CFM Exam Questions (Latest Update 2025) with 100%
Accurate Answers/Solutions
Shallow flooding problems fall into (3) categories - ✔✔Sheet flow, ponding, urban drainage,
coastal flooding (depths 1-3 feet)
Describe areas where ponding may be a problem - ✔✔Glaciated areas, caves and sinkholes,
man-made features
What are (5) Special Flood Hazards - ✔✔Closed 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? - ✔✔Uncertain 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 - ✔✔Liquid mud down a hillside resulting from loss
of brush cover and subsequent accumulation of water on the ground
Describe NFIP regulations for mudslides - ✔✔Provides 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?
- ✔✔8-10 Million
What are (2) problems that develop from development in floodplains. - ✔✔(1) Alters
floodplain and dynamic of flooding (2) building and infrastructure damage
Regarding urbanization and watersheds what timing issue may persist in sub-watersheds? -
✔✔Development 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? - ✔✔150, largely by vehicles (can float in up to 2 feet
of water)
Annually, what is the approximate property damage due to flooding - ✔✔$6 Billion
What are the (5) main causes of flood damage that one should be knowledgeable as a
floodplain manager? - ✔✔Hydrodynamic forces, hydro static forces, debris impacts, soaking,
sediment and contaminants
What are (3) hydrodynamic force impacts regarding flood damage? - ✔✔Frontal, drag,
suction/eddy/negative pressure
Floods that have a velocity greater than ? are regarding as a high velocity flood? - ✔✔5 feet
per second
How many feet of standing water are enough to cause a collapse of wall structures? - ✔✔3
feet, hydrostatic force
Identify (8) safety and health hazards of a flood - ✔✔Utility, Gas, Fire, Drinking Water,
contaminants, mold/mildew, air quality/ducts, stress/mental health
Flood Control Acts of 1928 and 1936 initiated what? - ✔✔Construction 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? - ✔✔1960s
The NFIP was created in what year? - ✔✔1968
,What are the (4) basic intentions as to the creation of the NFIP? - ✔✔(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?
- ✔✔Coordination of flood-loss reduction programs with environmental protection and
watershed mgmt
Identify (7) non-structural flood protection measures - ✔✔(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 - ✔✔Developed 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 -
✔✔Group 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 -
✔✔Involves (1) reduced flood losses (2) protection of natural resources (3) protection of
floodplain function
What are (4) floodplain management strategies? - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(1) education (2) emergency
measures (3) reduce financial impact (4) post-flood recovery plans
Identify (8) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (3) - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(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? - ✔✔(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?
- ✔✔Regulating floodprone construction, Flood Insurance policies, Flood insurance
procurement condition of a loan.
What are (2) kinds of FEMA maps? - ✔✔(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? - ✔✔(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: - ✔✔General 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.
Accurate Answers/Solutions
Shallow flooding problems fall into (3) categories - ✔✔Sheet flow, ponding, urban drainage,
coastal flooding (depths 1-3 feet)
Describe areas where ponding may be a problem - ✔✔Glaciated areas, caves and sinkholes,
man-made features
What are (5) Special Flood Hazards - ✔✔Closed 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? - ✔✔Uncertain 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 - ✔✔Liquid mud down a hillside resulting from loss
of brush cover and subsequent accumulation of water on the ground
Describe NFIP regulations for mudslides - ✔✔Provides 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?
- ✔✔8-10 Million
What are (2) problems that develop from development in floodplains. - ✔✔(1) Alters
floodplain and dynamic of flooding (2) building and infrastructure damage
Regarding urbanization and watersheds what timing issue may persist in sub-watersheds? -
✔✔Development 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? - ✔✔150, largely by vehicles (can float in up to 2 feet
of water)
Annually, what is the approximate property damage due to flooding - ✔✔$6 Billion
What are the (5) main causes of flood damage that one should be knowledgeable as a
floodplain manager? - ✔✔Hydrodynamic forces, hydro static forces, debris impacts, soaking,
sediment and contaminants
What are (3) hydrodynamic force impacts regarding flood damage? - ✔✔Frontal, drag,
suction/eddy/negative pressure
Floods that have a velocity greater than ? are regarding as a high velocity flood? - ✔✔5 feet
per second
How many feet of standing water are enough to cause a collapse of wall structures? - ✔✔3
feet, hydrostatic force
Identify (8) safety and health hazards of a flood - ✔✔Utility, Gas, Fire, Drinking Water,
contaminants, mold/mildew, air quality/ducts, stress/mental health
Flood Control Acts of 1928 and 1936 initiated what? - ✔✔Construction 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? - ✔✔1960s
The NFIP was created in what year? - ✔✔1968
,What are the (4) basic intentions as to the creation of the NFIP? - ✔✔(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?
- ✔✔Coordination of flood-loss reduction programs with environmental protection and
watershed mgmt
Identify (7) non-structural flood protection measures - ✔✔(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 - ✔✔Developed 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 -
✔✔Group 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 -
✔✔Involves (1) reduced flood losses (2) protection of natural resources (3) protection of
floodplain function
What are (4) floodplain management strategies? - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(1) education (2) emergency
measures (3) reduce financial impact (4) post-flood recovery plans
Identify (8) tools in Floodplain Management Strategy (3) - ✔✔(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) - ✔✔(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? - ✔✔(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?
- ✔✔Regulating floodprone construction, Flood Insurance policies, Flood insurance
procurement condition of a loan.
What are (2) kinds of FEMA maps? - ✔✔(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? - ✔✔(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: - ✔✔General 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.
