ASFPM CFM study guide
ASFPM CFM · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM®) credential is administered by the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) through its CFM® Certification Program, which is overseen by a Certification Board of Regents and documented in a published program charter, policy manual, and code of ethics. CFM® is a certification mark that may only be used by certified individuals as authorized by ASFPM. The ASFPM CFM study guide has 5 sections and about 1,890 words.
01Floodplain Management and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Regulatory Framework
The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the NFIP as a voluntary partnership: communities adopt minimum floodplain management standards, and in exchange the federal government makes flood insurance available. The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 made the bargain binding - federally regulated lenders must require flood insurance on structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) of participating communities, and federal agencies cannot provide financial assistance in nonparticipating communities.
384 words, about 2 min02Flood Hazard Identification, Mapping, and Flood Risk Data
A Flood Insurance Study (FIS) is the text: hydrology, hydraulics, and flood profiles. The Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the graphic; the Digital FIRM (DFIRM) is its digital form, and the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) is FEMA's national GIS dataset.
397 words, about 2 min03Floodplain Development Review, Permitting, and Elevation / Fire-Resistant Construction Standards
Every development in the floodplain needs a permit. A defensible file contains the application, plan review notes, an elevation certificate or floodproofing design, any no-rise certification, and inspection records - retained for the life of the structure.
371 words, about 2 min04NFIP Insurance, Claims, Rating, and Community Rating System Concepts
Pre-FIRM structures (built before the community's initial FIRM effective date, or before December 31, 1974, whichever is later) were historically subsidized; post-FIRM structures were rated actuarially. Risk Rating 2.0 replaced zone-based rating with property-level variables: flood frequency, distance to water, elevation, building type, and cost to rebuild.
367 words, about 2 min05Flood Risk Reduction, Mitigation, Planning, and No Adverse Impact Principles
No Adverse Impact (NAI) holds that a community's floodplain management must ensure one owner's development does not reasonably increase the flood risk borne by others. In practice that means assessing impacts before approval, accounting for the cumulative effect of many small fills, preserving the floodway for conveyance and storage, and requiring no-rise or no-increase-in-damages certification.
371 words, about 2 min