CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN
MANAGER EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Base Flood - ....ANSWER ...-The 1% chance/year flood. The base or min. flood
elevation standard that communities must adopt in their local programs.
Floodplain - ....ANSWER ...-Floodway + floodway fringe; area subject to 1%
chance flood
floodway - ....ANSWER ...-Channel of river and the adjacent area that must be
reserved open space; an engineering construct; provides for discharge of base flood
flood fringe - ....ANSWER ...-the fringe or backwater areas of a flood that store
nearly still water during a flood and gradually release it downstream after the flood;
development may be allowed here
44 CFR - ....ANSWER ...-Parts 59, 60, 65, and 70 relate to the NFIP. "Emergency
Management & Assistance" Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
alluvial fan (flooding) - ....ANSWER ...-A fan-shaped deposit of sediment formed
when a stream's slope is abruptly reduced (hence flow path of stream becomes
unpredictable, resulting in flooding **characterized by:** 1) high velocity flows; 2) active
erosion and sedimentation; 3) unpredictable flow paths
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 1
, FIS - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Insurance Study
FHBM - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Hazard Boundary Map. An official map of a
community published by FEMA that delineates the approximate boundary of the
floodplain. An FHBM is generally the initial map provided the community and is
eventually superceded by a FIRM
FBFM - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Boundary Floodway Map. An official map of a
community, on which FEMA has delineated the regulatory floodway. Recent FISs show
the floodway on the FIRM and do not include an FBFM.
Levees - ....ANSWER ...-An embankment designed to manage a certain amount of
floodwater and can be overtopped or fail during flood events exceeding the level for
which they were designed; typically built parallel to a waterway to reduce the risk of
flooding on the landward side.
Special Flood Hazards - ....ANSWER ...-Closed basin lakes, uncertain flow paths,
dam breaks, ice jams, and mudflows are the most common types found in the US.
Closed basin lakes - ....ANSWER ...-Two types: no outlets like Great Salt Lake, or
irregular outlets like the Great Lakes; either way == large fluctuations in water surface
elevation & low drainage rates. Septic fields are unusable. Waves may be experienced. A
type of special flood hazard.
Uncertain flow paths - ....ANSWER ...-Ex: *alluvial fan* = a fan-shaped area at the
base of a valley where the slope of a mountain flattens out, the high-velocity floodwater
decreases in speed and spreads out like in a **sheet flow** dropping sediment and rock.
May have multiple, undefined channels. Common in mountainous areas with less
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 2
MANAGER EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Base Flood - ....ANSWER ...-The 1% chance/year flood. The base or min. flood
elevation standard that communities must adopt in their local programs.
Floodplain - ....ANSWER ...-Floodway + floodway fringe; area subject to 1%
chance flood
floodway - ....ANSWER ...-Channel of river and the adjacent area that must be
reserved open space; an engineering construct; provides for discharge of base flood
flood fringe - ....ANSWER ...-the fringe or backwater areas of a flood that store
nearly still water during a flood and gradually release it downstream after the flood;
development may be allowed here
44 CFR - ....ANSWER ...-Parts 59, 60, 65, and 70 relate to the NFIP. "Emergency
Management & Assistance" Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
alluvial fan (flooding) - ....ANSWER ...-A fan-shaped deposit of sediment formed
when a stream's slope is abruptly reduced (hence flow path of stream becomes
unpredictable, resulting in flooding **characterized by:** 1) high velocity flows; 2) active
erosion and sedimentation; 3) unpredictable flow paths
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 1
, FIS - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Insurance Study
FHBM - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Hazard Boundary Map. An official map of a
community published by FEMA that delineates the approximate boundary of the
floodplain. An FHBM is generally the initial map provided the community and is
eventually superceded by a FIRM
FBFM - ....ANSWER ...-Flood Boundary Floodway Map. An official map of a
community, on which FEMA has delineated the regulatory floodway. Recent FISs show
the floodway on the FIRM and do not include an FBFM.
Levees - ....ANSWER ...-An embankment designed to manage a certain amount of
floodwater and can be overtopped or fail during flood events exceeding the level for
which they were designed; typically built parallel to a waterway to reduce the risk of
flooding on the landward side.
Special Flood Hazards - ....ANSWER ...-Closed basin lakes, uncertain flow paths,
dam breaks, ice jams, and mudflows are the most common types found in the US.
Closed basin lakes - ....ANSWER ...-Two types: no outlets like Great Salt Lake, or
irregular outlets like the Great Lakes; either way == large fluctuations in water surface
elevation & low drainage rates. Septic fields are unusable. Waves may be experienced. A
type of special flood hazard.
Uncertain flow paths - ....ANSWER ...-Ex: *alluvial fan* = a fan-shaped area at the
base of a valley where the slope of a mountain flattens out, the high-velocity floodwater
decreases in speed and spreads out like in a **sheet flow** dropping sediment and rock.
May have multiple, undefined channels. Common in mountainous areas with less
…FOR DTUDY PURPOSES ONLY…©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED… 2
