Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Exam Questions &
Answers | 100% Verified solutions (2026)
Types of floodplains -Correct Answer ✔-Riverine, coastal, and shallow
Watershed -Correct Answer ✔-area that drains into a lake, stream, or body of
water. Also called basin or catchment area.
Channel -Correct Answer ✔-Ground features that carry water through and out of a
watershed
Riverine Flooding -Correct Answer ✔-flooding that occurs along a channel
Flash flooding -Correct Answer ✔-flooding that occurs in hilly and mountainous
areas that may come scant minutes after a heavy rainfall. One can also occur in
urban areas where pavements and drainage improvements speed runoff to a
stream.
Overbank Flooding -Correct Answer ✔-The most common type flooding in the US.
It occurs when downstream channels receive more rain or snowmelt than normal,
or a channel is blocked by ice or debris. Excess water overloads the channels and
flows out onto the floodplain
Velocity -Correct Answer ✔-One measure of a flood is the speed of moving water.
Measured in feet per second
Thalweg -Correct Answer ✔-The channel bottom
Meander -Correct Answer ✔-a curve in the channel. The outside bank of the
meander is subject to erosion, the inside bank is subject to deposits
Accrete -Correct Answer ✔-to build up a shoreline by depositing sand, either by
nature or human actions
,Actual Cash Value -Correct Answer ✔-The replacement cost for a building, minus a
depreciation percentage based on age and condition.
Alluvial Fan -Correct Answer ✔-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.
Amendment -Correct Answer ✔-A change to a FEMA floodplain map that removes
an area that was inadvertently included in the Special Flood Hazard Area
Approximate studies -Correct Answer ✔-Flood hazard mapping done using
approximate study methods that show the approximate outline of the base
floodplain. An approximate study does not produce a base flood elevation.
Base Flood Depth -Correct Answer ✔-A measurement of the base flood in feet
above ground, used for shallow flooding
Basement -Correct Answer ✔-Any area of the building having its flood subgrade
(below ground level) on all sides
Base floodplain -Correct Answer ✔-the area of water and land inundated by the
base flood
Basin -Correct Answer ✔-Also known as a Watershed, an area that drains into a
lake, stream or other body of water.
Bathymetry -Correct Answer ✔-The measurement of depths of water in the ocean
or lakes
Bench marks -Correct Answer ✔-Monuments on the ground that show the
elevation of the spot above sea level. Also called Elevation Reference Marks.
, Building -Correct Answer ✔-A walled and roofed structure including a gas or liquid
storage tank that is principally above ground as well as a manufactured home.
Also known as structure
Building Condition Survey -Correct Answer ✔-A windshield survey conducted to
obtain a preliminary evaluation of the extent and severity of damage to buildings
after a disaster
CAP -Correct Answer ✔-Community Assistance Program
Cfs -Correct Answer ✔-cubic feet per second, the unit by which discharges are
measured (A cubic foot of water is about 7.5 gallons)
CLOMA -Correct Answer ✔-Conditional Letter of Map Amendment
CLOMR -Correct Answer ✔-Conditional Letter Of Map Revision
Closed Basin Lake -Correct Answer ✔-A lake that has either no outlet or relatively
small one, where rainfall or groundwater can cause the lake's level to ride faster
than it can drain
Coastal high hazard area -Correct Answer ✔-the part of the coastal floodplain
extending from offshore to the inland limit of the primary coastal dune along an
open coast and any other area subject to high velocity wave action from storms
and seismic sources. Wave heights during the base flood will generally be three
feet or more in height above the stillwater elevation
CBRA -Correct Answer ✔-The coastal barrier resources Act which identified
undeveloped portions of coastal barriers
Community Assistance Program -Correct Answer ✔-A FEMA program that funds
state activities that help communities in the NFIP
Answers | 100% Verified solutions (2026)
Types of floodplains -Correct Answer ✔-Riverine, coastal, and shallow
Watershed -Correct Answer ✔-area that drains into a lake, stream, or body of
water. Also called basin or catchment area.
Channel -Correct Answer ✔-Ground features that carry water through and out of a
watershed
Riverine Flooding -Correct Answer ✔-flooding that occurs along a channel
Flash flooding -Correct Answer ✔-flooding that occurs in hilly and mountainous
areas that may come scant minutes after a heavy rainfall. One can also occur in
urban areas where pavements and drainage improvements speed runoff to a
stream.
Overbank Flooding -Correct Answer ✔-The most common type flooding in the US.
It occurs when downstream channels receive more rain or snowmelt than normal,
or a channel is blocked by ice or debris. Excess water overloads the channels and
flows out onto the floodplain
Velocity -Correct Answer ✔-One measure of a flood is the speed of moving water.
Measured in feet per second
Thalweg -Correct Answer ✔-The channel bottom
Meander -Correct Answer ✔-a curve in the channel. The outside bank of the
meander is subject to erosion, the inside bank is subject to deposits
Accrete -Correct Answer ✔-to build up a shoreline by depositing sand, either by
nature or human actions
,Actual Cash Value -Correct Answer ✔-The replacement cost for a building, minus a
depreciation percentage based on age and condition.
Alluvial Fan -Correct Answer ✔-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.
Amendment -Correct Answer ✔-A change to a FEMA floodplain map that removes
an area that was inadvertently included in the Special Flood Hazard Area
Approximate studies -Correct Answer ✔-Flood hazard mapping done using
approximate study methods that show the approximate outline of the base
floodplain. An approximate study does not produce a base flood elevation.
Base Flood Depth -Correct Answer ✔-A measurement of the base flood in feet
above ground, used for shallow flooding
Basement -Correct Answer ✔-Any area of the building having its flood subgrade
(below ground level) on all sides
Base floodplain -Correct Answer ✔-the area of water and land inundated by the
base flood
Basin -Correct Answer ✔-Also known as a Watershed, an area that drains into a
lake, stream or other body of water.
Bathymetry -Correct Answer ✔-The measurement of depths of water in the ocean
or lakes
Bench marks -Correct Answer ✔-Monuments on the ground that show the
elevation of the spot above sea level. Also called Elevation Reference Marks.
, Building -Correct Answer ✔-A walled and roofed structure including a gas or liquid
storage tank that is principally above ground as well as a manufactured home.
Also known as structure
Building Condition Survey -Correct Answer ✔-A windshield survey conducted to
obtain a preliminary evaluation of the extent and severity of damage to buildings
after a disaster
CAP -Correct Answer ✔-Community Assistance Program
Cfs -Correct Answer ✔-cubic feet per second, the unit by which discharges are
measured (A cubic foot of water is about 7.5 gallons)
CLOMA -Correct Answer ✔-Conditional Letter of Map Amendment
CLOMR -Correct Answer ✔-Conditional Letter Of Map Revision
Closed Basin Lake -Correct Answer ✔-A lake that has either no outlet or relatively
small one, where rainfall or groundwater can cause the lake's level to ride faster
than it can drain
Coastal high hazard area -Correct Answer ✔-the part of the coastal floodplain
extending from offshore to the inland limit of the primary coastal dune along an
open coast and any other area subject to high velocity wave action from storms
and seismic sources. Wave heights during the base flood will generally be three
feet or more in height above the stillwater elevation
CBRA -Correct Answer ✔-The coastal barrier resources Act which identified
undeveloped portions of coastal barriers
Community Assistance Program -Correct Answer ✔-A FEMA program that funds
state activities that help communities in the NFIP
