CFM Exam Study Guide with Complete
Solutions
$100,000 - ANSWER-What is the maximum amount of contents coverage I can get for a
single family dwelling?
1. 1,750 divided by 128= 13.67, rounded up to 14 vents
2. The bottom of the vents must be no higher than one foot above grade.
3. No. Unless the water heater can be entirely above the BFE. - ANSWER-Mr. Jones
shows you the plans for a house elevated on a concrete block crawl space. The area of
the crawl space will be 1,750 square feet.
1.How many Standard 8" x 16" vents will be needed?
2.How high can they be above ground level?
3. Can Mr.Jones put his hot water heater in the storage space?
1. 10;20
2. 20 - ANSWER-A breakaway wall shall have a design safe loading resistance of not
less than ____ and no more than ____ pounds per square foot. Use of breakaway walls
which exceed a design safe loading resistance of ____ pounds per square foot (either
by design or when so required by local or State codes) may be permitted only if a
registered professional engineer or architect certifies that the designs proposed meet
the following conditions: (i) Breakaway wall collapse shall result from a water load less
than that which would occur during the base flood; and (ii) The elevated portion of the
building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to collapse,
displacement, or other structural damage due to the effects of wind and water loads
acting simultaneously on all building components (structural and non-structural).
1. A fine (that can increase for each day the violation continues)
2. recording the violation in the propertys deed records
3. A court injunction to stop work - ANSWER-What legal recourses do you and your
attorney have to bring a violation into compliance?
1. A letter of map amendment (LOMA) is the appropriate way to remove a single lot
from the SFHA based on elevation data.
2. The elevation of the lowest grade adjacent to the building. - ANSWER-Mrs. Murphy
says she has a survey that shows that her house is higher than the flood level. What
type of map change should she request? For which locations on her property will she
need elevation data?
1. A resolution of intent to "maintain in force...adequate land use and control measures"
and to cooperate with FEMA.
,2. Its adopted floodplain management ordinance - ANSWER-When a community
applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit?
1. A restudy is a new Flood Insurance Study for some or all of the community.
2. A limited map maintenance project (LMMP) is a small scale restudy that is limited in
size and cost.
3. An amendment is used to remove an area that was inadvertently included in the
SFHA.
4. A map revision is used for all other cases. (pg.4-19) - ANSWER-What are the four
types of map changes?
1. All forms are completed and signed
2. Site, grading, building, etc plans are complete.
3. All necessary certifications are provided
4. All necessary state and federal permits are being obtained
5. Copies of the application are being forwarded to other departments for review -
ANSWER-What five items need to be checked to ensure an application for a permit is
complete?
1. An independent appraisal by a professional appraiser.
2. Detailed estimates of the structures actual cash value (the replacement cost for a
building, minus a depreciation percentage based on age and condition)
3. Property appraisals used for tax assessment purposes by the tax appraiser to reflect
market conditions (adjusted assessed value)
4. The value of buildings taken from the NFIP claims data (usually actual cash value)
5. Qualified estimates based on sound professional judgement made by the staff of the
local building department or tax assessors office. - ANSWER-What are three good
sources for obtaining the market value of a house?
1. Building completely over water
2. Unanchored manufactured homes
3. Motorized vehicles
4. Gas and liquid storage tanks outside buildings
5. Buildings principally below ground
6. Machinery and equipment in the open
7. Swimming pools, hot tubs, etc - ANSWER-Not insurable by the NFIP:
1. Check with your state NFIP coordinator, local water-related districts, the COrps of
Engineers, etc. to see if there are any existing studies.
2. See if the Town Engineer or the developers engineer will conduct a study.
3. Use the flood of record plus a margin of protection. - ANSWER-Site E is in the
approximate A Zone of Dean Lake. A developer wants to build a small commercial
building on a 3 acre site. Where do you get a base flood elevation for Site E?
1. Closed Basin Lakes
, 2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows - ANSWER-List the five types of special flood hazards covered in FEMA
480.
1. Communities, states amd federal agencies for regulating new floodprone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating flood insurance policies
3. Lenders and federal agencies use them to determine when flood insurance must be
purchased as a condition of a loan - ANSWER-Who uses NFIP maps?
1. Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of the flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding - ANSWER-What two
problems result from floodplain development?
1. Elevation certificate: needed for new or substantially improved buildings that are
elevated in the SFHA
2. Floodproofing certificate: needed for new or substantially improved non-residential
buildings that are floodproofed
3. V Zone certificate: Needed for new or substantially improved buildings in V Zones?
4. No-Rise Certification: Needed for development projects in floodways (or its equivalent
in riverine floodplains where the floodway has not been mapped) - ANSWER-What are
the four situations when a record of an engineers or surveyors certificate is needed?
1. Ensure that all possible activities are reviewed and implemented.
2. Link floodplain management policies to specific activities.
3. Ensure that activities are coordinated.
4. Educate residents
5. Build public and political support
6. Fulfill planning requirements for state or federal assistance. - ANSWER-What are
some of the benefits of preparing a mitigation plan?
1. Ensure that the foundation and floor elevation have not been altered since the last
inspection
2. Obtain an as built elevation or floodproofing certificate
3. Verify that enclosures below the lowest floors have adequate openings
4. Ensure that nothing subject to flood damage has been located below the lowest floor.
5. Check breakaway walls in V Zones
6. Check for floodway encroachments
7. Check the anchoring system used in securing manufactured homes - ANSWER-What
should you check during the third site inspection?
1. Flood Insurance Study Report
Solutions
$100,000 - ANSWER-What is the maximum amount of contents coverage I can get for a
single family dwelling?
1. 1,750 divided by 128= 13.67, rounded up to 14 vents
2. The bottom of the vents must be no higher than one foot above grade.
3. No. Unless the water heater can be entirely above the BFE. - ANSWER-Mr. Jones
shows you the plans for a house elevated on a concrete block crawl space. The area of
the crawl space will be 1,750 square feet.
1.How many Standard 8" x 16" vents will be needed?
2.How high can they be above ground level?
3. Can Mr.Jones put his hot water heater in the storage space?
1. 10;20
2. 20 - ANSWER-A breakaway wall shall have a design safe loading resistance of not
less than ____ and no more than ____ pounds per square foot. Use of breakaway walls
which exceed a design safe loading resistance of ____ pounds per square foot (either
by design or when so required by local or State codes) may be permitted only if a
registered professional engineer or architect certifies that the designs proposed meet
the following conditions: (i) Breakaway wall collapse shall result from a water load less
than that which would occur during the base flood; and (ii) The elevated portion of the
building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to collapse,
displacement, or other structural damage due to the effects of wind and water loads
acting simultaneously on all building components (structural and non-structural).
1. A fine (that can increase for each day the violation continues)
2. recording the violation in the propertys deed records
3. A court injunction to stop work - ANSWER-What legal recourses do you and your
attorney have to bring a violation into compliance?
1. A letter of map amendment (LOMA) is the appropriate way to remove a single lot
from the SFHA based on elevation data.
2. The elevation of the lowest grade adjacent to the building. - ANSWER-Mrs. Murphy
says she has a survey that shows that her house is higher than the flood level. What
type of map change should she request? For which locations on her property will she
need elevation data?
1. A resolution of intent to "maintain in force...adequate land use and control measures"
and to cooperate with FEMA.
,2. Its adopted floodplain management ordinance - ANSWER-When a community
applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit?
1. A restudy is a new Flood Insurance Study for some or all of the community.
2. A limited map maintenance project (LMMP) is a small scale restudy that is limited in
size and cost.
3. An amendment is used to remove an area that was inadvertently included in the
SFHA.
4. A map revision is used for all other cases. (pg.4-19) - ANSWER-What are the four
types of map changes?
1. All forms are completed and signed
2. Site, grading, building, etc plans are complete.
3. All necessary certifications are provided
4. All necessary state and federal permits are being obtained
5. Copies of the application are being forwarded to other departments for review -
ANSWER-What five items need to be checked to ensure an application for a permit is
complete?
1. An independent appraisal by a professional appraiser.
2. Detailed estimates of the structures actual cash value (the replacement cost for a
building, minus a depreciation percentage based on age and condition)
3. Property appraisals used for tax assessment purposes by the tax appraiser to reflect
market conditions (adjusted assessed value)
4. The value of buildings taken from the NFIP claims data (usually actual cash value)
5. Qualified estimates based on sound professional judgement made by the staff of the
local building department or tax assessors office. - ANSWER-What are three good
sources for obtaining the market value of a house?
1. Building completely over water
2. Unanchored manufactured homes
3. Motorized vehicles
4. Gas and liquid storage tanks outside buildings
5. Buildings principally below ground
6. Machinery and equipment in the open
7. Swimming pools, hot tubs, etc - ANSWER-Not insurable by the NFIP:
1. Check with your state NFIP coordinator, local water-related districts, the COrps of
Engineers, etc. to see if there are any existing studies.
2. See if the Town Engineer or the developers engineer will conduct a study.
3. Use the flood of record plus a margin of protection. - ANSWER-Site E is in the
approximate A Zone of Dean Lake. A developer wants to build a small commercial
building on a 3 acre site. Where do you get a base flood elevation for Site E?
1. Closed Basin Lakes
, 2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows - ANSWER-List the five types of special flood hazards covered in FEMA
480.
1. Communities, states amd federal agencies for regulating new floodprone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating flood insurance policies
3. Lenders and federal agencies use them to determine when flood insurance must be
purchased as a condition of a loan - ANSWER-Who uses NFIP maps?
1. Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of the flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding - ANSWER-What two
problems result from floodplain development?
1. Elevation certificate: needed for new or substantially improved buildings that are
elevated in the SFHA
2. Floodproofing certificate: needed for new or substantially improved non-residential
buildings that are floodproofed
3. V Zone certificate: Needed for new or substantially improved buildings in V Zones?
4. No-Rise Certification: Needed for development projects in floodways (or its equivalent
in riverine floodplains where the floodway has not been mapped) - ANSWER-What are
the four situations when a record of an engineers or surveyors certificate is needed?
1. Ensure that all possible activities are reviewed and implemented.
2. Link floodplain management policies to specific activities.
3. Ensure that activities are coordinated.
4. Educate residents
5. Build public and political support
6. Fulfill planning requirements for state or federal assistance. - ANSWER-What are
some of the benefits of preparing a mitigation plan?
1. Ensure that the foundation and floor elevation have not been altered since the last
inspection
2. Obtain an as built elevation or floodproofing certificate
3. Verify that enclosures below the lowest floors have adequate openings
4. Ensure that nothing subject to flood damage has been located below the lowest floor.
5. Check breakaway walls in V Zones
6. Check for floodway encroachments
7. Check the anchoring system used in securing manufactured homes - ANSWER-What
should you check during the third site inspection?
1. Flood Insurance Study Report
