Digital Desk Reference

Floodplain Management Requirements for Agricultural Structures and Accessory Structures

Agricultural and Accessory Structure Policy (2021)
Determination of the Cost of Repair or Reconstruction to Damaged Buildings
Questions and Answers about Substantial Damage
Determining the Lowest Floor
General Principles for Variances
Manufactured Homes in SFHAs
Requirement for "Reasonably Safe from Flooding" for LOMR-F
The 50% Rule for Substantial Damage or Improvement
Placement of Temporary Structures in the Floodway
Guidance for Unnumbered A Zones

 Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage - FEMA 301
Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage Information 
Increased Cost of Compliance Fact Sheet

NFIP Flood Insurance Manual - 2021

NFIP Insurance Claims Handbook

Standard Flood Insurance Coverage Summary

Commercial Flood Insurance Coverage Summary

FEMA Publications Catalog Order Form (2020)

Floodway: Guide for Community Permit Officials (FEMA 4)

Design Guidelines for Flood Damage Reduction (FEMA 15)

Answers to Questions about the NFIP (FEMA 84) (2020)

Guidance for Manufactured Homes in SFHAs (FEMA P-85)

Floodproofing Non-Residential Structures, 1986 (FEMA 102)

Answers to Questions about Substantially Improved/Substantially Damaged Buildings (FEMA 213) (2018)

Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures (FEMA P-259)

Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate A Zones (FEMA 265)

Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage (FEMA 301)

Addressing Your Community's Flood Problems (FEMA 309)

Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting (FEMA P-312)

Taking Shelter from the Storm (FEMA 320)

Taking Shelter from the Storm: Safe Room Construction Plans (FEMA 320)

Elevating Your Floodprone Home (FEMA 347)

Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage (P-348)

Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes (FEMA 361)

Floodplain Management Bulletin - Historic Structures (FEMA P-467-2)

Adoption of FIRMs by Participating Communities (FEMA 495)

Joining the National Flood Insurance Program (FEMA 496)

Federal Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms (FEMA 524)

Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures (FEMA 551)

Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference (FEMA P-758)

Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings (P-798)

Floodproofing Non-Residential Structures, 2013 (FEMA P-936)

Variances and the NFIP (FEMA P-993)

Flood Mitigation Measures for Multi-Family Buildings (FEMA P-2037)

Substantial Damage Assessment Handbook (2023 Update)

Substantial Damage Inspection In-Field Guide

The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program that communities can join to get credit for floodplain management activities above the minimum standards. Communities receive points for those activities and based upon the number of points, flood insurance premiums are reduced for policyholders in the community. CRS is a "win-win" for because it reduces a community's vulnerability to floods and also reduces the cost of flood insurance premiums. 

Communities can get points in four different categories:

• Public Information Activities
• Mapping and Regulations
• Flood Damage Reduction Activities
• Warning and Response

The activities within each category are based on the best practices in floodplain management. For example, the more open space a community has in its special flood hazard area, the more resilient from flood damage the community is. Communities are also rewarded for buying out properties in the floodplain to reduce the number of structures at risk to flooding. CRS rewards communities for proactive outreach to residents and businesses as well as for keeping as much data as possible about flood risks.

Each activity in CRS has a set amount of points that a community could obtain. For every 500 points that a community achieves, its policyholders receive an additional 5% discount. Each 500 points counts as a class improvement, so the lower the class the more discount available. Eight communities in Nebraska currently participate in CRS:

• City of Lincoln - Class 5 (25% reduction)
• City of Papillion - Class 7 (15% reduction)
• City of Omaha - Class 7 (15% reduction)
• City of Fremont - Class 8 (10% reduction)
• City of Scottsbluff - Class 8 (10% reduction)
• City of Valley - Class 9 (5% reduction)
• City of Waverly - Class 9 (5% reduction)
• City of Waterloo - Class 9 (5% reduction)

Every community in Nebraska is automatically eligible for up to 250 points based on minimum standards set by the state floodplain management regulations. Freeboard requirements, or requirements that structures be elevated one foot above base flood elevation, mean communities will receive points. Communities located downstream from a high hazard potential dam will receive points based on the Nebraska Dam Safety section's programs. And if your community has an online assessor's map from the county, 50 more points may be available because of the NeDNR interactive floodplain map.

Communities interested in joining CRS or just learning more about it should contact Elijah Kaufman at NeDNR at elijah.kaufman@nebraska.gov or 402-471-0640. He can walk you through the steps of the application and connect you with the appropriate national-level contact.

And for more resources, visit: CRS Resources

• Vertical Datum Conversions
• December 15, 2016 NFACT Training Webinar