Appendix D:

Glossary

These technical terms are described in more detail in the unit and
section noted.

[A Zone:]{.underline} See Zone A.

[Accrete:]{.underline} To build up a shoreline by depositing sand,
either by nature or human actions. Unit 1, Section A.

[Actual cash value:]{.underline} The replacement cost for a building,
minus a depreciation percentage based on age and condition. Unit 8,
Section A.

[Alluvial fan:]{.underline} An area at the base of a valley where the
slope flattens out, allowing the floodwater to decrease in speed and
spread out, dropping sediment and rock over a fan-shaped area. Unit 1,
Section A.

[Amendment:]{.underline} A change to a FEMA floodplain map that removes
an area that was inadvertently included in the Special Flood Hazard
Area. Unit 4, Section D.

[Approximate studies:]{.underline} Flood mapping that shows the
*approximate* outline of the base floodplain. An approximate study does
not produce a base flood elevation. Unit 3, Section A.

[B Zone:]{.underline} See Zone B.

[Base flood depth:]{.underline} A measurement of the base flood in feet
above ground, used for shallow flooding. Unit 3, Section D.

[Base flood:]{.underline} The 1% chance or 100-year flood adopted by the
NFIP as the basis for mapping, insurance rating, and regulating new
construction. Unit 3, Section A.

[Basement:]{.underline} Any floor level below grade. Unit 5, Section E.

[Base floodplain:]{.underline} The area of water and land inundated
during the crest of the base flood. Unit 3, Section A.

[Basin:]{.underline} See watershed.

[Bathymetry:]{.underline} The measurement of depths of water in the
ocean or lakes. Unit 3, Section C.

[Bench marks:]{.underline} Monuments on the ground that show the
elevation of the spot above sea level. Unit 3, Section B.

[Building:]{.underline} A walled and roofed structure that is
principally above ground. The term includes manufactured homes, mobile
homes and gas or liquid storage tanks. In this course, the term is the
same as the term "structure" in the federal regulations (44 CFR 59.1).
Unit 5, Section E.

[Building condition survey:]{.underline} A windshield survey conducted
to obtain a preliminary evaluation of the extent and severity of damage
to buildings after a disaster. Unit 10, Section A.

[C Zone:]{.underline} See Zone C.

[CAP:]{.underline} Community Assistance Program

[Catchment area:]{.underline} See watershed.

[Cfs:]{.underline} Cubic feet per second, the unit by which discharges
are measured (a cubic foot of water is about 7.5 gallons). Unit 3,
Section B.

[Channel:]{.underline} Defined landforms that carry water. Unit 1,
Section A.

[CLOMA:]{.underline} Conditional Letter of Map Amendment.

[CLOMR:]{.underline} Conditional Letter of Map Revision.

[Closed basin lake:]{.underline} A lake that has either no outlet or a
relatively small one, where rainfall can cause the lake's level to rise
faster than it can drain. Unit 1, Section A.

[Coastal high hazard area:]{.underline} That part of the coastal
floodplain where the wave heights during the base flood will be three
feet or more. Unit 3, Section C.

[COBRA:]{.underline} The Coastal Barrier Resources Act which identified
undeveloped portions of coastal barriers. Unit 9, Section D and Unit 3,
Section F.

[Community Assistance Program:]{.underline} A FEMA program that funds
state activities that help communities in the NFIP. Unit 2, Section C.

[Community Rating System:]{.underline} A program that provides a flood
insurance premium rate reduction based on a community's floodplain
management activities. Unit 10, Section D.

[Community:]{.underline} A city, county, township, Indian tribe or
authorized tribal organization, Alaska Native village or authorized
native organization, or other local government with the statutory
authority to enact floodplain regulations and participate in the
National Flood Insurance Program. Unit 2, Section C.

[Conditional Letter of Map Amendment:]{.underline} A statement that if a
project is constructed as planned, a Letter of Map Amendment can be
issued later. Unit 4, Section D.

[Conditional Letter of Map Revision:]{.underline} A statement that if a
project is constructed as planned, a Letter of Map Revision can be
issued later. Unit 4, Section D.

[Contour map:]{.underline} A map that shows points with the same
elevation as connected by a contour line. Unit 3, Section B.

[Contour:]{.underline} A line of equal elevation on a topographic
(contour) map.

[Conveyance shadow:]{.underline} An area upstream or downstream of an
existing obstruction to flood flows. Unit 5, Section B.

[Cross section:]{.underline} Surveyed information that describes the
stream and the floodplain at a particular point along the stream. Unit
3, Section B.

[CRS:]{.underline} Community Rating System

[Dam breach inundation area:]{.underline} The area flooded by a dam
failure. Unit 6, Section D.

[Damage Survey Report]{.underline}: A form completed by disaster
assistance staff to determine the repair and reconstruction needs of
public and private nonprofit facilities. Unit 10, Section C.

[Datum:]{.underline} A common vertical elevation reference point,
usually in relation to sea level. Unit 3, Section B.

[Detailed studies:]{.underline} Flood mapping that produces base flood
elevations, floodways, and other pertinent flood data. Unit 3, Section
A.

[Development:]{.underline} Any man-made change to real estate. Unit 5,
Section C.

[Discharge:]{.underline} The amount of water that passes a point in a
given period of time. Rate of discharge is usually measured in cubic
feet per second (cfs). Unit 3, Section B.

[DSR:]{.underline} Damage survey report.

[Elevation reference marks:]{.underline} See bench marks.

[Emergency Operations Center:]{.underline} A facility that houses
communications equipment that is used to coordinate the response to a
disaster or emergency. Unit 10, Section A.

[Eminent domain:]{.underline} Governmental power to acquire a property
without the owner's consent. Unit 6, Section A.

[Enabling legislation:]{.underline} State laws that authorize
communities to perform governmental activities, such as enacting and
enforcing regulations. Unit 7, Section A.

[Encroachment review:]{.underline} An analysis to determine if a project
will increase flood heights or cause increased flooding downstream. Unit
5, Section D.

[EOC:]{.underline} Emergency Operations Center

[EO 11988:]{.underline} Executive Order 11988 Floodplain Management. A
directive by the President that sets procedures Federal agencies must
follow before they take or fund an action in the floodplain. Unit 6,
Section E.

[FBFM:]{.underline} Flood Boundary Floodway Map. An official map of a
communi­ty, on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated
the regulatory floodway. Unit 3, Section F.

[FEMA:]{.underline} Federal Emergency Management Agency. Most of the
National Flood Insurance Program field work and community coordina­tion
are done by the 10 FEMA Regional Offices, which are
listed in Appendix A.

[FHBM:]{.underline} Flood Hazard Boundary Map. The map published by FEMA
that delineates the approximate boundary of the floodplain. Unit 3,
Section F.

[FIA:]{.underline} Federal Insurance Administration. FIA is the part of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency that administers the National
Flood Insurance Program.

[FIRM:]{.underline} Flood Insurance Rate Map. An official map of a
communi­ty, on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated
both the Special Flood Hazard Areas and the risk premium
zones applicable to the community. Unit 3, Section F.

[Flash flood:]{.underline} A flood in hilly and mountainous areas that
may come scant minutes after a heavy rain. One can also occur in urban
areas where pavements and drainage improvements speed runoff to a
stream. Unit 1, Section A.

[Flood:]{.underline} A general and temporary condition of partial or
complete inundation of normally dry land areas. Unit 2, Section B.

[Flood fringe:]{.underline} The portion of the floodplain lying on
either side of the floodway. Unit 3, Section B

[Flood hazard mitigation:]{.underline} All actions that can be taken to
reduce property damage and the threat to life and public health from
flooding. Unit 10, Section B.

[Flood Insurance Study:]{.underline} A report published by FEMA for a
community in conjunction with the community\'s Flood Insurance Rate Map.
The study contains such background data as the base flood discharges and
water surface elevations that were used to prepare the FIRM.

[Flood Mitigation Assistance]{.underline}: A grant program funded by the
National Flood Insurance Program. Unit 10, Section C.

[Flood of record:]{.underline} The highest known flood level for the
area, as recorded in historical documents. Unit 5, Section B.

[Floodplain:]{.underline} Any land area susceptible to being inundated
by flood waters from any source. Unit 1, Section A.

[Floodproofing:]{.underline} Protective measures added to or
incorporated in a building that is not elevated above the base flood
elevation to prevent or minimize flood damage. \"Dry floodproofing\"
measures are designed to keep water from entering a building. \"Wet
flood­proofing\" measures minimize damage to a structure and its contents
from water that is allowed into a building.

[Floodway:]{.underline} The stream channel and that portion of the
adjacent floodplain which must remain open to permit passage of the base
flood. Unit 3, Section B.

[FMA:]{.underline} Flood Mitigation Assistance.

[Freeboard:]{.underline} A margin of safety added to the base flood
elevation to account for waves, debris, miscalculations, or lack of
data. Unit 6, Section C.

[Functionally dependent use:]{.underline} Development that must be
located or carried out close to water, e.g., such as a docking or port
facility. Unit 7, Section F.

[Geographic information system:]{.underline} Computer based map systems
that allow the user to keep a map updated easily and to correlate
geographic information with other data, such as tax records on
properties. Unit 3, Section F.

[GIS:]{.underline} Geographic information system

[Hazard Mitigation Grant Program:]{.underline} A FEMA disaster
assistance grant that funds mitigation projects. Unit 10, Section C.

[HEC-2:]{.underline} A computer model used to conduct a hydraulic study,
which produces flood elevations, velocities and floodplain widths. Unit
3, Section B.

[HEC-RAS:]{.underline} A computer model used to conduct a hydraulic
study, which produces flood elevations, velocities and floodplain
widths. Unit 3, Section B.

[Home rule:]{.underline} A community authorized to do anything that is
not prohibited by statute. Unit 7, Section A.

[Human intervention:]{.underline} Actions that must be taken by one or
more persons in order for a building to be floodproofed before
floodwaters arrive. Unit 5, Section E.

[Hydrodynamic]{.underline} [force:]{.underline} The force of moving
water, including the impact of debris and high velocities. Unit 1,
Section B.

[Hydrologic cycle]{.underline}: The natural cycle that circulates water
throughout the environment to maintain an overall balance between water
in the air, on the surface and in the ground. Unit 1, Section A.

[Hydrology:]{.underline} The science dealing with the waters of the
earth. A flood discharge is developed by a hydrologic study.

[Hydrostatic]{.underline} [pressure:]{.underline} The pressure put on a
structure by the weight of standing water. The deeper the water, the
more it weighs and the greater the hydrostatic pressure. Unit 1, Section
B.

[ICC:]{.underline} Increased Cost of Compliance

[Ice floe:]{.underline} Large chunks of ice that can cause a great deal
of damage when a frozen river or lake begins to melt and break up. Unit
1, Section A.

[Ice jam:]{.underline} Flooding that occurs when warm weather and rain
break up frozen rivers and the broken ice floats downriver until it is
blocked by an obstruction, creating an ice dam that blocks the channel
and causes flooding upstream. Unit 1, Section A.

[IFG:]{.underline} Individual and Family Grants

[Increased Cost of Compliance:]{.underline} An additional claim payment
made to a flood insurance policy holder to help cover the cost of
brining a substantially damaged or repetitively damaged building into
compliance with the NFIP construction standards for new buildings. Unit
8, Section B.

[Individual and Family Grants:]{.underline} A disaster assistance grant
that helps people with their unmet needs (i.e., needs not helped by
other disaster assistance programs. Unit 10, Section C.

[Inverse condemnation:]{.underline} See "taking." Unit 6, Section A.

[ISO:]{.underline} The Insurance Services Office, Inc., an insurance
organization that administers the Community Rating System for FEMA. Unit
9, Section C.

[Lateral pressure:]{.underline} The amount of pressure imposed sideways
by standing water. Deeper water exerts more lateral pressure than
shallow water. Unit 1, Section B.

[Letter of Map Amendment:]{.underline} An official revision to a FEMA
map done by describing the property affected. Unit 4, Section D.

[Letter of Map Change:]{.underline} A Letter of Map Amendment or a
Letter of Map Revision. Unit 4, Section D.

[Letter of Map Revision:]{.underline} An official revision to a FEMA map
done by describing the property affected. Unit 4, Section D.

[Limited Map Maintenance Project:]{.underline} A small-scale restudy of
a Flood Insurance Study. Unit 4, Section D.

[LOMA:]{.underline} Letter of Map Amendment

[LOMR:]{.underline} Letter of Map Revision

[Lowest]{.underline} [Floor:]{.underline} The lowest floor of the lowest
enclosed area (including basement) of a building. Unit 5, Section E

[Manufactured home:]{.underline} A building that is transportable in one
or more sections, built on a permanent chassis and designed for use with
or without a permanent foundation when attached to utilities. It
includes mobile homes and "double wides." Unit 5, Section E.

[Market value:]{.underline} The price a willing buyer and seller agree
upon. Unit 8, Section A.

[Meander:]{.underline} A curve in a river. Unit 1, Section A.

[Mitigation Directorate:]{.underline} The FEMA office that sets national
policy for the NFIP and administers the mapping program. Unit 2, Section
B.

[M-O-M:]{.underline} Multi-objective management.

[Movable bed streams:]{.underline} A type of flooding that features
uncertain flow paths. Unit 1, Section A.

[Mudslide (i.e., mudflow):]{.underline} A condition where there is a
river, flow or inundation of liquid mud down a hillside. Unit 1, Section
A.

[Mudflow:]{.underline} See mudslide.

[Multi-objective management:]{.underline} An approach to planning and
funding local programs that involves a variety of local interests and
concerns. Unit 10, Section B.

[NEPA:]{.underline} The National Environmental Policy Act, a Federal law
that requires agencies to evaluate the environmental impact of a
proposed project. Unit 6, Section E.

[NGVD:]{.underline} National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, the
national datum used by the National Flood Insurance Program. NGVD is
based on mean sea level. It was known formerly as the \"Mean Sea Level
Datum of 1929 (MSL).\" Unit 3, Section B.

[No-rise Certification:]{.underline} A certification by an engineer that
a project will not cause a set increase in flood heights. Unit 7,
Section G.

[Non-structural flood protection measures:]{.underline} Administrative
tools for controlling flooding and flood damage, including regulations
on development, building codes, property acquisition and structure
relocation, and modification of existing buildings. Unit 1, Section B.

[Ordinance:]{.underline} The generic term for a law passed by a local
government. Unit 7, Section A.

[Overbank flooding:]{.underline} Flooding that occurs when downstream
channels receive more rain or snowmelt from their watershed than normal,
or a channel is blocked by an ice jam or debris. Excess water overloads
the channels and flows out onto the floodplain. Unit 1, Section A.

[Planned unit development:]{.underline} A regulatory approach that
allows a developer to design the entire area while individual
requirements may be relaxed to allow for open space, mixed land uses,
and other variances to traditional zoning rules. Unit 6, Section C.

[Ponding:]{.underline} Runoff that collects in depressions and cannot
drain out, creating a temporary pond. Unit 1, Section A.

[Post‑FIRM building:]{.underline} For insurance rating purposes, a
post‑FIRM building was constructed or substantially improved after
December 31, 1974, or after the effective date of the initial Flood
Insurance Rate Map of a community, whichever is later. A post‑FIRM
building is required to meet the National Flood Insurance Program\'s
minimum Regular Program flood protection standards.

[Pre‑FIRM building:]{.underline} For insurance rating purposes, a
pre‑FIRM building was constructed or substantially improved on or before
December 31, 1974, or before the effective date of the initial Flood
Insurance Rate Map of the community, whichever is later. Most pre‑FIRM
buildings were constructed without taking the flood hazard into account.

[Probability:]{.underline} A statistical term having to do with the size
of a flood and the odds of that size of flood occurring in any year.
Unit 3, Section A.

[Profile:]{.underline} A graph that shows elevations of various flood
events. Unit 3, Section B.

[Public/Infrastructure Assistance:]{.underline} A disaster assistance
grant that helps public agencies and nonprofit organizations finance
repairs and reconstruction. Unit 10, Section C.

[PUD:]{.underline} Planned unit development

[Q3 Flood Data Product:]{.underline} A graphical representation of
certain features of a FIRM in digital format. Unit 3, Section F.

[Recreational vehicle:]{.underline} A vehicle designed primarily for use
as temporary living quarters. Unit 5, Section E.

[Reconstruction:]{.underline} Building a new structure on the old
foundation or slab of a structure that was destroyed, damaged,
purposefully demolished or razed. The term also applies when an existing
structure is moved to a new site. Unit 8, Section B.

[Regular Program:]{.underline} Also called the Regular Phase. The phase
of community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program that
begins on the date of the Flood Insurance Rate Map or when the community
adopts an ordinance that meets the minimum requirements of the NFIP and
adopts the technical data provided with the FIRM, whichever is later.
Nearly all communities participating in the NFIP are in the Regular
Program.

[Rehabilitation:]{.underline} An improvement made to an existing
structure which does not affect its external dimensions. Unit 8, Section
A.

[Restudy:]{.underline} A new Flood Insurance Study for all or part of a
community. Unit 4, Section D.

[Retrofitting:]{.underline} Retrofitting techniques include
floodproofing, elevation, construction of small levees, and other
modifications made to an existing building or its yard to protect it
from flood damage.

[Revision:]{.underline} A change to a floodplain map based on new data
submitted to FEMA. Unit 4, Section D.

[Riverine:]{.underline} Of or produced by a river. Riverine floodplains
have readily identifiable channels. Floodway maps can only be prepared
for riverine floodplains. Unit 1, Section A.

[Roughness:]{.underline} A measure related to ground surface conditions
that reflects changes in floodwater velocity due to ground friction.
Unit 3, Section B.

[Runoff:]{.underline} Rainfall and snowmelt that reaches a stream. Unit
3, Section B.

[SFHA:]{.underline} Special Flood Hazard Area

[Sheet flow:]{.underline} Floodwater that spreads out over a large area
that does not have defined channels at a somewhat uniform depth. Unit 1,
Section A.

[Special Flood Hazard Area:]{.underline} the base floodplain displayed
on FEMA maps. It includes the A and V zones. Unit 3, Section A.

[Stafford Act:]{.underline} The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 which authorizes FEMA's current
disaster assistance programs and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Unit 10, Section C.

[Stationing:]{.underline} Determining the distance along a stream. Unit
3, Section B and Unit 4, Section B.

[Statutory authority:]{.underline} The powers granted to a local
government by state law. Unit 7, Section A.

[Stillwater flood elevations]{.underline} show the elevations of various
coastal floods, not counting waves. Unit 3, Section C.

[Storm surge:]{.underline} Water that is pushed toward shore by
persistent high wind and changes in air pressure. The level of a large
body of water can rise by several feet. Unit 1, Section A.

[Stormwater management:]{.underline} Efforts to reduce the impact of
increased runoff that results from new development. Unit 6, Section C.

[Stormwater detention,]{.underline} Storing stormwater runoff for
release at a restricted rate after the storm subsides. Unit 6, Section
C.

[Stormwater retention:]{.underline} Storing stormwater runoff for later
use in irrigation or groundwater recharge, or to reduce pollution. Unit
6, Section C.

[Structural flood control:]{.underline} Measures that control
floodwaters by construction of barriers or storage areas or by modifying
or redirecting channels. Unit 1, Section C.

[Submit to rate:]{.underline} a process used when an insurance agent
cannot complete the rate calculation for a flood insurance policy. The
application is sent to FEMA. Unit 9, Section B.

[Substantial damage:]{.underline} Damage of any origin sustained by a
structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its undamaged
condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the
structure before the damage occurred. Unit 8, Section B.

[Substantial improvement:]{.underline} Any reconstruction,
rehabilitation, addition or other improvement to a structure, the total
cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the
structure before the start of construction of the improvement. The
definition of "substantial improvement" includes buildings that have
been repaired after suffering substantial damage. Unit 8, Section A.

[Taking:]{.underline} Obtaining private property or without compensating
the owner. The term also includes reducing the value of private property
to such an extent that the owner is deprived of all economic interest.
Unit 6, Section A.

[Thalweg:]{.underline} The bottom of a river channel. Unit 1, Section A.

[Topographic map:]{.underline} See contour map.

[Transect:]{.underline} a survey of topographic conditions used in
coastal flood studies. Unit 3, Section C.

[Tsunami]{.underline}: A large wave caused by an underwater earthquake
or volcano which can raise water levels as much as 15 feet. Unit 1,
Section A.

[V Zone:]{.underline} See \"Zone V.\"

[Variance:]{.underline} A grant of relief by a community from the terms
of a land use, zoning or building code regulation. Unit 7, Section F.

[Velocity]{.underline}: The speed of moving water, a force that is
measured in feet per second. Unit 1, Section A.

[Watershed,:]{.underline} An area that drains into a lake, stream or
other body of water. Unit 1, Section A.

[Wave runup]{.underline} occurs when waves hit the shore and water is
moving with such force that it keeps traveling inland. Unit 3, Section
C.

[Wet floodproof:]{.underline} Protecting a building from flood damage by
using flood-resistant materials below the flood level and elevating
things subject to flood damage above the flood level. Unit 5, Section E.

[Write Your Own:]{.underline} An insurance company that has agreed to
sell flood insurance policies on behalf of the NFIP. Unit 9, Section A.

[WYO:]{.underline} Write Your Own.

[X Zone:]{.underline} See \"Zone X.\"

[Zone A:]{.underline} The Special Flood Hazard Area (except coastal V
Zones) shown on a commun­ity\'s Flood Insurance Rate Map. Unit 3, Section
F. There are five types of A Zones:

A: SFHA where no base flood elevation is provided.

A#: Numbered A Zones (e.g., A7 or A14), SFHA where the FIRM shows a base
flood elevation in relation to NGVD.

AE: SFHA where base flood elevations are provided. AE Zone delineations
are now used on new FIRMs instead of A# Zones.

AO: SFHA with sheet flow, ponding, or shallow flooding. Base flood
depths (feet above grade) are provided.

AH: Shallow flooding SFHA. Base flood elevations in relation to NGVD are
provided.

[Zone B:]{.underline} Area of moderate flood hazard, usually depicted on
Flood Insurance Rate Maps as between the limits of the base and 500‑year
floods. B Zones are also used to designate base floodplains of little
hazard, such as those with average depths of less than 1 foot. Unit 3,
Section F.

[Zone C:]{.underline} Area of minimal flood hazard, usually depicted on
Flood Insurance Rate Maps as above the 500‑year flood level. B and C
Zones may have flooding that does not meet the criteria to be mapped as
a Special Flood Hazard Area, especially ponding and local drainage
problems. Unit 3, Section F.

[Zone D:]{.underline} Area of undetermined but possible flood hazard.
Unit 3, Section F.

[Zone V:]{.underline} The Special Flood Hazard Area subject to coastal
high hazard flooding. There are three types of V Zones: V, V#, and VE,
and they correspond to the A Zone designations. Unit 3, Section F.

[Zone X:]{.underline} Newer Flood Insurance Rate Maps show Zones B and C
(see above) as Zone X. Unit 3, Section F.