CFS FEMA Regulations & NFIP Compliance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the NFIP's Community Rating System (CRS), what is the primary benefit to policyholders in a participating community?
- Elimination of mandatory purchase requirements
- Discounts on flood insurance premiums based on the community's CRS class (Correct answer)
- Automatic removal of structures from the SFHA
- Federal grants for floodproofing private structures
Correct answer: Discounts on flood insurance premiums based on the community's CRS class
CRS classes 1–9 provide premium discounts of 5–45% for policyholders in SFHA properties, rewarding communities that exceed minimum NFIP standards.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a Floodway Data Table in a Flood Insurance Study?
- It lists all insured properties within the floodplain
- It shows cross-section data including floodway widths and regulatory floodway water surface elevations (Correct answer)
- It records historical flood damage claims by reach
- It defines the 500-year flood profile only
Correct answer: It shows cross-section data including floodway widths and regulatory floodway water surface elevations
The Floodway Data Table in the FIS provides cross-section-by-cross-section data including the computed water surface elevations and floodway widths used to establish the regulatory floodway.
Question 3: A property owner wants a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) for a structure shown in Zone AE. Which scenario would make the structure eligible for a LOMA?
- The owner elevates the structure above BFE after construction
- The structure's lowest adjacent grade is at or above BFE based on natural ground (Correct answer)
- The community grants a variance allowing lower-than-BFE construction
- The property is protected by a certified levee
Correct answer: The structure's lowest adjacent grade is at or above BFE based on natural ground
A LOMA removes a structure or lot from the SFHA when the lowest adjacent grade (natural ground) is at or above the BFE, showing the property was inadvertently included.
Question 4: Under 44 CFR § 60.3(d), which specific requirement applies to all new construction in Zone V coastal areas regarding enclosures below the BFE?
- Enclosures must be constructed of concrete block only
- Enclosures are prohibited entirely
- Enclosures must be designed to collapse under wave action without structural damage to the elevated portion (Correct answer)
- Enclosures require FEMA variance approval before construction
Correct answer: Enclosures must be designed to collapse under wave action without structural damage to the elevated portion
Zone V enclosures below BFE must use breakaway walls designed to collapse under wave action without causing structural damage to the elevated building above.
Question 5: When FEMA places a community on probation under the NFIP, what immediate effect does this have on flood insurance premiums?
- All policies in the community are cancelled
- A $50 surcharge is added to each flood insurance policy sold in the community (Correct answer)
- Premiums are doubled for all SFHA properties
- No effect; probation only affects community eligibility for grants
Correct answer: A $50 surcharge is added to each flood insurance policy sold in the community
During NFIP probation, a $50 surcharge is added to every flood insurance policy written in the community until compliance is restored.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'regulatory floodway' under NFIP regulations?
- The entire Special Flood Hazard Area including the floodway fringe
- The channel of a river plus adjacent land needed to convey the 1% annual chance flood without increasing water surface elevations more than a specified amount (Correct answer)
- The area between the 10-year and 100-year flood boundaries
- Any area subject to inundation by the 0.2% annual chance flood
Correct answer: The channel of a river plus adjacent land needed to convey the 1% annual chance flood without increasing water surface elevations more than a specified amount
The regulatory floodway is the channel plus the minimal adjacent floodplain area needed to pass the 1% annual chance flood without raising water surface elevations beyond the allowable surcharge (typically 1 foot).
Question 7: A community in the NFIP's Emergency Program has a preliminary FIRM issued. What changes when a community moves from Emergency to Regular Program?
- Flood insurance becomes optional for all properties
- Higher coverage limits become available and the community must adopt floodplain management ordinances meeting full 44 CFR Part 60 requirements (Correct answer)
- FEMA assumes all floodplain permitting authority from the community
- The mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement is lifted
Correct answer: Higher coverage limits become available and the community must adopt floodplain management ordinances meeting full 44 CFR Part 60 requirements
Moving to the Regular Program unlocks higher NFIP coverage limits and requires the community to adopt and enforce a compliant floodplain management ordinance based on the effective FIRM.
CFS FEMA Regulations & NFIP Compliance 3
Under the NFIP's Community Rating System (CRS), what is the primary benefit to policyholders in a participating community?