FEMA 480 Exam Questions With
Correct Solutions
/. What are the most common types of flooding? - Answer-Riverine, Coastal and
Shallow
/.Which flooding has accounted for most flood-related deaths in recent history? -
Answer-Flash flooding
/.What is a "meander"? - Answer-It's a curve or turn in a river channel.
/.What's the major cause of coastal flooding? - Answer-Storm surge
/.What causes a tsunami? - Answer-Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes.
/.The five types of Special Flood Hazards - Answer-Closed basin, uncertain flow paths,
dam breaks, ice jams and mudflows
/.What two problems result from floodplain development? - Answer-1. Development
alters the floodplain and the dynamic of flood.
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding.
/.What does watershed development do to flooding? - Answer-Increased runoff and
higher flood levels
/.What is one problem with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from flooding or
erosion? - Answer-It can accelerate erosion on properties at the end of the wall.
/.What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Answer-1. Hydrodynamic forced
2. Debris Impact
3. Hydrostatic Force
4. Soaking
5. Sediment and contaminants
/.Water as little as _ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house - Answer-3 feet
/.What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Answer-
Disruption of public utilities
Electrocution
Contamination of water supplies
Fire
,Animal carcasses, garbage and ponds that can become breeding grounds for germs
and mosquitoes
Mold, mildew and bacteria that grow in deep, flooded areas
Contaminated air from dirty heating ducts
Stress and mental health problems
/.Prior to 1960's what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Answer-Structural
flood control projects
/.What is the unified national program for floodplain management's definition of
"floodplain management" - Answer-Decision making process that aims to achieve the
wise use of the nations floodplains
/.What are two primary goals of floodplain management? - Answer-1. To reduce loss of
life, disruption and damages caused by floods
2. Preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains
/.What area are conducive to flash flooding - Answer-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.
/.Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Answer-No. Riverine erosion can move
stream channels and undercut structures
/.What is "ponding"? - Answer-Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and
cannot drain out.
/.Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions"
of floodplains? - Answer-No. People Benefit from foot planes through the food they
provide, the recreational opportunities they afford any scientific knowledge gained in
studying them. Floodplains also recharge groundwater supplies and their filtering
actions help improve water quality.
/.What does filling in a floodplain do? - Answer-Filling reduces the floodplains ability to
store excess water, sending more water down stream and causing floods to rise to
higher levels.
/.Does moving sand and sand dunes affect flooding? - Answer-Yes, it may remove a
natural barrier that protects inland properties.
/.Hydrodynamic forces are caused by__ water and hydrostatic forces are cause by __
water - Answer-Moving and standing
/.List three materials or house hold items that are particularly susceptible to flood
damage by soaking. - Answer-1. Wood
,2. Carpeting
3. Electrical appliances
4. Books
5. Mattresses
/.What are examples of non-structural flood protection measures? - Answer-1.
Regulations to prohibit development in high hazard areas.
2. Building code requiring flood-resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone
areas.
3. Controlling storm water runoff
/.What are the unified national program for floodplain management's four main
floodplain management strategies? - Answer-1. Modify human susceptibility to flood
damage.
2. Modify the impact of flooding.
3. Modify flooding itself.
4. Preserve and restore natural resources
/.What are the objectives of the NFIP? - Answer-National Flood Insurance Act created
the NFIP to:
1. Transfer costs of private property flood losses from the taxpayers to floodplain
property owners through flood insurance premiums.
2. Provide floodplain residence, Inn, property owners with financial aid after floods.
3. Guide development away from flood hazard areas.
4. Require new and substantially improved buildings be constructed to minimize or
prevent damage in a flood
/.What are the three basics parts of the NFIP? - Answer-1. Mapping
2. Insurance
3. Regulations
/.Who uses NFIP maps? - Answer-1. Communities, states and federal agencies use
them as basis for regulating new flood prone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating flood insurance policies.
3. Lenders and federal agencies for flood insurance for purchasing conditions on loan.
/.What should happen to buildings in NFIP communities over time? - Answer-Over time,
exposure to flood damage should be reduced.
/.What types of governmental bodies are considered to be "communities" by the NFIP? -
Answer-Cities, towns, villages, townships, counties, parishes, special districts, states
and indian nations
/.What office is the state coordinating agency for your community? - Answer-Texas
national resource and conservation community. Mike Howard.
, /.Which FEMA office works directly with communities? - Answer-The ten regional offices
/.What is the write your own program? - Answer-Arrangement whereby private
insurance companies write and service NFIP flood insurance policies under their own
name
/.When a community applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit? - Answer-1) A
resolution of intent to "maintain in force...adequate land use and control measures" and
to cooperate with FEMA.
2) Its adopted floodplain management ordinance.
/.What are the sanctions if a community does not participate in the NFIP? - Answer-1.
Flood insurance will not be available. No resident will be able to purchase a flood
insurance policy through the NFIP.
2. If the community withdraws or is suspended, existing flood insurance will not be
renewed.
3. No federal grants or loans for development may be made in the identified flood
hazard areas under programs administered by federal agencies such as HUD, EPA,
and SBA.
4. No federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located
in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood.
5. No federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood
hazard areas. This includes policies written by FHA, VA, and others.
6. Federally insured or regulated lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions,
must notify applicants seeking loans for insurable buildings in flood hazard areas that:
a. there is a flood hazard and
b. the property is not eligible for federal disaster relief
/.Where does most of the money come from to pay the expenses of the NFIP? -
Answer-Premium income. The NFIP has been self-supporting since 1986.
/.How many communities currently participate in the NFIP? - Answer-More than 19,000
/.What is a "pre-FIRM" building? - Answer-A building built before the effective date of
the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.
/.Is there any relation between how a community regulates new construction and flood
insurance rates? - Answer-Yes. Buildings built in accordance with the community's
regulations have a lower risk of flooding and can be insured at lower rates.
/.List two things your community committed itself to when it joined the NFIP. - Answer-1.
Issuing or denying floodplain development/building permits
2. Inspecting all development to assure compliance with the local ordinance
3. Maintaining records of floodplain development
4. Assisting in the preparation and revision of floodplain maps
Correct Solutions
/. What are the most common types of flooding? - Answer-Riverine, Coastal and
Shallow
/.Which flooding has accounted for most flood-related deaths in recent history? -
Answer-Flash flooding
/.What is a "meander"? - Answer-It's a curve or turn in a river channel.
/.What's the major cause of coastal flooding? - Answer-Storm surge
/.What causes a tsunami? - Answer-Underwater earthquakes or volcanoes.
/.The five types of Special Flood Hazards - Answer-Closed basin, uncertain flow paths,
dam breaks, ice jams and mudflows
/.What two problems result from floodplain development? - Answer-1. Development
alters the floodplain and the dynamic of flood.
2. Buildings and infrastructure are damaged by periodic flooding.
/.What does watershed development do to flooding? - Answer-Increased runoff and
higher flood levels
/.What is one problem with constructing seawalls to protect buildings from flooding or
erosion? - Answer-It can accelerate erosion on properties at the end of the wall.
/.What are the five main causes of flood damage? - Answer-1. Hydrodynamic forced
2. Debris Impact
3. Hydrostatic Force
4. Soaking
5. Sediment and contaminants
/.Water as little as _ feet deep can collapse the walls of a frame house - Answer-3 feet
/.What are some of the safety and health hazards that accompany floods? - Answer-
Disruption of public utilities
Electrocution
Contamination of water supplies
Fire
,Animal carcasses, garbage and ponds that can become breeding grounds for germs
and mosquitoes
Mold, mildew and bacteria that grow in deep, flooded areas
Contaminated air from dirty heating ducts
Stress and mental health problems
/.Prior to 1960's what was the primary way to reduce flood losses? - Answer-Structural
flood control projects
/.What is the unified national program for floodplain management's definition of
"floodplain management" - Answer-Decision making process that aims to achieve the
wise use of the nations floodplains
/.What are two primary goals of floodplain management? - Answer-1. To reduce loss of
life, disruption and damages caused by floods
2. Preserve and restore the natural resources and functions of floodplains
/.What area are conducive to flash flooding - Answer-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.
/.Is erosion only a threat in coastal areas? - Answer-No. Riverine erosion can move
stream channels and undercut structures
/.What is "ponding"? - Answer-Where storm water runoff collects in depressions and
cannot drain out.
/.Are plants and animals the only beneficiaries of the "natural and beneficial functions"
of floodplains? - Answer-No. People Benefit from foot planes through the food they
provide, the recreational opportunities they afford any scientific knowledge gained in
studying them. Floodplains also recharge groundwater supplies and their filtering
actions help improve water quality.
/.What does filling in a floodplain do? - Answer-Filling reduces the floodplains ability to
store excess water, sending more water down stream and causing floods to rise to
higher levels.
/.Does moving sand and sand dunes affect flooding? - Answer-Yes, it may remove a
natural barrier that protects inland properties.
/.Hydrodynamic forces are caused by__ water and hydrostatic forces are cause by __
water - Answer-Moving and standing
/.List three materials or house hold items that are particularly susceptible to flood
damage by soaking. - Answer-1. Wood
,2. Carpeting
3. Electrical appliances
4. Books
5. Mattresses
/.What are examples of non-structural flood protection measures? - Answer-1.
Regulations to prohibit development in high hazard areas.
2. Building code requiring flood-resistant construction for new buildings in flood prone
areas.
3. Controlling storm water runoff
/.What are the unified national program for floodplain management's four main
floodplain management strategies? - Answer-1. Modify human susceptibility to flood
damage.
2. Modify the impact of flooding.
3. Modify flooding itself.
4. Preserve and restore natural resources
/.What are the objectives of the NFIP? - Answer-National Flood Insurance Act created
the NFIP to:
1. Transfer costs of private property flood losses from the taxpayers to floodplain
property owners through flood insurance premiums.
2. Provide floodplain residence, Inn, property owners with financial aid after floods.
3. Guide development away from flood hazard areas.
4. Require new and substantially improved buildings be constructed to minimize or
prevent damage in a flood
/.What are the three basics parts of the NFIP? - Answer-1. Mapping
2. Insurance
3. Regulations
/.Who uses NFIP maps? - Answer-1. Communities, states and federal agencies use
them as basis for regulating new flood prone construction
2. Insurance agents use them when rating flood insurance policies.
3. Lenders and federal agencies for flood insurance for purchasing conditions on loan.
/.What should happen to buildings in NFIP communities over time? - Answer-Over time,
exposure to flood damage should be reduced.
/.What types of governmental bodies are considered to be "communities" by the NFIP? -
Answer-Cities, towns, villages, townships, counties, parishes, special districts, states
and indian nations
/.What office is the state coordinating agency for your community? - Answer-Texas
national resource and conservation community. Mike Howard.
, /.Which FEMA office works directly with communities? - Answer-The ten regional offices
/.What is the write your own program? - Answer-Arrangement whereby private
insurance companies write and service NFIP flood insurance policies under their own
name
/.When a community applies to join the NFIP, what must it submit? - Answer-1) A
resolution of intent to "maintain in force...adequate land use and control measures" and
to cooperate with FEMA.
2) Its adopted floodplain management ordinance.
/.What are the sanctions if a community does not participate in the NFIP? - Answer-1.
Flood insurance will not be available. No resident will be able to purchase a flood
insurance policy through the NFIP.
2. If the community withdraws or is suspended, existing flood insurance will not be
renewed.
3. No federal grants or loans for development may be made in the identified flood
hazard areas under programs administered by federal agencies such as HUD, EPA,
and SBA.
4. No federal disaster assistance may be provided to repair insurable buildings located
in identified flood hazard areas for damage caused by a flood.
5. No federal mortgage insurance or loan guarantees may be provided in identified flood
hazard areas. This includes policies written by FHA, VA, and others.
6. Federally insured or regulated lending institutions, such as banks and credit unions,
must notify applicants seeking loans for insurable buildings in flood hazard areas that:
a. there is a flood hazard and
b. the property is not eligible for federal disaster relief
/.Where does most of the money come from to pay the expenses of the NFIP? -
Answer-Premium income. The NFIP has been self-supporting since 1986.
/.How many communities currently participate in the NFIP? - Answer-More than 19,000
/.What is a "pre-FIRM" building? - Answer-A building built before the effective date of
the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map.
/.Is there any relation between how a community regulates new construction and flood
insurance rates? - Answer-Yes. Buildings built in accordance with the community's
regulations have a lower risk of flooding and can be insured at lower rates.
/.List two things your community committed itself to when it joined the NFIP. - Answer-1.
Issuing or denying floodplain development/building permits
2. Inspecting all development to assure compliance with the local ordinance
3. Maintaining records of floodplain development
4. Assisting in the preparation and revision of floodplain maps
