FEMA 480 EXAM WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
/. What are the 3 most common types of flooding? - Answer-Riverine, coastal, shallow
/.Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related deaths in recent
history? - Answer-Flash flooding
/.What is a "meander?" - Answer-It's a curve or turn in a river channel.
/.What's the major cause of coastal flooding? - Answer-Storm surge
/.What causes a tsumani? - Answer-Underwater earthquake or volcanoes
/.List the five types of special flood hazards covered in this course. - Answer-1. Closed
basin
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice Jams
5. Mudflows
/.What 2 problems result from floodplain development? - Answer-1. Development alters
the floodplain and the dynamics of flooding
2. Building and infrastructures are damaged by periodic flooding
/.What does watershed development do to flooding? - Answer-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? - Answer-It can accelerate erosion on properties at the end of the
wall.
/.What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Answer-1. Hydrodynamic forces
2. Debris impact
3. Hydrostatic forces
4. Soaking
5. Sediment and contaminants
/.Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house. -
Answer-3
/.What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Answer-1.
Disruption of public utilities
,2. Electrocution
3. Contamination of water supplies
4. Fire
5. Animal carcasses, garbage, and ponds 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 1960's what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Answer-
Structural flood control projects
/.What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's definition of
"floodplain management?" - Answer-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? - Answer-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 conducive to flash flooding? - Answer-1. Hilly areas with steep slopes
and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Areas downstream of dams or subject to jams
/.Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Answer-No. Riverine erosion can move
through stream channels and undercut structures.
/.What is "ponding?" - Answer-Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and
cannot drain out
/.Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions"
of flood plains? - Answer-No. People benefit from floodplains through the food they
provide, the recreational opportunities the afford, and the scientific knowledge gained in
studying them. Floodplains also recharge ground water supplies and their filtering
actions help improve water quality.
/.What does filling in a floodplain do? - Answer-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? - Answer-Yes, it may remove a
natural barrier that protects inland properties.
/.Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _____ water and hydrostatic forces are caused by
_____ water - Answer-Moving, Standing
,/.List 3 materials or household items that are particularly susceptible to flood damage by
soaking. - Answer-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? - Answer-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. Modifying or retrofitting existing buildings
5. Installing flood warning systems
6. Controlling storm-water runoff
7. Providing self-help advice to property owners
/.What are the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's 4 main floodplain
management strategies? - Answer-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? - Answer-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
2. Provide floodplain residents and property owners with financial aid after floods,
especially smaller floods that do not warrant federal disaster aid
3. Guide development away from flood hazard areas
4. Require that new and substantially improved buildings be constructed in ways that
would minimize or prevent damage in a flood
/.What are the 3 basic parts of the NFIP? - Answer-1. Mapping
2. Insurance
3. Regulations
/.Who uses NFIP maps? - Answer-1. Communities, states, and federal agencies use
them as the basis for regulating new flood-prone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating food insurance policies
3. Lenders and federal agencies use them to determine when flood insurance must be
purchased as a condition of a loan or financial assistance
, /.What should happen to buildings in NFIP communities over time? - Answer-Over time,
exposure to flood damage should be reduced, as the older pre-FIRM buildings are
replaced by post-FIRM buildings. Eventually a community should have only post-FIRM
buildings subject to little or no flood damage.
/.What types of government bodies are considered to be "communities" by the NFIP? -
Answer-These governmental bodies vary from state to state, but can include cities,
towns, villages, townships, counties, parishes, special districts, states, and Indian
nations with the statutory authority to enact and enforce regulations.
/.What is the Write Your Own Program? - Answer-An arrangement whereby private
insurance companies write and service NFIP flood insurance policies under their own
name.
/.When a community applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit? - Answer-A
resolution of intent to "maintain in force ... adequate land use and control measures"
and to cooperate with FEMA
/.What are the sanctions if a community does not participate in the NFIP? - Answer-1.
Flood insurance will not be available. No resident will be able to purchase a flood
insurance policy through the NFIP.
2. If the community withdraws or is suspended, existing flood insurance will not be
renewed.
3. No federal grants or loans for development may be made in the identified flood
hazard areas under programs administered by federal agencies such as HUD, EPA,
and SBA.
4. No federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located
in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood.
5. No federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood
hazard areas. This includes policies written by FHA, VA, and others.
6. Federally insured or regulated lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions,
must notify applicants seeking loans for insurable buildings in flood hazard areas that:
a. there is a flood hazard and
b. the property is not eligible for federal disaster relief
/.Where does most of the money come from to pay the expenses of the NFIP? -
Answer-Premium income. The NFIP has been self-supporting since 1986.
/.How many communities currently participate in the NFIP? - Answer-More than 19,000
/.What is a pre-FIRM building? - Answer-A building built before the effective date of the
community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.
/. What are the 3 most common types of flooding? - Answer-Riverine, coastal, shallow
/.Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related deaths in recent
history? - Answer-Flash flooding
/.What is a "meander?" - Answer-It's a curve or turn in a river channel.
/.What's the major cause of coastal flooding? - Answer-Storm surge
/.What causes a tsumani? - Answer-Underwater earthquake or volcanoes
/.List the five types of special flood hazards covered in this course. - Answer-1. Closed
basin
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice Jams
5. Mudflows
/.What 2 problems result from floodplain development? - Answer-1. Development alters
the floodplain and the dynamics of flooding
2. Building and infrastructures are damaged by periodic flooding
/.What does watershed development do to flooding? - Answer-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? - Answer-It can accelerate erosion on properties at the end of the
wall.
/.What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Answer-1. Hydrodynamic forces
2. Debris impact
3. Hydrostatic forces
4. Soaking
5. Sediment and contaminants
/.Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house. -
Answer-3
/.What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Answer-1.
Disruption of public utilities
,2. Electrocution
3. Contamination of water supplies
4. Fire
5. Animal carcasses, garbage, and ponds 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 1960's what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Answer-
Structural flood control projects
/.What is the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's definition of
"floodplain management?" - Answer-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? - Answer-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 conducive to flash flooding? - Answer-1. Hilly areas with steep slopes
and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Areas downstream of dams or subject to jams
/.Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Answer-No. Riverine erosion can move
through stream channels and undercut structures.
/.What is "ponding?" - Answer-Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and
cannot drain out
/.Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions"
of flood plains? - Answer-No. People benefit from floodplains through the food they
provide, the recreational opportunities the afford, and the scientific knowledge gained in
studying them. Floodplains also recharge ground water supplies and their filtering
actions help improve water quality.
/.What does filling in a floodplain do? - Answer-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? - Answer-Yes, it may remove a
natural barrier that protects inland properties.
/.Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _____ water and hydrostatic forces are caused by
_____ water - Answer-Moving, Standing
,/.List 3 materials or household items that are particularly susceptible to flood damage by
soaking. - Answer-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? - Answer-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. Modifying or retrofitting existing buildings
5. Installing flood warning systems
6. Controlling storm-water runoff
7. Providing self-help advice to property owners
/.What are the Unified National Program for Floodplain Management's 4 main floodplain
management strategies? - Answer-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? - Answer-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
2. Provide floodplain residents and property owners with financial aid after floods,
especially smaller floods that do not warrant federal disaster aid
3. Guide development away from flood hazard areas
4. Require that new and substantially improved buildings be constructed in ways that
would minimize or prevent damage in a flood
/.What are the 3 basic parts of the NFIP? - Answer-1. Mapping
2. Insurance
3. Regulations
/.Who uses NFIP maps? - Answer-1. Communities, states, and federal agencies use
them as the basis for regulating new flood-prone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating food insurance policies
3. Lenders and federal agencies use them to determine when flood insurance must be
purchased as a condition of a loan or financial assistance
, /.What should happen to buildings in NFIP communities over time? - Answer-Over time,
exposure to flood damage should be reduced, as the older pre-FIRM buildings are
replaced by post-FIRM buildings. Eventually a community should have only post-FIRM
buildings subject to little or no flood damage.
/.What types of government bodies are considered to be "communities" by the NFIP? -
Answer-These governmental bodies vary from state to state, but can include cities,
towns, villages, townships, counties, parishes, special districts, states, and Indian
nations with the statutory authority to enact and enforce regulations.
/.What is the Write Your Own Program? - Answer-An arrangement whereby private
insurance companies write and service NFIP flood insurance policies under their own
name.
/.When a community applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit? - Answer-A
resolution of intent to "maintain in force ... adequate land use and control measures"
and to cooperate with FEMA
/.What are the sanctions if a community does not participate in the NFIP? - Answer-1.
Flood insurance will not be available. No resident will be able to purchase a flood
insurance policy through the NFIP.
2. If the community withdraws or is suspended, existing flood insurance will not be
renewed.
3. No federal grants or loans for development may be made in the identified flood
hazard areas under programs administered by federal agencies such as HUD, EPA,
and SBA.
4. No federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located
in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood.
5. No federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood
hazard areas. This includes policies written by FHA, VA, and others.
6. Federally insured or regulated lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions,
must notify applicants seeking loans for insurable buildings in flood hazard areas that:
a. there is a flood hazard and
b. the property is not eligible for federal disaster relief
/.Where does most of the money come from to pay the expenses of the NFIP? -
Answer-Premium income. The NFIP has been self-supporting since 1986.
/.How many communities currently participate in the NFIP? - Answer-More than 19,000
/.What is a pre-FIRM building? - Answer-A building built before the effective date of the
community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.
