FLOODPLAIN MANAGER EXAMINERS CORE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔1. Joe Hunter wants to build a small hunting cabin on a lake in an approximate A
Zone. It will be the only building within two miles. There are no known sources of a base
flood elevation. The cabin will cost less than $10,000 and he does not want to pay
$2,000 for an engineering study to develop a BFE. What can you do to make sure the
property is protected from flooding? - ✔✔Require that the lowest floor of the cabin be at
least five feet above grade.
✔✔1. Will a developer in an approximate A Zone have to prepare a detailed study to
calculate base flood elevations if the development is:
· 4 acres?
· 60 lots
· Reserving all the SFHA as open space? - ✔✔4 acres? No
60 lots Yes
Reserving all the SFHA as open space? No
✔✔A restudy was performed on the Rocky River. The preliminary study will not be final
for another five months. It shows a new BFE at Site B that is two feet lower than the
BFE in your current FIS. Which one do you use to determine the flood protection level
for a new home Site A? - ✔✔When the BFE in the new study is lower than the BFE in
the existing study, the existing FIS data should be used until the new study is final.
✔✔Does dredging a creek to make it deeper to reduce flood levels need a floodplain
permit? - ✔✔Yes. It is considered development and all development needs a permit.
✔✔Does replacing an old manufactured home with a new one on the same foundation
need a permit? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔If an old manufactured home is replaced with a new one on the same foundation,
will the new one have to be elevated about the BFE? - ✔✔Yes, unless it is in an existing
,manufactured home park. Then the owner has the option of elevating either above the
BFE or 36" above grade on reinforced piers.
✔✔If a project will involve filling a wetland, is it likely that a federal or state permit will be
needed? - ✔✔Yes, the US Army Corps of Engineers requires a Section 404 permit for
most wetland filling activities. A local permit should not be issued until it is clear that the
project does not violate Section 404 rules.
✔✔A builder wants to put a house in the floodway. How much can his project increase
the base flood elevation (in feet)? - ✔✔Zero. A project in a floodway is not allowed to
cause any increase in floodwaters.
✔✔Will paving a dirt street in the floodway need an engineer's "no-rise" certification? -
✔✔No, as long as the grade of the street is no higher than it was before the paving
project.
✔✔A city councilman complains that the NFIP floodway regulations prevent
construction of a flood control dam that will protect people from flooding. What can you
tell him? - ✔✔The community can apply for a conditional letter of map revision if it can
provide the following:
1. An elevation of alternatives which, if carried out, would not result in an increase in the
BFE more than allowed, along with documentation as to why these alternatives are not
feasible
2. Documentation of individual legal notice to all affected property owners (anyone
affected by the increased flood elevations, within and outside of the community)
explaining the impact of the proposed action on their properties.
3. Concurrence, in writing, from the chief executive officer of any other communities
affected by the proposed actions.
4. Certification that no structures are located in areas which would be affected by the
increased BFE (unless they have been purchased for relocation or demolition).
5. A request for revision of BFE determinations in accordance with the provisions of 44
CFR 65.6 of the FEMA regulation.
✔✔Does a substantial improvement to an existing building have to meet the same
requirements as construction of a new building? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Can a new nonresidential building be built: - ✔✔· On fill in the flood fringe? Yes
· On fill in the floodway? Probably not. It would be hard to show that the fill does not
cause an increase in flood heights
· On fill in the V Zone? No
· At grade, but floodproofed in the flood fringe? Yes
· At grade, but floodproofed in the V Zone? No
, ✔✔A builder wants to build an apartment building on stem walls parallel to the flow of
water with the lowest floor 8 ft above grade. Can the lower area be used as a parking
lot? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What's the best record to keep to be sure that a house was elevated high enough? -
✔✔A FEMA Elevation Certification. Any surveyor's or engineer's record of the elevation
of the lowest floor meets the NFIP requirements, but the FEMA form is recommended.
✔✔How many standard 8"x16" openings are needed for a building that will have a
2,250 sq ft crawlspace? - ✔✔2250 divided by 128 = 17.57, rounded up to 18.
✔✔Can the owner store garden tools in a floodable crawlspace? - ✔✔Yes, if there is
enough warning time to remove it.
✔✔A business on the Mississippi River wants to build a floodproofed warehouse in the
flood fringe. The plans are to have the walls built of reinforced concrete up to the BFE.
Several garage doors will be open at grade to allow trucks in and out, but the design
includes movable shields that can be put in place before floodwaters arrive. There
would be no other openings below the BFE. The warehouse will have a 24-hour security
force that will be trained on how to install the shields. The design engineer will certify
that the building will be floodproofed (with human intervention) up to the base flood
elevation. Can you approve these plans? - ✔✔Yes, assuming there is adequate warning
time to install the shields, which there probably is on the Mississippi River.
✔✔A builder wants to build a "bi-level" house where the lowest floor is three feet below
grade. The lowest floor has large windows and includes three bedrooms and a
bathroom. Because it is habitable space, the owner does not consider this a
"basement". Does the NFIP consider this a "basement"?
Yes, and the lowest floor (i.e. the basement) must be above the BFE. - ✔✔Yes, and the
lowest floor (i.e. the basement) must be above the BFE.
✔✔The area below a planned elevated house in the V Zone will have a 260 sq ft
enclosure to house the entryway and storage closets. The builder wants to insulate the
area and finish it with wallboard, wallpaper, and carpeting. He says it's OK because the
area is under 300 sq ft. What do you tell him? - ✔✔It is not OK. Any enclosed space
below the lowest floor must be built of flood resistant materials and free of obstruction,
or constructed with non-supporting breakaway walls, open wood latticework or insect
screening.
✔✔Where can you find standards for tying down manufactured homes? - ✔✔Check first
to see if there are state regulations. If not, see FEMA's Manufactured Home Installation
in Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA-85.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔1. Joe Hunter wants to build a small hunting cabin on a lake in an approximate A
Zone. It will be the only building within two miles. There are no known sources of a base
flood elevation. The cabin will cost less than $10,000 and he does not want to pay
$2,000 for an engineering study to develop a BFE. What can you do to make sure the
property is protected from flooding? - ✔✔Require that the lowest floor of the cabin be at
least five feet above grade.
✔✔1. Will a developer in an approximate A Zone have to prepare a detailed study to
calculate base flood elevations if the development is:
· 4 acres?
· 60 lots
· Reserving all the SFHA as open space? - ✔✔4 acres? No
60 lots Yes
Reserving all the SFHA as open space? No
✔✔A restudy was performed on the Rocky River. The preliminary study will not be final
for another five months. It shows a new BFE at Site B that is two feet lower than the
BFE in your current FIS. Which one do you use to determine the flood protection level
for a new home Site A? - ✔✔When the BFE in the new study is lower than the BFE in
the existing study, the existing FIS data should be used until the new study is final.
✔✔Does dredging a creek to make it deeper to reduce flood levels need a floodplain
permit? - ✔✔Yes. It is considered development and all development needs a permit.
✔✔Does replacing an old manufactured home with a new one on the same foundation
need a permit? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔If an old manufactured home is replaced with a new one on the same foundation,
will the new one have to be elevated about the BFE? - ✔✔Yes, unless it is in an existing
,manufactured home park. Then the owner has the option of elevating either above the
BFE or 36" above grade on reinforced piers.
✔✔If a project will involve filling a wetland, is it likely that a federal or state permit will be
needed? - ✔✔Yes, the US Army Corps of Engineers requires a Section 404 permit for
most wetland filling activities. A local permit should not be issued until it is clear that the
project does not violate Section 404 rules.
✔✔A builder wants to put a house in the floodway. How much can his project increase
the base flood elevation (in feet)? - ✔✔Zero. A project in a floodway is not allowed to
cause any increase in floodwaters.
✔✔Will paving a dirt street in the floodway need an engineer's "no-rise" certification? -
✔✔No, as long as the grade of the street is no higher than it was before the paving
project.
✔✔A city councilman complains that the NFIP floodway regulations prevent
construction of a flood control dam that will protect people from flooding. What can you
tell him? - ✔✔The community can apply for a conditional letter of map revision if it can
provide the following:
1. An elevation of alternatives which, if carried out, would not result in an increase in the
BFE more than allowed, along with documentation as to why these alternatives are not
feasible
2. Documentation of individual legal notice to all affected property owners (anyone
affected by the increased flood elevations, within and outside of the community)
explaining the impact of the proposed action on their properties.
3. Concurrence, in writing, from the chief executive officer of any other communities
affected by the proposed actions.
4. Certification that no structures are located in areas which would be affected by the
increased BFE (unless they have been purchased for relocation or demolition).
5. A request for revision of BFE determinations in accordance with the provisions of 44
CFR 65.6 of the FEMA regulation.
✔✔Does a substantial improvement to an existing building have to meet the same
requirements as construction of a new building? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Can a new nonresidential building be built: - ✔✔· On fill in the flood fringe? Yes
· On fill in the floodway? Probably not. It would be hard to show that the fill does not
cause an increase in flood heights
· On fill in the V Zone? No
· At grade, but floodproofed in the flood fringe? Yes
· At grade, but floodproofed in the V Zone? No
, ✔✔A builder wants to build an apartment building on stem walls parallel to the flow of
water with the lowest floor 8 ft above grade. Can the lower area be used as a parking
lot? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔What's the best record to keep to be sure that a house was elevated high enough? -
✔✔A FEMA Elevation Certification. Any surveyor's or engineer's record of the elevation
of the lowest floor meets the NFIP requirements, but the FEMA form is recommended.
✔✔How many standard 8"x16" openings are needed for a building that will have a
2,250 sq ft crawlspace? - ✔✔2250 divided by 128 = 17.57, rounded up to 18.
✔✔Can the owner store garden tools in a floodable crawlspace? - ✔✔Yes, if there is
enough warning time to remove it.
✔✔A business on the Mississippi River wants to build a floodproofed warehouse in the
flood fringe. The plans are to have the walls built of reinforced concrete up to the BFE.
Several garage doors will be open at grade to allow trucks in and out, but the design
includes movable shields that can be put in place before floodwaters arrive. There
would be no other openings below the BFE. The warehouse will have a 24-hour security
force that will be trained on how to install the shields. The design engineer will certify
that the building will be floodproofed (with human intervention) up to the base flood
elevation. Can you approve these plans? - ✔✔Yes, assuming there is adequate warning
time to install the shields, which there probably is on the Mississippi River.
✔✔A builder wants to build a "bi-level" house where the lowest floor is three feet below
grade. The lowest floor has large windows and includes three bedrooms and a
bathroom. Because it is habitable space, the owner does not consider this a
"basement". Does the NFIP consider this a "basement"?
Yes, and the lowest floor (i.e. the basement) must be above the BFE. - ✔✔Yes, and the
lowest floor (i.e. the basement) must be above the BFE.
✔✔The area below a planned elevated house in the V Zone will have a 260 sq ft
enclosure to house the entryway and storage closets. The builder wants to insulate the
area and finish it with wallboard, wallpaper, and carpeting. He says it's OK because the
area is under 300 sq ft. What do you tell him? - ✔✔It is not OK. Any enclosed space
below the lowest floor must be built of flood resistant materials and free of obstruction,
or constructed with non-supporting breakaway walls, open wood latticework or insect
screening.
✔✔Where can you find standards for tying down manufactured homes? - ✔✔Check first
to see if there are state regulations. If not, see FEMA's Manufactured Home Installation
in Flood Hazard Areas, FEMA-85.
