CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN MANAGER
EXAM
What is "Basic rule #1" for using maps and data? - Correct Answers -You must use the
latest maps and flood data published by FEMA
What is basic rule #2 on what needs a permit in the floodplain? - Correct Answers -A
permit is required for all development in the SFHA.
What is Basic Rule #3? - Correct Answers -Development must not increase the flood
hazard on other properties
In a riverine AE Zone with a base flood elevation, what must a developer show in order
to demonstrate that he is meeting Basic Rule #3? - Correct Answers -He must conduct
an encroachment review that demonstrates that the cumulative effect of the proposed
development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development:
· Will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at
any point within the community, and
· Is consistent with the technical criteria contained in Chapter 5 (Hydraulic Analyses) of
the Flood Insurance Study: Guidelines and Specifications for Study Contractors, FEMA-
37, 1995.
What does Basic rule #4 say about new buildings in A Zones? - Correct Answers -New,
substantially improved or substantially damaged buildings must be protected from
damage by the base flood.
What does Basic rule #5 say about new buildings in V Zones? - Correct Answers -There
are special building requirements in addition to the building protection requirements for
buildings in A Zones. Due to wave impacts, V Zones have special building protection
standards in addition to the requirements for A zones.
What is the basic rule on improvements and repairs to existing buildings in the
floodplain? - Correct Answers -If the cost of improvements or the cost to repair the
damage exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building, it must be brought up to
current floodplain management standards.
What is the basic rule on calculating the cost of the damage? - Correct Answers -
Substantial damage is determined regardless of the actual cost to the owner. You must
,figure the true cost of bringing the building back to its pre-damage condition using
qualified labor and materials obtained at market prices.
What are the three most common types of flooding? - Correct Answers -Riverine,
coastal, shallow
Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related deaths in recent
history? - Correct Answers -Flash flooding
What is a "meander"? - Correct Answers -It is a curve or turn in a river channel
What is the major cause of coastal flooding? - Correct Answers -Storm surge
What causes a tsunami? - Correct Answers -Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes
List the five types of special flood hazards covered in this course. Does your community
have any of these? - Correct Answers -1. Closed basin lakes
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows
What two problems result from floodplain development? - Correct Answers -1.
Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding.
What does watershed development do to flooding? - Correct Answers -The increase in
impervious surface results in increased runoff and higher flood levels.
What is one of the problems with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from
flooding or erosion? - Correct Answers -It can accelerate erosion on properties at the
end of the wall.
What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Correct Answers -1. Hydrodynamic
forces
2. Debris impact
3. Hydrostatic forces
4. Soaking
5. Sediments and contaminants
Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house. -
Correct Answers -3 feet
What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Correct
Answers -1. Disruption of public utilities
2. Electrocution
,3. Contamination of water supplies
4. Fire
5. Animal carcasses, garbage, and ponds; which can become breeding grounds for
germs and mosquitoes
6. Mold, mildew, and bacteria that grow in damp, flooded areas
7. Contaminated air from dirty heating ducts
8. Stress and mental health problems
Prior to the 1960s what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Correct Answers
-Structural flood control projects
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's definition of
"floodplain management"? - Correct Answers -"A decision-making process that aims to
achieve the wise use of the nation's floodplains"
What are the two primary goals of floodplain management? - Correct Answers -1. To
reduce the loss of life, disruption, and damage caused by floods
2. To preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains
What areas are conductive to flash flooding? - Correct Answers -1. Hilly area with steep
slopes and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Area downstream of dams or subject to ice jams
Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Correct Answers -No. Riverine erosion can
move stream channels and undercut structures.
Instead of using a base flood elevation, some shallow flooding areas are defined using
a base flood _____. - Correct Answers -Depth
Which FIRM zone has wave heights greater than 3 feet? - Correct Answers -V zone
What is the base flood discharge on Rocky River just upstream of Wellington Rd? -
Correct Answers -2610
What is the 10-year peak discharge for Cobb Brook? - Correct Answers -560 CFS
How many cross-sections were surveyed for Cobb Brook? - Correct Answers -3
What is the width of the floodway for the Rocky River at cross-section G? - Correct
Answers -230
What is ponding? - Correct Answers -Where stormwater runoff collects in depressions
and cannot drain out.
, Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions" of
floodplains? - Correct Answers -No. People benefit from floodplains through the food
they provide, the recreational opportunities they afford, and the scientific knowledge
gained in studying them. Floodplains also recharge groundwater supplies and their
filtering actions help improve water quality.
What does filling in a floodplain do? - Correct Answers -Filling reduces the floodplain's
ability to store excess water, sending more water downstream and causing floods to rise
to higher levels.
Does moving sand and sand dunes affect flooding? - Correct Answers -Yes, it may
remove a natural barrier that protects inland properties.
1. Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _______ water and hydrostatic forces are
caused by _______ water. - Correct Answers -Moving, standing
List three materials or household items that are particularly susceptible to flood damage
by soaking. - Correct Answers -1. Wood
2. Gypsum wallboard
3. Furniture and upholstery
4. Carpeting
5. Mattresses
6. Books
7. Electrical appliances
8. Gasoline engines
What are examples of non-structural flood protection measures? - Correct Answers -1.
Regulations to prohibit development in high-hazard areas.
2. Building codes requiring flood-resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone
areas.
3. Acquisition and relocation of buildings in high hazard areas.
4. Installing flood warning systems.
5. Controlling stormwater runoff.
6. Providing self-help advice to property owners.
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's four main floodplain
management strategies? - Correct Answers -1. Modify human susceptibility to flood
damage
2. Modify the impact of flooding
3. Modify flooding itself
4. Preserve and restore natural resources
What are the objectives of the NFIP? - Correct Answers -The National Flood Insurance
Act created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to:
1. Transfer the costs of private property flood losses from the taxpayers to floodplain
property owners through flood insurance premiums.
EXAM
What is "Basic rule #1" for using maps and data? - Correct Answers -You must use the
latest maps and flood data published by FEMA
What is basic rule #2 on what needs a permit in the floodplain? - Correct Answers -A
permit is required for all development in the SFHA.
What is Basic Rule #3? - Correct Answers -Development must not increase the flood
hazard on other properties
In a riverine AE Zone with a base flood elevation, what must a developer show in order
to demonstrate that he is meeting Basic Rule #3? - Correct Answers -He must conduct
an encroachment review that demonstrates that the cumulative effect of the proposed
development, when combined with all other existing and anticipated development:
· Will not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at
any point within the community, and
· Is consistent with the technical criteria contained in Chapter 5 (Hydraulic Analyses) of
the Flood Insurance Study: Guidelines and Specifications for Study Contractors, FEMA-
37, 1995.
What does Basic rule #4 say about new buildings in A Zones? - Correct Answers -New,
substantially improved or substantially damaged buildings must be protected from
damage by the base flood.
What does Basic rule #5 say about new buildings in V Zones? - Correct Answers -There
are special building requirements in addition to the building protection requirements for
buildings in A Zones. Due to wave impacts, V Zones have special building protection
standards in addition to the requirements for A zones.
What is the basic rule on improvements and repairs to existing buildings in the
floodplain? - Correct Answers -If the cost of improvements or the cost to repair the
damage exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building, it must be brought up to
current floodplain management standards.
What is the basic rule on calculating the cost of the damage? - Correct Answers -
Substantial damage is determined regardless of the actual cost to the owner. You must
,figure the true cost of bringing the building back to its pre-damage condition using
qualified labor and materials obtained at market prices.
What are the three most common types of flooding? - Correct Answers -Riverine,
coastal, shallow
Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related deaths in recent
history? - Correct Answers -Flash flooding
What is a "meander"? - Correct Answers -It is a curve or turn in a river channel
What is the major cause of coastal flooding? - Correct Answers -Storm surge
What causes a tsunami? - Correct Answers -Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes
List the five types of special flood hazards covered in this course. Does your community
have any of these? - Correct Answers -1. Closed basin lakes
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows
What two problems result from floodplain development? - Correct Answers -1.
Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding.
What does watershed development do to flooding? - Correct Answers -The increase in
impervious surface results in increased runoff and higher flood levels.
What is one of the problems with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from
flooding or erosion? - Correct Answers -It can accelerate erosion on properties at the
end of the wall.
What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Correct Answers -1. Hydrodynamic
forces
2. Debris impact
3. Hydrostatic forces
4. Soaking
5. Sediments and contaminants
Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house. -
Correct Answers -3 feet
What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Correct
Answers -1. Disruption of public utilities
2. Electrocution
,3. Contamination of water supplies
4. Fire
5. Animal carcasses, garbage, and ponds; which can become breeding grounds for
germs and mosquitoes
6. Mold, mildew, and bacteria that grow in damp, flooded areas
7. Contaminated air from dirty heating ducts
8. Stress and mental health problems
Prior to the 1960s what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Correct Answers
-Structural flood control projects
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's definition of
"floodplain management"? - Correct Answers -"A decision-making process that aims to
achieve the wise use of the nation's floodplains"
What are the two primary goals of floodplain management? - Correct Answers -1. To
reduce the loss of life, disruption, and damage caused by floods
2. To preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains
What areas are conductive to flash flooding? - Correct Answers -1. Hilly area with steep
slopes and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Area downstream of dams or subject to ice jams
Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Correct Answers -No. Riverine erosion can
move stream channels and undercut structures.
Instead of using a base flood elevation, some shallow flooding areas are defined using
a base flood _____. - Correct Answers -Depth
Which FIRM zone has wave heights greater than 3 feet? - Correct Answers -V zone
What is the base flood discharge on Rocky River just upstream of Wellington Rd? -
Correct Answers -2610
What is the 10-year peak discharge for Cobb Brook? - Correct Answers -560 CFS
How many cross-sections were surveyed for Cobb Brook? - Correct Answers -3
What is the width of the floodway for the Rocky River at cross-section G? - Correct
Answers -230
What is ponding? - Correct Answers -Where stormwater runoff collects in depressions
and cannot drain out.
, Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions" of
floodplains? - Correct Answers -No. People benefit from floodplains through the food
they provide, the recreational opportunities they afford, and the scientific knowledge
gained in studying them. Floodplains also recharge groundwater supplies and their
filtering actions help improve water quality.
What does filling in a floodplain do? - Correct Answers -Filling reduces the floodplain's
ability to store excess water, sending more water downstream and causing floods to rise
to higher levels.
Does moving sand and sand dunes affect flooding? - Correct Answers -Yes, it may
remove a natural barrier that protects inland properties.
1. Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _______ water and hydrostatic forces are
caused by _______ water. - Correct Answers -Moving, standing
List three materials or household items that are particularly susceptible to flood damage
by soaking. - Correct Answers -1. Wood
2. Gypsum wallboard
3. Furniture and upholstery
4. Carpeting
5. Mattresses
6. Books
7. Electrical appliances
8. Gasoline engines
What are examples of non-structural flood protection measures? - Correct Answers -1.
Regulations to prohibit development in high-hazard areas.
2. Building codes requiring flood-resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone
areas.
3. Acquisition and relocation of buildings in high hazard areas.
4. Installing flood warning systems.
5. Controlling stormwater runoff.
6. Providing self-help advice to property owners.
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's four main floodplain
management strategies? - Correct Answers -1. Modify human susceptibility to flood
damage
2. Modify the impact of flooding
3. Modify flooding itself
4. Preserve and restore natural resources
What are the objectives of the NFIP? - Correct Answers -The National Flood Insurance
Act created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to:
1. Transfer the costs of private property flood losses from the taxpayers to floodplain
property owners through flood insurance premiums.
