April 2023 1

Risk MAP Phase 4: Map 

Adoption/Spotlight on Resilience

GOAL: REDUCE RISK 

FEMA is responsible for mapping our country's flood risk. The agency and its partners do this by making Flood 

Insurance Rate Maps, or flood maps. Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning, Risk MAP, is the process used to 

make these maps. However, it creates much more than flood maps. It leads to more datasets, hazard mitigation 

analysis and communication tools. Each supports communities as they work to be resilient. This fact sheet describes 

the fourth phase of the Risk MAP process – Map Adoption. 

Figure 1 - The Four Phases of the Risk MAP Process

Overview

This final phase of Risk MAP marks the end of the regulatory mapping process. It is also when your community takes 

full ownership of the updated flood maps and data. This step lets your community plan for development, improve its 

infrastructure, and decide how best to reduce its flood risk. This is when your community’s flood map becomes final. 

But that’s not the only thing that happens. This map only shows one flood risk scenario – the 1% annual chance of 

flooding. The Risk MAP work goes beyond this single flood risk scenario. It has datasets that are not reflected on the 

map. These are called Flood Risk Products. Your community can use them to make customizable flood risk tools. 

These products will help you find and prioritize mitigation actions to make your community stronger, safer and more 

resilient.

Spotlight On Resilience – The topic of resilience is central to all phases of Risk MAP. It is also vital to spotlight 

resilience before the study ends. When the Flood Risk Products are available, the Risk MAP project team hosts a 

Resilience Meeting. Here, the Risk MAP project team works to jumpstart your community’s capacity to use these 

products. This can help guide the mitigation strategies that matter most to you and your residents.

Key Activities

Letter of Final Determination and Map Adoption – The Risk MAP project team sends a Letter of Final Determination

to your community. This takes place after it has resolved all comments and appeals for the flood map. This letter 
Risk MAP Phase 4: Map Adoption/Spotlight on Resilience 

Learn more at fema.gov April 2023 2 

alerts your community’s Chief Elected Official that the updated flood map is now final. Your community has six 

months to adopt this map. The date on which it does so is the official Map Adoption date. 

Delivery of Final Flood Risk Products – Risk MAP also delivers customizable mapping datasets. These add to the 

regulatory products and the flood map’s data layers. These tools can help residents and communities make more 

informed choices to prepare for and mitigate the risk of flood loss. 

Resilience Meeting – The Risk MAP project team will host this meeting. It is a highly interactive and collaborative 

workshop. It brings together a broad mix of community members, such as local officials, departmental leaders and 

staff. Non-governmental organizations and others may also attend. With everyone having a seat at the table, it is 

time to: 

▪ Talk about viable mitigation strategies. How can the Flood Risk Products support current and future projects and

plans?

▪ Learn more about relevant programs, resources, grants and partnership opportunities. How can they help you

address the community’s mitigation challenges and goals?

Actions YOU Can Take in Your Community 

The best way to build local resilience is to think about risk and ways to reduce it in all community decisions. At the 

end of the Risk MAP process, the project team wants you to feel ready to keep the spotlight on resilience. This is not 

just for the months ahead, but for many years to come. With this in mind, here are some actions you can take now: 

▪ Work with local staff and your National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) state coordinator about options to raise

standards to improve safety. Consider adopting a higher level of floodplain ordinance, building codes, or both.

▪ Make sure all local plans include strategies to mitigate the risk of flooding and other natural hazards. This

includes hazard mitigation plans, long-term plans, coastal plans, stormwater management, climate adaptation

plans, and capital improvement programs.

▪ Explore FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS recognizes and supports community floodplain

management activities that go past the minimum NFIP standards. It does so by discounting residents’ NFIP flood

insurance premiums.

▪ Work with local government officials and decision makers to teach property owners about the community’s risk.

Use the Risk MAP Flood Risk Products for this. They can also help you plan for future development, evaluate

evacuation routes and critical infrastructure, and more.

What We Mean by “Community Resilience.”

Many may think that “community resilience” refers only to the ability to recover quickly from a disaster. But it is 

much more than that. To be a “resilient community,” those who live there must take proactive actions to protect 

lives and property before disaster strikes. This includes everyone, from government officials to business owners. 

Those actions pay off! Each $1 spent on mitigation activities saves an average of $6 in future disaster costs!