Flood Risk Analysis for the National Flood Insurance Program

Flood frequency and risk analysis play a fundamental role in the insurance, floodplain management and hazard mapping aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program. This paper describes the analytic procedures commonly utilized in flood insurance studies of riverine and coastal floodplains in the United States. Consistency in flood frequency estimates over both time and space is needed to effectively administer the Program at national and local levels. Enhanced capability in risk analysis for flood-related hazards such as ice jams, erosion, levee failure, shifting channels, long term lake level fluctuations, and mudflows is also needed to support Program operations in these specialized hazard environments.