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CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER (CFM) PRACTICE EXAM 200+
Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: NFIP & FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT BASICS
1. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered
by:
A. FEMA
B. USACE
C. EPA
D. NOAA
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA administers the NFIP.
2. The base flood is defined as the flood having a:
A. 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year
B. 0.2-percent chance per year
C. 10-percent chance per year
D. 50-percent chance per year
Answer: A
Rationale: Base flood = 1% annual chance (100-year flood).
3. The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is the area subject to
inundation by the:
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A. 1-percent annual chance flood
B. 0.2-percent annual chance flood
C. 2-percent annual chance flood
D. 10-percent annual chance flood
Answer: A
Rationale: SFHA is the land covered by the base (100-year)
flood.
4. Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are produced by:
A. FEMA
B. USGS
C. State DOTs
D. Local governments only
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA produces FIRMs for flood insurance and
regulatory purposes.
5. The 500-year floodplain is also known as the:
A. Moderate flood hazard area
B. Special Flood Hazard Area
C. Regulatory floodway only
D. V Zone only
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Answer: A
Rationale: 0.2% annual chance (500-year) floodplain is
moderate hazard (Zone B/Shaded X).
6. Zone AE on a FIRM indicates:
A. Base flood elevations determined
B. Approximate flood zone with no BFEs
C. Coastal wave action area
D. Floodway
Answer: A
Rationale: Zone AE shows BFEs.
7. Zone VE indicates:
A. Coastal high hazard area with wave action and BFEs
B. Riverine floodway
C. Shaded X zone
D. No flood hazard
Answer: A
Rationale: VE = coastal wave hazard with BFEs.
8. The regulatory floodway is:
A. The stream channel plus adjacent floodplain that must be
reserved to pass the base flood without increasing water
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surface elevation more than a designated amount
B. The entire floodplain
C. Only the stream channel
D. The area behind a levee
Answer: A
Rationale: Floodway is a conveyance zone with restrictions.
9. A community participates in the NFIP by:
A. Adopting and enforcing floodplain management regulations
that meet NFIP minimum standards
B. Only selling flood insurance
C. Building flood control projects
D. Paying FEMA a fee only
Answer: A
Rationale: Participation requires regulatory compliance.
10. The NFIP provides flood insurance to communities that:
A. Adopt and enforce floodplain regulations
B. Are located only in coastal areas
C. Have no flood risk
D. Refuse floodplain regulation
CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER (CFM) PRACTICE EXAM 200+
Questions with Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: NFIP & FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT BASICS
1. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered
by:
A. FEMA
B. USACE
C. EPA
D. NOAA
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA administers the NFIP.
2. The base flood is defined as the flood having a:
A. 1-percent chance of occurring in any given year
B. 0.2-percent chance per year
C. 10-percent chance per year
D. 50-percent chance per year
Answer: A
Rationale: Base flood = 1% annual chance (100-year flood).
3. The Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is the area subject to
inundation by the:
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A. 1-percent annual chance flood
B. 0.2-percent annual chance flood
C. 2-percent annual chance flood
D. 10-percent annual chance flood
Answer: A
Rationale: SFHA is the land covered by the base (100-year)
flood.
4. Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are produced by:
A. FEMA
B. USGS
C. State DOTs
D. Local governments only
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA produces FIRMs for flood insurance and
regulatory purposes.
5. The 500-year floodplain is also known as the:
A. Moderate flood hazard area
B. Special Flood Hazard Area
C. Regulatory floodway only
D. V Zone only
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Answer: A
Rationale: 0.2% annual chance (500-year) floodplain is
moderate hazard (Zone B/Shaded X).
6. Zone AE on a FIRM indicates:
A. Base flood elevations determined
B. Approximate flood zone with no BFEs
C. Coastal wave action area
D. Floodway
Answer: A
Rationale: Zone AE shows BFEs.
7. Zone VE indicates:
A. Coastal high hazard area with wave action and BFEs
B. Riverine floodway
C. Shaded X zone
D. No flood hazard
Answer: A
Rationale: VE = coastal wave hazard with BFEs.
8. The regulatory floodway is:
A. The stream channel plus adjacent floodplain that must be
reserved to pass the base flood without increasing water
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surface elevation more than a designated amount
B. The entire floodplain
C. Only the stream channel
D. The area behind a levee
Answer: A
Rationale: Floodway is a conveyance zone with restrictions.
9. A community participates in the NFIP by:
A. Adopting and enforcing floodplain management regulations
that meet NFIP minimum standards
B. Only selling flood insurance
C. Building flood control projects
D. Paying FEMA a fee only
Answer: A
Rationale: Participation requires regulatory compliance.
10. The NFIP provides flood insurance to communities that:
A. Adopt and enforce floodplain regulations
B. Are located only in coastal areas
C. Have no flood risk
D. Refuse floodplain regulation
