this condition, the map isn’t very helpful, so the property must belocated to make the map section bigger and easier to read.

First, let’s look at the navigationtools we are going to use.

Zoom in Zoom out Make a FIRMette button

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(A FIRMette is a printed panel section.)

THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

THE LOCATOR MAP

THE FIRM CONT’D

THE FIRM PANEL

Property Location Property Location

The panel’s southern border The panel’s western border

This side-by side comparison shows the importance of property location relative to the borders of the panel.

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THE FIRM CONT’D

Step 10: Click on the “Zoom in”button and place the curser overThe general property location and click.

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This will expand this section of theFIRM panel.

Note: Your curser should display a plus sign as you place it on the map

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THE FIRM CONT’D

This is an enlarged map view after clicking the “zoom in” button and placing the curser on the general property location as shown on the previous screen.

This is much better, but it is still not large enough to read

Step 11: Move your curser back to the general propertyarea and click again,as needed. Each subsequentclick enlarges the section.

.

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THE FIRM CONT’DBack Next

On the enlarged flood map, the general property location is not situated in a flood zone. The map also shows the surrounding special flood hazard areas, marked in blue.

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THE FIRM CONT’DBack Next

This is an example of another map location that shows Two AE zoned special flood hazard areas (marked in blue)And each marked with an elevation.

On the left side is area with a 32 foot elevation.

On the right-hand side is an AEzoned area with a 29 foot elevation.

Click here for a link to a glossaryof FEMA map definitions.

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THE FIRM CONT’DBack Next

This is an example of the newest map form. The Digital Flood Insurance Risk Map (DFIRM) depicts similar flood risk information, but with more precision and detail. The DFIRM Database is derived from FEMA’s Flood Insurance studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), Flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available.

Coastal V zones include velocity calculations in addition to elevation information. The elevation shown is17 feet.

B and C zones are moderate and minimal flood risk areas.

Click here for a complete glossary of FEMA map definitions.

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PRINT A FIRMETTE

Step 12: To print, click on the “Make a FIRMette” button

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A FIRMette is the printed section of a FIRM panel, and a system option. You may choose to print a FIRMette for your records, or for insurance purposes.

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FIRMETTE CONT’D

Unlike this screen shot, the FIRMette view on the website will display the map. The pink box in the upper left side of the screen selects the print area. Move it down to the general property location to print that section of the map.

Step 13: Place your curser on the pink box and drag it to thegeneral property location as shown in this example.

Step 14: Select page size

Step 15: Click on Adobe PDF button

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PRINT-READY FIRMETTEBack Next

This is a completed FIRMette PDF. It includes the following information:

Map scalePanel numberMap numberCountyMap effective date

Step 16: Print the documentaccording to normal print procedures.

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TIME TO PRACTICE?

CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE FEMA MAP SERVICES WEBSITE

OR

Copy and paste the web address below for another time.

FEMA Map Service Centerhttps://msc.fema.gov/

Thank You

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