April 2023 1 

Risk MAP Phase 1: Discovery

GOAL: IDENTIFY RISK 

FEMA is responsible for mapping our country's flood risk. The agency does 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, Risk MAP creates much more than flood maps. It leads to more datasets, hazard mitigation analysis and 

communications tools. Each supports communities as they work to be resilient. This fact sheet describes the first 

phase of the Risk MAP process – Discovery. 

Figure 1 - The Four Phases of the Risk MAP Process

Overview 

Discovery is when the Risk MAP project team sets out to learn as much as it can about your community’s flood risk 

challenges and goals. Your community knows itself best. The more local knowledge, insights, data and information 

you can share, the better the project team can help your community become safer, stronger and more resilient. 

Key Activities 

Community Knowledge and Information Sharing – The Risk MAP project team reaches out to the local officials and 

other stakeholders in your community. In doing so, it collects relevant data and information. It also gets direct 

feedback on your community’s flood risk challenges and concerns. The team does all of this through research and 

interviews. It then studies this information to learn more about your community’s flood risks.

Discovery Meeting – The Risk MAP project team holds a Discovery Meeting. This is less of a “meeting” and more of a 

joint working session. Its goal is to share data, based on the initial evaluation. This meeting brings together 

community officials and a cross section of others in fields related to flood risk and mitigation. Together, they review 

and validate the assessment data and information. Participants should point out any areas of concern or issues that 

were not captured. After this meeting, the Risk MAP project team determines if and where a Risk MAP study may 

help your community. It will provide this information via a formal Discovery report. 
Risk MAP Phase 1: Discovery

Learn more at fema.gov April 2023 2 

Actions YOU Can Take in Your Community 

Discovery gives your community a chance to help FEMA learn where a flood hazard study and actions to reduce flood 

risk are most needed. With this in mind, we encourage you to: 

▪ Reach out to your floodplain administrator or the community development department. They can help you learn

more about your community’s current flood risk.

▪ Learn where your community is in the Risk MAP process; see if there is an opportunity to get involved.

▪ Learn more about flood hazard mitigation strategies and local plans. Then, see what steps your community is

taking to build its resilience.

▪ Think about concerns your constituents have with flooding in the community. Share any Discovery information

that can help address these concerns moving forward.

Who Makes Up the Risk MAP Project Team? 

Each Risk MAP study involves a dedicated team of engineering, mapping and mitigation experts. Their mission is 

to work closely with your community throughout the process. As a true partnership, the Risk MAP project team 

does not just deliver maps, datasets, and other information. It also makes sure that your community has the 

support, guidance and resources it needs to use these tools. This knowledge can help your community become 

more resilient to floods in the future.