CFM EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
Shallow flooding problems fall into (3) categories - ANSWERSheet flow, ponding,
urban drainage, coastal flooding (depths 1-3 feet)
Describe areas where ponding may be a problem - ANSWERGlaciated areas, caves
and sinkholes, man-made features
What are (5) Special Flood Hazards - ANSWERClosed basin lakes, uncertain flow
paths, dam breaks, ice jams, mud flows
Alluvial fan flooding is what type of special flood hazard and what are the inherent
hazards thereof? - ANSWERUncertain flow path: (1) velocity and debris (2) sediment
and debris deposition (3) potential for channel to move
What is the NFIP definition of a mudslide - ANSWERLiquid mud down a hillside
resulting from loss of brush cover and subsequent accumulation of water on the
ground
Describe NFIP regulations for mudslides - ANSWERProvides coverage in these
areas but does not require mapping or management measures
What is the estimate regarding the number of households that dwell in floodplains
nationwide? - ANSWER8-10 Million
What are (2) problems that develop from development in floodplains. - ANSWER(1)
Alters floodplain and dynamic of flooding (2) building and infrastructure damage
Regarding urbanization and watersheds what timing issue may persist in sub-
watersheds? - ANSWERDevelopment of one sub-watershed faster than another
one, lead to peak that will arrive to the main channel at the same time as the
underdeveloped sub-watershed.
Annually, floods kill how many people? - ANSWER150, largely by vehicles (can float
in up to 2 feet of water)
Annually, what is the approximate property damage due to flooding - ANSWER$6
Billion
What are the (5) main causes of flood damage that one should be knowledgeable as
a floodplain manager? - ANSWERHydrodynamic forces, hydro static forces, debris
impacts, soaking, sediment and contaminants
What are (3) hydrodynamic force impacts regarding flood damage? -
ANSWERFrontal, drag, suction/eddy/negative pressure
,Floods that have a velocity greater than ? are regarding as a high velocity flood? -
ANSWER5 feet per second
How many feet of standing water are enough to cause a collapse of wall structures?
- ANSWER3 feet, hydrostatic force
Identify (8) safety and health hazards of a flood - ANSWERUtility, Gas, Fire, Drinking
Water, contaminants, mold/mildew, air quality/ducts, stress/mental health
Flood Control Acts of 1928 and 1936 initiated what? - ANSWERConstruction of flood
control projects both coastal and riverine
What was the pivotal year in which flood control projects started to change from
typical structural approaches? - ANSWER1960s
The NFIP was created in what year? - ANSWER1968
What are the (4) basic intentions as to the creation of the NFIP? - ANSWER(1)
Insurance program for disaster relief (2) distribution of floodplain mgmt to all levels of
govt/private (3) national standard for regulating new development (4) comprehensive
floodplain mapping program
Regarding the NFIP, what has been one of the major goals of federal, state, and
local agencies? - ANSWERCoordination of flood-loss reduction programs with
environmental protection and watershed mgmt
Identify (7) non-structural flood protection measures - ANSWER(1) Regs to prohibit
development (2) Bldg codes - flood resistance construction (3) Acquisition and
relocation of bldgs (4) modification/retrofitting of bldgs (5) flood warning (6) storm-
water runoff (7) provision of self-help to property owners
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management -
ANSWERDeveloped under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, coordinates
floodplain management efforts of federal, state, local, and private entities
What is the purpose of the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force
- ANSWERGroup that identifies federal agencies involved with flooding that define
"floodplain management" as decision making process involving "wise use" of nations
floodplains
What is "wise use" under the definition of floodplain management as defined by the
Task Foce - ANSWERInvolves (1) reduced flood losses (2) protection of natural
resources (3) protection of floodplain function
What are (4) floodplain management strategies? - ANSWER(1) Modify human
susceptibility to flood damage (2) Modify impact of flooding (3) Modify flooding itself
(4) Preserve/restore natural resources
Identify (6) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (1) - ANSWER(1) regulation (2)
development/redevelopment practices (3) acquisition - open space preservation (4)
, elevate / floodproof (5) forecasts/warnings (6) preservation and restoration of natural
resources and floodplain function
Identify (4) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (2) - ANSWER(1) education (2)
emergency measures (3) reduce financial impact (4) post-flood recovery plans
Identify (8) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (3) - ANSWER(1)
dams/reservoirs (2) dikes/levees (3) channel alterations (4) diversion (5) abstractions
(6) detention (7) inland development protection (8) controlling runoff outside
floodplain
Identify (6) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (4) - ANSWER(1) wetlands /
land-use regs (2) develop/re-develop policies (3) acquisition / open space (4)
education (5) tax adjustments (6) beach nurishment / dune building
What are the (3) primary components to the NFIP? - ANSWER(1) Mapping (2)
Insurance (3) Regulation
In 1979 the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) and NFIP were transferred to
FEMA. Regarding the mapping component of FEMA, what are the primary purposes
of maps and data? - ANSWERRegulating floodprone construction, Flood Insurance
policies, Flood insurance procurement condition of a loan.
What are (2) kinds of FEMA maps? - ANSWER(1) Flood Hazard Boundary Map
(FHMB) for approximate (2) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) including flood
elevations and hazards necessary to protect new construction from flood damage.
Regarding FIRM construction what (2) classifications are buildings identified? -
ANSWER(1) Pre-FIRM and (2) Post FIRM, based on how protected they are from
the mapped hazard.
NFIP coverage pertains to damage by a "flood" identified as: - ANSWERGeneral and
temporary condition of partial / complete inundation of normally dry land from (1)
Overflow of inland/tidal waters (2) Unusual / rapid accumulation or runoff of surface
waters from ANY source.
Flood insurance premiums for post-FIRM buildings are based on what? -
ANSWERDegree of flood protection provided.
Flood insurance premium rates for pre-FIRM buildings are based on what? -
ANSWERSubsidized by NFIP. Policy owners do not pay actuarial (rates based on
true risk of building) rates
The NFIP underwrites flood insurance coverage for which communities? -
ANSWERThose that adopt and enforce floodplain regulations that meet or exceed
NFIP critiera.
In terms of risk and insurance rates, buildings constructed in accordance with NFIP
regulations assure? - ANSWERLower risk and lower rates
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
Shallow flooding problems fall into (3) categories - ANSWERSheet flow, ponding,
urban drainage, coastal flooding (depths 1-3 feet)
Describe areas where ponding may be a problem - ANSWERGlaciated areas, caves
and sinkholes, man-made features
What are (5) Special Flood Hazards - ANSWERClosed basin lakes, uncertain flow
paths, dam breaks, ice jams, mud flows
Alluvial fan flooding is what type of special flood hazard and what are the inherent
hazards thereof? - ANSWERUncertain flow path: (1) velocity and debris (2) sediment
and debris deposition (3) potential for channel to move
What is the NFIP definition of a mudslide - ANSWERLiquid mud down a hillside
resulting from loss of brush cover and subsequent accumulation of water on the
ground
Describe NFIP regulations for mudslides - ANSWERProvides coverage in these
areas but does not require mapping or management measures
What is the estimate regarding the number of households that dwell in floodplains
nationwide? - ANSWER8-10 Million
What are (2) problems that develop from development in floodplains. - ANSWER(1)
Alters floodplain and dynamic of flooding (2) building and infrastructure damage
Regarding urbanization and watersheds what timing issue may persist in sub-
watersheds? - ANSWERDevelopment of one sub-watershed faster than another
one, lead to peak that will arrive to the main channel at the same time as the
underdeveloped sub-watershed.
Annually, floods kill how many people? - ANSWER150, largely by vehicles (can float
in up to 2 feet of water)
Annually, what is the approximate property damage due to flooding - ANSWER$6
Billion
What are the (5) main causes of flood damage that one should be knowledgeable as
a floodplain manager? - ANSWERHydrodynamic forces, hydro static forces, debris
impacts, soaking, sediment and contaminants
What are (3) hydrodynamic force impacts regarding flood damage? -
ANSWERFrontal, drag, suction/eddy/negative pressure
,Floods that have a velocity greater than ? are regarding as a high velocity flood? -
ANSWER5 feet per second
How many feet of standing water are enough to cause a collapse of wall structures?
- ANSWER3 feet, hydrostatic force
Identify (8) safety and health hazards of a flood - ANSWERUtility, Gas, Fire, Drinking
Water, contaminants, mold/mildew, air quality/ducts, stress/mental health
Flood Control Acts of 1928 and 1936 initiated what? - ANSWERConstruction of flood
control projects both coastal and riverine
What was the pivotal year in which flood control projects started to change from
typical structural approaches? - ANSWER1960s
The NFIP was created in what year? - ANSWER1968
What are the (4) basic intentions as to the creation of the NFIP? - ANSWER(1)
Insurance program for disaster relief (2) distribution of floodplain mgmt to all levels of
govt/private (3) national standard for regulating new development (4) comprehensive
floodplain mapping program
Regarding the NFIP, what has been one of the major goals of federal, state, and
local agencies? - ANSWERCoordination of flood-loss reduction programs with
environmental protection and watershed mgmt
Identify (7) non-structural flood protection measures - ANSWER(1) Regs to prohibit
development (2) Bldg codes - flood resistance construction (3) Acquisition and
relocation of bldgs (4) modification/retrofitting of bldgs (5) flood warning (6) storm-
water runoff (7) provision of self-help to property owners
What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management -
ANSWERDeveloped under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, coordinates
floodplain management efforts of federal, state, local, and private entities
What is the purpose of the Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force
- ANSWERGroup that identifies federal agencies involved with flooding that define
"floodplain management" as decision making process involving "wise use" of nations
floodplains
What is "wise use" under the definition of floodplain management as defined by the
Task Foce - ANSWERInvolves (1) reduced flood losses (2) protection of natural
resources (3) protection of floodplain function
What are (4) floodplain management strategies? - ANSWER(1) Modify human
susceptibility to flood damage (2) Modify impact of flooding (3) Modify flooding itself
(4) Preserve/restore natural resources
Identify (6) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (1) - ANSWER(1) regulation (2)
development/redevelopment practices (3) acquisition - open space preservation (4)
, elevate / floodproof (5) forecasts/warnings (6) preservation and restoration of natural
resources and floodplain function
Identify (4) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (2) - ANSWER(1) education (2)
emergency measures (3) reduce financial impact (4) post-flood recovery plans
Identify (8) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (3) - ANSWER(1)
dams/reservoirs (2) dikes/levees (3) channel alterations (4) diversion (5) abstractions
(6) detention (7) inland development protection (8) controlling runoff outside
floodplain
Identify (6) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (4) - ANSWER(1) wetlands /
land-use regs (2) develop/re-develop policies (3) acquisition / open space (4)
education (5) tax adjustments (6) beach nurishment / dune building
What are the (3) primary components to the NFIP? - ANSWER(1) Mapping (2)
Insurance (3) Regulation
In 1979 the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) and NFIP were transferred to
FEMA. Regarding the mapping component of FEMA, what are the primary purposes
of maps and data? - ANSWERRegulating floodprone construction, Flood Insurance
policies, Flood insurance procurement condition of a loan.
What are (2) kinds of FEMA maps? - ANSWER(1) Flood Hazard Boundary Map
(FHMB) for approximate (2) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) including flood
elevations and hazards necessary to protect new construction from flood damage.
Regarding FIRM construction what (2) classifications are buildings identified? -
ANSWER(1) Pre-FIRM and (2) Post FIRM, based on how protected they are from
the mapped hazard.
NFIP coverage pertains to damage by a "flood" identified as: - ANSWERGeneral and
temporary condition of partial / complete inundation of normally dry land from (1)
Overflow of inland/tidal waters (2) Unusual / rapid accumulation or runoff of surface
waters from ANY source.
Flood insurance premiums for post-FIRM buildings are based on what? -
ANSWERDegree of flood protection provided.
Flood insurance premium rates for pre-FIRM buildings are based on what? -
ANSWERSubsidized by NFIP. Policy owners do not pay actuarial (rates based on
true risk of building) rates
The NFIP underwrites flood insurance coverage for which communities? -
ANSWERThose that adopt and enforce floodplain regulations that meet or exceed
NFIP critiera.
In terms of risk and insurance rates, buildings constructed in accordance with NFIP
regulations assure? - ANSWERLower risk and lower rates
