Overview: The FEMA IS-273 course was published on 3/10/2020 to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills required to use Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to determine the potential flood risks for a specific property to determine if a property should be protected against flood loss. Participants will learn about various types of flood maps, explain the elements on the map, and demonstrate how to use a flood map to obtain information for a specific property location.
Primary audience: The IS-273 course is for local Floodplain Administrators. It will also be made available to the whole community. Some audience members may not have the level of prerequisite knowledge as the Floodplain Administrators. Resources and references will be included with the course to mitigate gaps between assumptions of user knowledge and actual knowledge.
FEMA IS-273 test answers
Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam.
Question 1. What is an easy-to-print, full-scale section of a FIRM?
A. Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM)
B. FIRMette✅
C. Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM)
D. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
Question 2. On the Map Service home screen, which of the following can you enter to locate the flood map for a specific property?
A. Surveyed Metes and Bounds
B. Legal description form deed
C. Street address✅
D. Tax Map and Parcel number
Question 3. Which is one type of Flood Map Index?
A. Incorporated Areas Index
B. Countywide Flood Insurance Rate Map Index✅
C. Flood Zone Index
D. Flood-prone Street Index
Question 4. If a property or building has been raised above the BFE by the placement of fill, how does FEMA show that the property or building is not within the SFHA?
A. Inset Note
B. Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-F)✅
C. Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA)
D. Notes to User
Question 5. Which Flood Map Index features the date the new or revised flood map set becomes effective for flood insurance and floodplain management purposes?
A. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Index✅
B. Flood Boundary Floodway Map (FBFM) Index
C. Countywide Flood Insurance Rate Map (CFIRM) Index
D. Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) Index
Question 6. To print a FIRMette, which of the following can you enter to locate the flood map for a specific property?
A. Web site
B. Social media hashtag
C. Area code
D. Longitude and latitude coordinates✅
Question 7. How do you know if there have been changes to the FIRM?
A. Check if there are any updates under the “Changes to this FIRM”✅
B. Select the MAP IMAGE link
C. Select the DYNAMIC MAP Link
D. Do a “Changes to This FIRM” search
Question 8. For standard identification purposes, FEMA assigns a Community Identifier (CID) to all active participants in the NFIP. How many digits are in a CID?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 6✅
D. 9
Question 9. Which is one type of Flood Map Index?
A. Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) Index✅
B. Incorporated Areas Index
C. Flood-prone Street Index
D. Flood Zone Index
Question 10. Which Flood Map Index features a list of flood-prone communities?
A. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Index
B. Flood Boundary Floodway Map (FBFM) Index
C. Countywide Flood Insurance Rate Map (CFIRM) Index✅
D. Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) Index
Question 11. How will you know if the FIRM has any revisions, amendments, and revalidations?
A. Select the MAP IMAGE link
B. Check under the “Changes to this FIRM” link✅
C. Select the DYNAMIC MAP Link
D. Do a “Changes to This FIRM” search
Question 12. The 5-digit code followed by the letter C Map Number is an example of what kind of map element? Select the BEST answer.
A. Element found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels
B. Element found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels for individual communities
C. Element found only on Countywide Panels✅
D. Element found on all or most Map Panels
Question 13. On the Map Service Center website, to locate the floodplain map for a specific property, which one of these examples is a valid search term?
A. Safeway
B. 877-336-2627
C. 38.88946, -77.03526
D. -77.03526, 38.88946✅
Question 14. Who uses Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to locate properties and buildings, and determine whether flood insurance is required when making loans or providing grants for the purpose or construction of buildings?
A. State and Community officials
B. FEMA engineers and cartographers
C. Private citizens, insurance agents, and real estate brokers
D. Lending institutions and Federal agencies✅
Question 15. In addition to community size, what else determines how many panels are in a map?
A. The number of elements that appear on the map
B. Type of jurisdiction
C. Panel scale(s)✅
D. The date the map was created or last revised
Question 16. How do Federally regulated lending institutions use flood maps when making loans for the purpose or construction of buildings? Select the BEST answer.
A. To mitigate flood damages
B. To identify FEMA engineers and cartographers
C. To administer floodplain management regulations
D. To determine whether flood insurance is required✅
Question 17. Alpha-Numeric Grid and Cross Section Symbol are examples of what kind of map elements? Select the BEST answer.
A. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels✅
B. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels for individual communities
C. Elements found on all or most Map Panels
D. Elements found only on Countywide Panels
Question 18. Flood Insurance Risk Zone Designations, Map Scale, and Area Not Included Labels are examples of what kind of map elements? Select the BEST answer.
A. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels for individual communities
B. Elements found on all or most flood Map Panels✅
C. Elements found only on Countywide Panels
D. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels
Question 19. On FIRM panel title boxes, what do the first six numbers identify?
A. Community identification (CID)✅
B. Number of revisions
C. Panel Number
D. Range of printed panels
Question 20. What does the FEMA-assigned, six-digit number on the Map panels indicate?
A. Community Identification✅
B. Community location
C. Community type
D. Single or Multiple communities
Question 21. Panel Number plus a letter indicating a number of revisions are examples of what kind of map elements? Select the BEST answer.
A. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels for individual communities✅
B. Elements found only on some FBFM/FIRM Panels
C. Elements found on all FBFM/FIRM Panels
D. Elements found only on Countywide Panels
Question 22. Which Flood Map Index has a title box that indicates the community panel number range?
A. Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Index for individual communities
B. Flood Boundary Floodway Map (FBFM) Index for individual communities
C. Countywide Flood Insurance Rate Map (CFIRM) Index for individual communities
D. Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) Index for individual communities✅
Question 23. On the Map Service Center website, to locate the floodplain map for a specific property, which one of these examples is a valid search term?
A. 877-336-2627
B. Tax Map 38 Parcel 77
C. 1900 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV✅
D. Sewage treatment plant
Question 24. What number is used to identify a flood map for a specific community?
A. 5-digit CWID✅
B. 4-digit Panel Number
C. 6-digit CID
D. 5-digit PWID
Question 25. Who uses Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to administer floodplain management regulations?
A. State and Community officials✅
B. FEMA engineers and cartographers
C. Private citizens, insurance agents, and real estate brokers
D. Lending institutions and Federal agencies
Question 26. What serves as a guide to the map panels or sheets found in a set of flood maps?
A. Title Block
B. Legend
C. Index✅
D. Inset Notes
Question 27. On the Map Service Center website, to locate the floodplain map for a specific property, which one of these examples is a valid search term?
A. Safeway
B. Lincoln Memorial✅
C. 877-336-2627
D. 38.88946, -77.03526
Question 28. On the Map Service Center website, to locate the flood map for a specific property, you first enter the street address, place name, or longitude and latitude coordinates into which field?
A. Find
B. Navigation
C. Locate
D. Search✅
