Risk MAP 

Discovery

Capturing a More Complete Picture 

of Your Watershed

FEMA B-778 / June 2011

Risk MAP Discovery

The Goal

To work closely with communities to better understand 

local flood risk, mitigation efforts, and other topics 

and spark watershed-wide discussions about increasing 

resilience to flooding. The Discovery process of FEMA’s Risk 

MAP program helps communities identify areas at risk for 

flooding and solutions for reducing that risk.

The Partners

During Discovery, FEMA partners with:

•	Community and Tribal officials, including leaders, 

floodplain administrators, engineers, watershed council 

representatives, planners, emergency managers, and GIS 

specialists

•	Federal, State, and regional, non-profit organizations 

concerned with flooding or land use

•	Other locally identified stakeholders

The Meeting

Once communities provide FEMA with local flood risk and 

other data, FEMA schedules a Discovery Meeting to: 

•	Review and validate the flood risk data gathered to date 

•	Discuss the community or Tribe’s flooding history, 

development plans, flood mapping needs, and flood risk 

concerns

•	Review stormwater, floodplain management, and other 

community activities that relate to flood risk

•	Discuss the vision for the watershed’s future, as well as 

the importance of mitigation planning and community 

outreach

Learn More

To learn more about Discovery and the types and formats 

of data communities can contribute, contact your Regional 

Office (see www.fema.gov/about/regions/ for details). We look 

forward to working with you.

Related FEMA Programs

FloodSmart

www.floodsmart.gov

Hazard Mitigation Assistance 

www.fema.gov/government/grant/hma

Community Rating System

www.fema.gov/business/nfip/crs.shtm 

National Dam Safety Program 

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/damfailure/ndsp.shtm

National Hurricane Program

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/nhp/

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/rm_main.shtm 

1–877–FEMA MAP

U. S. DEPARTMENT

OF

HOMELAND SECURITY

FEMA
Discovery and 

Risk MAP

The FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning, or 

Risk MAP, program helps communities identify, assess, and 

reduce their flood risk. Through Risk MAP, FEMA provides 

information to enhance local mitigation plans, improve 

community outreach, and increase local resilience to floods. 

During Discovery, FEMA:

•	Gathers information about local flood risk and flood 

hazards 

•	Reviews mitigation plans to understand local mitigation 

capabilities, hazard risk assessments, and current or future 

mitigation activities

•	 Supports communities within the watershed to develop a 

vision for the watershed’s future 

•	Collects information from communities about their 

flooding history, development plans, daily operations, and 

stormwater and floodplain management activities

•	Uses all information gathered to determine which areas 

of the watershed require mapping, risk assessment, or 

mitigation planning assistance through a Risk MAP project

Local and National Flood Data Tell the Story

The data that FEMA has available at the national and regional levels only tells part of the story. For a 

holistic picture of a community’s flood risk, FEMA relies heavily on information and data provided by the 

community itself.

Data Available to FEMA 

at the National/Regional Level

FEMA can access and review:

•	FEMA-approved mitigation plans

•	Previous flood studies

•	Numbers of flood insurance policies

•	Letters of Map Change

•	Average Annualized Loss (AAL) information

•	Census data

•	National levee and dam inventories*

•	Related data from other Federal and State agencies

Data FEMA Requests 

from Communities

FEMA works with communities to collect and review*:

•	Areas of nuisance flooding

•	Historical local flooding mitigation activities and grant 

projects, ongoing and planned

•	Comprehensive plans

•	Local development and floodplain management plans

•	 Stormwater management activities 

•	Community ordinances

•	Infrastructure information, especially for levees and 

new bridges, dams, culverts, and road improvements

•	Building footprints or parcel data

•	Boundary, hydrography, and transportation layers

•	Elevation data 

•	Flood study needs

•	Regional watershed plans

•	Details of the current flood risk communication process

Why Is this Important?

Because flood hazards change over time, this effort provides a great opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the 

components and activities that contribute to your community’s and your watershed’s flood risk. In addition to providing 

another perspective, participating in this process will increase your understanding of your flood risk and help you identify 

proactive steps you can take to protect your community from losses to life and property that often accompany flooding.

* Communities may also have additional data that may help explain their flood risk or hazard. FEMA asks communities to share whatever data they have to provide as complete a picture as possible.