Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam
145 | Actual Questions and Answers Latest
Updated 2025/2026 (Graded A+)
Types..of..floodplains..-..Correct..Answer-Riverine,..coastal,..and..shallow
Watershed..-..Correct..Answer-
area..that..drains..into..a..lake,..stream,..or..body..of..water...Also..called..basin..or..catc
hment..area.
Channel..-..Correct..Answer-
Ground..features..that..carry..water..through..and..out..of..a..watershed
Riverine..Flooding..-..Correct..Answer-flooding..that..occurs..along..a..channel
Flash..flooding..-..Correct..Answer-
flooding..that..occurs..in..hilly..and..mountainous..areas..that..may..come..scant..min
utes..after..a..heavy..rainfall...One..can..also..occur..in..urban..areas..where..pavement
s..and..drainage..improvements..speed..runoff..to..a..stream.
Overbank..Flooding..-..Correct..Answer-
The..most..common..type..flooding..in..the..US...It..occurs..when..downstream..chan
nels..receive..more..rain..or..snowmelt..than..normal,..or..a..channel..is..blocked..by..ic
e..or..debris...Excess..water..overloads..the..channels..and..flows..out..onto..the..flood
plain
,Velocity..-..Correct..Answer-
One..measure..of..a..flood..is..the..speed..of..moving..water...Measured..in..feet..per..se
cond
Thalweg..-..Correct..Answer-The..channel..bottom
Meander..-..Correct..Answer-
a..curve..in..the..channel...The..outside..bank..of..the..meander..is..subject..to..erosion,
..the..inside..bank..is..subject..to..deposits
Accrete..-..Correct..Answer-
to..build..up..a..shoreline..by..depositing..sand,..either..by..nature..or..human..actions
Actual..Cash..Value..-..Correct..Answer-
The..replacement..cost..for..a..building,..minus..a..depreciation..percentage..based..
on..age..and..condition.
Alluvial..Fan..-..Correct..Answer-
An..area..at..the..base..of..a..valley..where..the..slope..flattens..out,..allowing..the..flood
water..to..decrease..in..speed..and..spread..out,..dropping..sediment..and..rock..over..
a..fan-shaped..area.
Amendment..-..Correct..Answer-
A..change..to..a..FEMA..floodplain..map..that..removes..an..area..that..was..inadverte
ntly..included..in..the..Special..Flood..Hazard..Area
Approximate..studies..-..Correct..Answer-
Flood..hazard..mapping..done..using..approximate..study..methods..that..show..the..
, approximate..outline..of..the..base..floodplain...An..approximate..study..does..not..pr
oduce..a..base..flood..elevation.
Base..Flood..Depth..-..Correct..Answer-
A..measurement..of..the..base..flood..in..feet..above..ground,..used..for..shallow..flood
ing
Basement..-..Correct..Answer-
Any..area..of..the..building..having..its..flood..subgrade..(below..ground..level)..on..all.
.sides
Base..floodplain..-..Correct..Answer-
the..area..of..water..and..land..inundated..by..the..base..flood
Basin..-..Correct..Answer-
Also..known..as..a..Watershed,..an..area..that..drains..into..a..lake,..stream..or..other..b
ody..of..water.
Bathymetry..-..Correct..Answer-
The..measurement..of..depths..of..water..in..the..ocean..or..lakes
Bench..marks..-..Correct..Answer-
Monuments..on..the..ground..that..show..the..elevation..of..the..spot..above..sea..level
...Also..called..Elevation..Reference..Marks.
Building..-..Correct..Answer-
A..walled..and..roofed..structure..including..a..gas..or..liquid..storage..tank..that..is..pri
ncipally..above..ground..as..well..as..a..manufactured..home...Also..known..as..struct
ure
145 | Actual Questions and Answers Latest
Updated 2025/2026 (Graded A+)
Types..of..floodplains..-..Correct..Answer-Riverine,..coastal,..and..shallow
Watershed..-..Correct..Answer-
area..that..drains..into..a..lake,..stream,..or..body..of..water...Also..called..basin..or..catc
hment..area.
Channel..-..Correct..Answer-
Ground..features..that..carry..water..through..and..out..of..a..watershed
Riverine..Flooding..-..Correct..Answer-flooding..that..occurs..along..a..channel
Flash..flooding..-..Correct..Answer-
flooding..that..occurs..in..hilly..and..mountainous..areas..that..may..come..scant..min
utes..after..a..heavy..rainfall...One..can..also..occur..in..urban..areas..where..pavement
s..and..drainage..improvements..speed..runoff..to..a..stream.
Overbank..Flooding..-..Correct..Answer-
The..most..common..type..flooding..in..the..US...It..occurs..when..downstream..chan
nels..receive..more..rain..or..snowmelt..than..normal,..or..a..channel..is..blocked..by..ic
e..or..debris...Excess..water..overloads..the..channels..and..flows..out..onto..the..flood
plain
,Velocity..-..Correct..Answer-
One..measure..of..a..flood..is..the..speed..of..moving..water...Measured..in..feet..per..se
cond
Thalweg..-..Correct..Answer-The..channel..bottom
Meander..-..Correct..Answer-
a..curve..in..the..channel...The..outside..bank..of..the..meander..is..subject..to..erosion,
..the..inside..bank..is..subject..to..deposits
Accrete..-..Correct..Answer-
to..build..up..a..shoreline..by..depositing..sand,..either..by..nature..or..human..actions
Actual..Cash..Value..-..Correct..Answer-
The..replacement..cost..for..a..building,..minus..a..depreciation..percentage..based..
on..age..and..condition.
Alluvial..Fan..-..Correct..Answer-
An..area..at..the..base..of..a..valley..where..the..slope..flattens..out,..allowing..the..flood
water..to..decrease..in..speed..and..spread..out,..dropping..sediment..and..rock..over..
a..fan-shaped..area.
Amendment..-..Correct..Answer-
A..change..to..a..FEMA..floodplain..map..that..removes..an..area..that..was..inadverte
ntly..included..in..the..Special..Flood..Hazard..Area
Approximate..studies..-..Correct..Answer-
Flood..hazard..mapping..done..using..approximate..study..methods..that..show..the..
, approximate..outline..of..the..base..floodplain...An..approximate..study..does..not..pr
oduce..a..base..flood..elevation.
Base..Flood..Depth..-..Correct..Answer-
A..measurement..of..the..base..flood..in..feet..above..ground,..used..for..shallow..flood
ing
Basement..-..Correct..Answer-
Any..area..of..the..building..having..its..flood..subgrade..(below..ground..level)..on..all.
.sides
Base..floodplain..-..Correct..Answer-
the..area..of..water..and..land..inundated..by..the..base..flood
Basin..-..Correct..Answer-
Also..known..as..a..Watershed,..an..area..that..drains..into..a..lake,..stream..or..other..b
ody..of..water.
Bathymetry..-..Correct..Answer-
The..measurement..of..depths..of..water..in..the..ocean..or..lakes
Bench..marks..-..Correct..Answer-
Monuments..on..the..ground..that..show..the..elevation..of..the..spot..above..sea..level
...Also..called..Elevation..Reference..Marks.
Building..-..Correct..Answer-
A..walled..and..roofed..structure..including..a..gas..or..liquid..storage..tank..that..is..pri
ncipally..above..ground..as..well..as..a..manufactured..home...Also..known..as..struct
ure
