CFM Exam Study Guide 2025 Questions
and Answers
Riverine, Coastal, and Shallow Flooding - ANSWER✔✔-What are the three most common types of
flooding?
Flash Flooding - ANSWER✔✔-Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related
deaths?
Meander - ANSWER✔✔-A curve or turn in a river channel?
Storm Surge - ANSWER✔✔-What is the major cause in coastal flooding?
Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes - ANSWER✔✔-What causes a tsunami?
1. Closed Basin Lakes
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows - ANSWER✔✔-List the five types of special flood hazards covered in FEMA 480.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Recreational benefits, scientific and historical benefits, Ecosystem benefits, and they protect
communities from flooding. - ANSWER✔✔-List three benefits that a floodplain contributes to
your community
1. Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of the flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding - ANSWER✔✔-What two
problems result from floodplain development?
It can accelerate flooding on properties at the end of the wall - ANSWER✔✔-What is one of the
problems with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from flooding or erosion?
1. Hydrodynamic forces
2. Hydrostatic forces
3. Soaking
4. Debris impact
5. Sediment and contaminants - ANSWER✔✔-What are the 5 main causes of flood damage?
3 - ANSWER✔✔-Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame
house.
Disruption of public utilities, Electrocution, contamination of water supplies, fire, dirty ponds, mold,
contaminated air ducts, mental health problems - ANSWER✔✔-What are some of the safety and
health hazards that accompany floods?
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Structural flood control projects - ANSWER✔✔-Prior to the 1960's what was the primary way to
reduce flood losses?
A decision-making process that aims to achieve the wise use of the nations floodplains. -
ANSWER✔✔-What is the unified national program for floodplain managements definition of
floodplain management?
1. To reduce the loss of life, disruption, and damage caused by floods
2. To preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains - ANSWER✔✔-What
are the two primary goals of floodplain management?
1. Hilly areas with steep slopes and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Areas downstream of dams or subject to ice jams - ANSWER✔✔-What areas are conducive to
flash flooding?
No. Riverine erosion can move stream channels and undercut structures. - ANSWER✔✔-Is erosion
only a threat in coastal areas?
Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and cannot drain out. - ANSWER✔✔-What is
ponding?
Filling reduces the floodplains ability to store excess water, sending more water downstream and
causing floods to rise to higher levels. - ANSWER✔✔-What does filling in a floodplain do?
Yes, it may remove a natural barrier that protects inland properties - ANSWER✔✔-Does moving
sand and sand dunes affect flooding?
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Moving, Standing - ANSWER✔✔-Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _____ water and hydrostatic
forces are caused by ____ water.
Wood, gypsum board, furniture and upholstery, carpeting, mattresses, books, electrical appliances,
gas engines - ANSWER✔✔-List three materials or house hold items that are particularly susceptible
to flood damage by soaking.
1. Regulations to prohibit development in high-hazard areas
2. Building codes requiring flood resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone areas
3. Acquisition and relocation of buildings in high hazard areas
4. Modifying or retrofitting existing buildings
5. Installing flood warning systems
6. Controlling storm water runoff
7. Provide self-help advice to property owners - ANSWER✔✔-What are examples of non-structural
flood protection measures
1. Modify human susceptibility to flood damage
2. Modify the impact of flooding
3. Modify flooding itself
4. Preserve and restore natural resources - ANSWER✔✔-What are the Unified National Program
for Floodplain Managements four main floodplain management strategies?
The National Flood Insurance Act created the National Flood Insurance Program to:
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
and Answers
Riverine, Coastal, and Shallow Flooding - ANSWER✔✔-What are the three most common types of
flooding?
Flash Flooding - ANSWER✔✔-Which type of flooding has accounted for the most flood-related
deaths?
Meander - ANSWER✔✔-A curve or turn in a river channel?
Storm Surge - ANSWER✔✔-What is the major cause in coastal flooding?
Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes - ANSWER✔✔-What causes a tsunami?
1. Closed Basin Lakes
2. Uncertain flow paths
3. Dam breaks
4. Ice jams
5. Mudflows - ANSWER✔✔-List the five types of special flood hazards covered in FEMA 480.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Recreational benefits, scientific and historical benefits, Ecosystem benefits, and they protect
communities from flooding. - ANSWER✔✔-List three benefits that a floodplain contributes to
your community
1. Development alters the floodplain and the dynamics of the flooding
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding - ANSWER✔✔-What two
problems result from floodplain development?
It can accelerate flooding on properties at the end of the wall - ANSWER✔✔-What is one of the
problems with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from flooding or erosion?
1. Hydrodynamic forces
2. Hydrostatic forces
3. Soaking
4. Debris impact
5. Sediment and contaminants - ANSWER✔✔-What are the 5 main causes of flood damage?
3 - ANSWER✔✔-Standing water as little as _____ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame
house.
Disruption of public utilities, Electrocution, contamination of water supplies, fire, dirty ponds, mold,
contaminated air ducts, mental health problems - ANSWER✔✔-What are some of the safety and
health hazards that accompany floods?
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Structural flood control projects - ANSWER✔✔-Prior to the 1960's what was the primary way to
reduce flood losses?
A decision-making process that aims to achieve the wise use of the nations floodplains. -
ANSWER✔✔-What is the unified national program for floodplain managements definition of
floodplain management?
1. To reduce the loss of life, disruption, and damage caused by floods
2. To preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains - ANSWER✔✔-What
are the two primary goals of floodplain management?
1. Hilly areas with steep slopes and narrow valleys
2. Urban areas with large amounts of impervious surfaces and storm sewers
3. Areas downstream of dams or subject to ice jams - ANSWER✔✔-What areas are conducive to
flash flooding?
No. Riverine erosion can move stream channels and undercut structures. - ANSWER✔✔-Is erosion
only a threat in coastal areas?
Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and cannot drain out. - ANSWER✔✔-What is
ponding?
Filling reduces the floodplains ability to store excess water, sending more water downstream and
causing floods to rise to higher levels. - ANSWER✔✔-What does filling in a floodplain do?
Yes, it may remove a natural barrier that protects inland properties - ANSWER✔✔-Does moving
sand and sand dunes affect flooding?
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Moving, Standing - ANSWER✔✔-Hydrodynamic forces are caused by _____ water and hydrostatic
forces are caused by ____ water.
Wood, gypsum board, furniture and upholstery, carpeting, mattresses, books, electrical appliances,
gas engines - ANSWER✔✔-List three materials or house hold items that are particularly susceptible
to flood damage by soaking.
1. Regulations to prohibit development in high-hazard areas
2. Building codes requiring flood resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone areas
3. Acquisition and relocation of buildings in high hazard areas
4. Modifying or retrofitting existing buildings
5. Installing flood warning systems
6. Controlling storm water runoff
7. Provide self-help advice to property owners - ANSWER✔✔-What are examples of non-structural
flood protection measures
1. Modify human susceptibility to flood damage
2. Modify the impact of flooding
3. Modify flooding itself
4. Preserve and restore natural resources - ANSWER✔✔-What are the Unified National Program
for Floodplain Managements four main floodplain management strategies?
The National Flood Insurance Act created the National Flood Insurance Program to:
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
