Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam 2026 | 30
Verified Questions & Answers with Explanations | A+
Exam Prep Resource
1. What is the primary purpose of floodplain management?
A. Increase urban development
B. Reduce flood risk to life and property
C. Maximize land taxation revenue
D. Promote river navigation
Answer: B
Rationale: Floodplain management is designed to minimize flood damage to people,
infrastructure, and property while balancing environmental and development needs.
2. The 100-year floodplain refers to:
A. A flood occurring once every 100 years exactly
B. A flood with 1% annual probability of occurrence
C. A flood lasting 100 days
D. A flood occurring twice a century
Answer: B
Rationale: It represents a statistical probability of 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year.
3. Which agency administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?
A. FEMA
B. EPA
C. USGS
D. NOAA
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA manages the NFIP, which provides flood insurance and sets minimum
floodplain standards.
4. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?
,A. A climate prediction chart
B. A zoning enforcement map
C. A map showing flood hazard zones and insurance rates
D. A rainfall intensity map
Answer: C
Rationale: FIRMs identify flood zones, base flood elevations, and insurance rate zones.
5. Base Flood Elevation (BFE) refers to:
A. Average river height
B. Elevation of the 100-year flood level
C. Maximum recorded flood height
D. Sea level rise projection
Answer: B
Rationale: BFE is the computed water surface elevation during a base flood event.
6. Which development is generally prohibited in floodways?
A. Parking lots
B. Construction that increases flood levels
C. Parks
D. Agriculture
Answer: B
Rationale: Floodways must remain free of obstructions that would increase flood elevations.
7. Elevation certificates are primarily used to:
A. Determine property taxes
B. Verify building height compliance in flood zones
C. Approve land sales
D. Measure rainfall
Answer: B
Rationale: They certify building elevations relative to BFEs for insurance and compliance
purposes.
, 8. The NFIP was created under which act?
A. Clean Water Act
B. Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973
C. Stafford Act
D. Water Resources Development Act
Answer: B
Rationale: The 1973 Act formally established the National Flood Insurance Program.
9. Floodplain mapping is primarily based on:
A. Historical rainfall only
B. Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
C. Satellite imagery alone
D. Soil sampling
Answer: B
Rationale: Flood maps are developed using hydrologic (flow) and hydraulic (water
movement) models.
10. Which is a non-structural flood mitigation measure?
A. Levees
B. Dams
C. Zoning regulations
D. Flood walls
Answer: C
Rationale: Non-structural measures reduce exposure rather than controlling water
physically.
11. A floodway is best described as:
A. Area with lowest rainfall
B. Channel where floodwaters are deepest and fastest
C. Area outside flood risk
D. Agricultural land only
Answer: B
Verified Questions & Answers with Explanations | A+
Exam Prep Resource
1. What is the primary purpose of floodplain management?
A. Increase urban development
B. Reduce flood risk to life and property
C. Maximize land taxation revenue
D. Promote river navigation
Answer: B
Rationale: Floodplain management is designed to minimize flood damage to people,
infrastructure, and property while balancing environmental and development needs.
2. The 100-year floodplain refers to:
A. A flood occurring once every 100 years exactly
B. A flood with 1% annual probability of occurrence
C. A flood lasting 100 days
D. A flood occurring twice a century
Answer: B
Rationale: It represents a statistical probability of 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year.
3. Which agency administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?
A. FEMA
B. EPA
C. USGS
D. NOAA
Answer: A
Rationale: FEMA manages the NFIP, which provides flood insurance and sets minimum
floodplain standards.
4. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?
,A. A climate prediction chart
B. A zoning enforcement map
C. A map showing flood hazard zones and insurance rates
D. A rainfall intensity map
Answer: C
Rationale: FIRMs identify flood zones, base flood elevations, and insurance rate zones.
5. Base Flood Elevation (BFE) refers to:
A. Average river height
B. Elevation of the 100-year flood level
C. Maximum recorded flood height
D. Sea level rise projection
Answer: B
Rationale: BFE is the computed water surface elevation during a base flood event.
6. Which development is generally prohibited in floodways?
A. Parking lots
B. Construction that increases flood levels
C. Parks
D. Agriculture
Answer: B
Rationale: Floodways must remain free of obstructions that would increase flood elevations.
7. Elevation certificates are primarily used to:
A. Determine property taxes
B. Verify building height compliance in flood zones
C. Approve land sales
D. Measure rainfall
Answer: B
Rationale: They certify building elevations relative to BFEs for insurance and compliance
purposes.
, 8. The NFIP was created under which act?
A. Clean Water Act
B. Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973
C. Stafford Act
D. Water Resources Development Act
Answer: B
Rationale: The 1973 Act formally established the National Flood Insurance Program.
9. Floodplain mapping is primarily based on:
A. Historical rainfall only
B. Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
C. Satellite imagery alone
D. Soil sampling
Answer: B
Rationale: Flood maps are developed using hydrologic (flow) and hydraulic (water
movement) models.
10. Which is a non-structural flood mitigation measure?
A. Levees
B. Dams
C. Zoning regulations
D. Flood walls
Answer: C
Rationale: Non-structural measures reduce exposure rather than controlling water
physically.
11. A floodway is best described as:
A. Area with lowest rainfall
B. Channel where floodwaters are deepest and fastest
C. Area outside flood risk
D. Agricultural land only
Answer: B
