Map Modernization Management Support
The Virginia Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS) website developed and maintained by the Center for Geospatial Information Technology (CGIT) at Virginia Tech provides information pertaining to the status of the statewide floodplain map modernization initiative. Created and allocated by the Federal Emergency Mangement Agency (FEMA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the goal of map modernization is to transform flood maps into more accurate, reliable, and easier to use flood maps. As a result of flood mitigation efforts, urban growth, and changes to river flows and coastlines, floodprone areas change. Therefore, map modernization is essential to protecting human lives, personal property, and infrastructure.
The MMMS website provides information to local floodplain administrators throughout Virginia on
the year of funding, the contractor, and the current status of each municipality's digital flood insurance rate maps (DFIRM).
Why Is Floodplain Mapping Important?
In the United States, flooding claims approximately 200 human lives each year and costs the nation about $3 billion annually in damages (source: VA DCR). By accurately identifying flood prone areas, floodplain mapping reduces property damage along with human casualties and fatalities.
FEMA, Flood Preparation, and Prevention
Along with helping the country respond and recover from disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for helping the nation prepare for and prevent disaster. Related to flood preparation and prevention, FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The goals of the NFIP are as follows: provide affordable flood insurance coverage; ensure NFIP enforcement and compliance; provide flood hazard identification and mapping; and provide resources for hazard mitigation planning and reduction projects. To achieve these goals, FEMA has been allocated funding by Congress for the Flood Map Modernization Plan.
Floodplain Mapping in Virginia
In Virginia, the Department of Conservation and Recreation's (DCR) Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management is designated as the Commonwealth's coordinator of the NFIP. In an effort to accurately identify flood-prone areas in a timely manner, the map modernization initiative has been undertaken by the DCR and is an integral component of Virginia's flood protection program.
