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What is the difference between a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) and a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?

April 26, 2017Boundary fhbm firm flood hazard Insurance map rate

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What is the difference between a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) and a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?

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Used in FEMAs Emergency Program, an FHBM is provided by FEMA and based on approximate data that reflects a general representation of the communitys Special Flood Hazard Areas. When a community converts from FEMAs Emergency Program to its Regular Program, FEMA provides the community with a FIRM. Typically, this map is based on a Flood Insurance Study (FIS), which is a detailed floodplain assessment. The FIRM includes the floodplains Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) and the delineation of the regulatory floodway. This detailed information is used to direct floodplain management and rate flood insurance based upon the actuarial computation of the risk.