Metadata for Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map Database, Montana

- Identification Information
- Data Quality Information
- Spatial Reference Information
- Entity and Attribute Information
- Distribution Information
- Distributor
- Distributor
- Metadata Reference Information
- Full FGDC Metadata in XML format

Identification Information:

Citation:
  Originator: Federal Emergency Management Agency
  Publication date: 10/17/2007
  Title: Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map Database, Montana
  Publication place: Washington, DC
  Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency
  Online linkage: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/shape/fema_dfirm.zip
  Online linkage: http://msc.fema.gov/
Browse graphic file name: http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/fema_dfirm.gif
Abstract:
  The Water Operations Bureau of the Montana Depatrment of Natural Resources and Conservation has provided copies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map Database for the areas that are available in Montana. The areas available are Blaine County, Flathead County, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Richland County, the towns of Brockton, Culbertson, Libby, Medicine Lake, Nashua, Poplar, and Whitehall, and the Libby Creek area of Lincoln County. The data are available in ESRI Shapefile, ESRI E00, and MapInfo MIF formats, and the data for each locale are in the UTM coordinate system appropriate to their region.
  Each downloadable file contains the flood zone database, whose name is "s_fld_haz_ar", and several other supporting databases that were used to develop the flood zones, such as base map indexes, base flood elevation lines, hydraulic structure locations, political boundaries, and public land survey sections. The full list of these layers is in the Entity and Attribute section of this metadata document. The full data dictionary for these layers is in Appendix L of the FEMA "Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, available at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2206 and http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/fema_dfirm.pdf.
  The majority of this metadata document was prepared for the DFIRM database of Flathead County as indicated in the Metadata Reference Information. It has been modified at the Montana State Library to be applicable to all of the databases availble from the Library for Montana. Specific metadata documents from FEMA for each region are included in the zip file downloads.
  The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (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).
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.
Time period of content:
  Calendar date: 09/28/2007
  Currentness reference: FIRM and FIS Effective Date
Status:
  Progress:
    The maps are complete for Blaine County, Flathead County, the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Richland County, the towns of Brockton, Culbertson, Libby, Medicine Lake, Nashua, Poplar, and Whitehall, and the Libby Creek area of Lincoln County.
  Maintenance and update frequency:
    No additional data are anticipated to become available for Montana before 2009. The existing data may be updated by FEMA as changes in flood hazard zones are brought to its attention.
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 match 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.
Point of contact:
  Federal Emergency Management Agency
  500 C Street, S.W.
  Washington, District of Columbia 20472
  Telephone: 1-800-358-9616
  E-Mail: http://msc.fema.gov/

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Data Quality Information:

Attribute accuracy report:
  The DFIRM Database consists of community based 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.
Logical consistency report:
  When FEMA revises an FIS, adjacent studies are checked to ensure agreement between flood elevations at the boundaries. Likewise flood elevations at the confluence of streams studied independently are checked to ensure agreement at the confluence. The FIRM and the FIS are developed together and care is taken to ensure that the elevations and other features shown on the flood profiles in the FIS agree with the information shown on the FIRM. However, the elevations as shown on the FIRM are rounded whole-foot elevations. They must be shown so that a profile recreated from the elevations on the FIRM will match the FIS profiles within one half of one foot.
Completeness report:
  Data contained in the DFIRM Database files reflect the content of the source materials. Features may have been eliminated or generalized on the source graphic, due to scale and legibility constraints. With new mapping, FEMA plans to maintain full detail in the spatial data it produces. However, older information is often transferred from existing maps where some generalization has taken place. Flood risk data are developed for communities participating in the NFIP for use in insurance rating and for floodplain management. Flood hazard areas are determined using statistical analyses of records of river flow, storm tides, and rainfall; information obtained through consultation with the communities; floodplain topographic surveys; and hydrological and hydraulic analysis. Both detailed and approximate analyses are employed. Generally, detailed analyses are used to generate flood risk data only for developed or developing areas of communities. For areas where little or no development is expected to occur, FEMA uses approximate analyses to generate flood risk data. Typically, only drainage areas that are greater than one square mile are studied.
Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:
  The DFIRM Database consists of community based vector files and associated attributes produced in conjunction with the hardcopy FEMA FIRM. The published effective FIRM and DFIRM 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. Horizontal 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.
Vertical positional accuracy report:
  The DFIRM Database consists of community based 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.

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Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:
  Grid coordinate system name: Universal Transverse Mercator
  UTM zone number: 11, 12, or 13
  Transverse mercator:
  Scale factor at central meridian: 0.9996
  Longitude of central meridian: -117.0, -111.0, or -105.0
  Latitude of projection origin: 0.0
  False easting: 500000
  False northing: 0.0
  Planar distance units: meters
  Geodetic model:
    Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
    Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
    Semi-major axis: 6378137
    Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.25
Altitude system definition:
  Altitude datum name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
  Altitude resolution: 0.03
  Altitude distance units: feet
  Altitude encoding method: Attribute values

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Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: S_Fld_Haz_Ar
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes flood insurance risk zones on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Fld_Haz_Ln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for boundaries of flood insurance risk zones on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Base_Index
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for a tiling index for raster data used for the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_BFE
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for base flood elevations lines shown on DFIRM

Entity type label: S_FIRM_Pan
Entity type definition: Location and attributes for DFIRM hardcopy map panels

Entity type label: S_Gen_Struct
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for flood control structures shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Label_Ld
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for leader lines on transportation and hydrography labels shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Label_Pt
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for transportation and hydrography labels shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_LOMR
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs) on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Nodes
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes of points used to define the topology of the hydrologic network.

Entity type label: S_Ovrbnkln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for the overbank flow lines features for the study area.

Entity type label: S_Perm_Bmk
Entity type definition: Location and attributes for bench marks on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_PLSS_Ar
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes of sections, townships and ranges on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_PLSS_Ln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes section lines, township lines and range lines on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Pol_Ar
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for political jurisdictions shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Pol_Ln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for political boundaries shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Precip_Gage
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for rain gages used in developing the hydrologic analysis

Entity type label: S_Profil_BasLn
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for profile baseline and stream centerline features for the study area.

Entity type label: S_Quad_Index
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for USGS quadrangle maps covering the DFIRM area.

Entity type label: S_Riv_Mr
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for river mile markers shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Stn_Start
Entity type definition: Location and attributes for station points.

Entity type label: S_Subbasins
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for subbasins in the hydrologic analysis.

Entity type label: S_Trnsport_Ln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for roads, railroads and other transportation features shown on the DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Water_Gage
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for non- rain gages used in developing the hydrologic analysis

Entity type label: S_Wtr_Ar
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for hydrography features shown on DFIRM

Entity type label: S_Wtr_Ln
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for hydrography features shown on DFIRM

Entity type label: S_XS
Entity type definition:
  Location and attributes for cross-section lines in the area covered by the DFIRM

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Distribution Information:

Distributor:
  Montana State Library
  P.O. Box 201800
  Helena, MT 59620-1800
  Telephone: 406-444-5358
  E-Mail: nris@mt.gov
Resource description: Downloadable Data
Distribution liability:
  No warranty expressed or implied is made by the State Library regarding the utility of the data on any other system nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The State Library 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.
Standard order process:
  Digital form:
    Format name: ESRI Shapefile
    Online option:
    http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/shape/fema_dfirm.zip
  Digital form:
    Format name: ArcInfo Export
    Online option:
    http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/e00/fema_dfirm.zip
  Digital form:
    Format name: MapInfo
    Online option:
    http://nris.mt.gov/nsdi/nris/shape/fema_dfirm_mapinfo.zip

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Distribution Information:

Distributor:
  FEMA, Map Service Center
  P.O. Box 1038
  Jessup, Maryland 20794-1038
  Telephone: 1-800-358-9616
  E-Mail: http://msc.fema.gov
  Contact instructions:
    Data requests must include the full name of the community or county and the FIRM panel number(s) or the 7.5- minute series quadrangle sheet area(s) covered by the request.
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.

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Metadata Reference Information:

Metadata date: 11/02/2007
Metadata review date: 06/12/2003
Metadata contact:
  Carrie Higinbotham
  Sr. GIS Analyst
  PBS&J
  3810 Valley Commons Drive Suite 4
  Bozeman, Montana 59718
  Telephone: 1-406-587-7275
  E-Mail: http://msc.fema.gov

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