Abstract: Includes location and attributes for Base Flood Elevation Lines (BFE) shown on Digital Flood Insurance Rate (DFIRM) maps available for five Connecticut counties. See below for time period of each county DFIRM Database included in this statewide BFE layer. More current data may be available from the Federal Emergcy Management Agency (FEMA). The DFIRM Database depicts flood risk information and supporting data used to develop the risk data. The primary risk classifications used are the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event, the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood event, and areas of minimal flood risk. The DFIRM Database is derived from Flood Insurance Studies (FISs), previously published Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), flood hazard analyses performed in support of the FISs and FIRMs, and new mapping data, where available. The FISs and FIRMs are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file is georeferenced to earth's surface using the State Plane projection and coordinate system. The specifications for the horizontal control of DFIRM data files are consistent with those required for mapping at a scale of 1:12,000.

Purpose: The FIRM is the basis for floodplain management, mitigation, and insurance activities for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Insurance applications include enforcement of the mandatory purchase requirement of the Flood Disaster Protection Act, which "... requires the purchase of flood insurance by property owners who are being assisted by Federal programs or by Federally supervised, regulated or insured agencies or institutions in the acquisition or improvement of land facilities located or to be located in identified areas having special flood hazards," Section 2 (b) (4) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. In addition to the identification of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the risk zones shown on the FIRMs are the basis for the establishment of premium rates for flood coverage offered through the NFIP. The DFIRM Database presents the flood risk information depicted on the FIRM in a digital format suitable for use in electronic mapping applications. The DFIRM database is a subset of the Digital FIS database that serves to archive the information collected during the FIS.

Language of dataset: en

Organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Phone: 1-800-358-9616

Email: http://www.fema.gov/msc

Address type: mailing address

File or table name: depgis.DEP.FEMA_DFIRM_S_BFE

Data type: FEMA-DFIRM-Final

Data format: SDE Feature Class

Native dataset environment: Original data development environment varies. Finishing of the data is done using ESRI's ArcGIS software.

Date: 20100618

Date: 20110916

Date: 20080828

Date: 20110718

Date: 20101217

Currentness reference: FIRM and FIS effective date for Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New London, and New Haven Counties, respectively.

Data status: Complete

Update frequency: Unknown

Access constraints: None.

Use constraints: The hardcopy FIRM and DFIRM and the accompanying FISs are the official designation of SFHAs and Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) for the NFIP. For the purposes of the NFIP, changes to the flood risk information published by FEMA may only be performed by FEMA and through the mechanisms established in the NFIP regulations (44 CFR Parts 59-78). These digital data are produced in conjunction with the hardcopy FIRMs and generally matches the hardcopy map exactly. However the hardcopy flood maps and flood profiles are the authoritative documents for the NFIP. Acknowledgement of FEMA would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

Security classifiction system: None

Security classification: None

Security handling: No restrictions for handling the data.

Direct spatial reference method: Vector

Indirect spatial reference method: { Describe location of data in terms of attributes included in the data that denote geographic location. For example: Connecticut Town name and number; Connecticut stream name and number; Basin name and number; Zip code. }

Name: depgis.DEP.FEMA_DFIRM_S_BFE

Type of object: Feature Class

Geometry type: Polyline

Number of records: 18635

Description: Base Flood Elevation Lines. See http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/fema/document/frm_selected_pages_from_Appendix_L.pdf for attribute definitions.

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Attribute accuracy report: The DFIRM Database consists of countywide vector files and associated attributes produced in conjunction with the hard copy FEMA FIRM. The published effective FIRM and DFIRM maps are issued as the official designation of the SFHAs. As such they are adopted by local communities and form the basis for administration of the NFIP. For these purposes they are authoritative. Provisions exist in the regulations for public review, appeals and corrections of the flood risk information shown to better match real world conditions. As with any engineering analysis of this type, variation from the estimated flood heights and floodplain boundaries is possible. Details of FEMA's requirements for the FISs and flood mapping process that produces these data are available in the Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners. Attribute accuracy was tested by manual comparison of source graphics with hardcopy plots and a symbolized display on an interactive computer graphic system. Independent quality control testing of FEMA's DFIRM database was also performed. To obtain more detailed information in areas where Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) and/or floodways have been determined, users are encouraged to consult the Flood Profiles and Floodway Data and/or Summary of Stillwater Elevations tables contained within the FIS report that accompanies this DFIRM database. Users should be aware that BFEs shown in the S_BFE table represent rounded whole-foot elevations. These BFEs are intended for flood insurance rating purposes only and should not be used as the sole source of flood elevation information. Accordingly, flood elevation data presented in the FIS report must be used in conjunction with the FIRM for purposes of construction and/or floodplain management. The 1-percent-annual-chance water-surface elevations shown in the S_XS table match the regulatory elevations shown in the FIS report.

Vertical accuracy report: The DFIRM Database consists of countywide vector files and associated attributes produced in conjunction with the hardcopy FEMA FIRM. The published effective FIRM and DFIRM maps are issued as the official designation of the SFHAs. As such they are adopted by local communities and form the basis for administration of the NFIP. For these purposes they are authoritative. Provisions exist in the regulations for public review, appeals and corrections of the flood risk information shown to better match real world conditions. As with any engineering analysis of this type, variation from the estimated flood heights and floodplain boundaries is possible. Details of FEMA's requirements for the FISs and flood mapping process that produces these data are available in the Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners. Vertical accuracy was tested by manual comparison of source graphics with hardcopy plots and a symbolized display on an interactive computer graphic system. Independent quality control testing of FEMA's DFIRM database was also performed

Resource description: DFIRM_S_BFE

Distribution liability: No warranty expressed or implied is made by FEMA regarding the utility of the data on any other system nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. FEMA will warrant the delivery of this product in a computer-readable format, and will offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. Requests for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 days from the date of this shipment from the ordering site.

Organization: FEMA, Map Service Center

Phone: 1-800-358-9616

Email: http://www.fema.gov/msc

Address type: mailing address

Last updated: 20111227

Language of metadata: en

Organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Person: MipHelp (subsequently modified by Howie Sternberg, CT DEEP, to describe the Connecticut DFIRM data based on the county-level DFIRM database)

Phone: 1-877-336-2627

Email: miphelp@riskmapcds.com

Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

Address type: mailing address

Access constraints: None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for accessing the metadata.

Use constraints: None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the metadata after access is granted.

Security classifiction system: None

Security classification: None

Security handling: No restrictions for handling the metadata.

Standard name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Standard version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Time convention: local time