[20 Test Answers] FEMA IS-328: Plan Review for Local Mitigation Plans

Here are the FEMA test answers to IS-328: Plan Review for Local Mitigation Plans.

Overview: The FEMA IS-328 course was published on 10/31/2013 to provide the state and FEMA staff that review local mitigation plans with the information and training they will need to determine if a plan meets Federal mitigation planning requirements.

Primary audience: The IS-328 course is designed for new and experienced state and FEMA plan reviewers. Plan reviewers may be full or part-time, FEMA Disaster Assistance Reservists, FEMA contract plan reviewers, or state contract plan reviewers.

FEMA IS-328 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. Which of the following is NOT an item that would be considered as part of the 5-year evaluation of an updated plan? 
A. Changes to the planning team and stakeholders✅
B. Solutions for overcoming the obstacles
C. Identification of obstacles to implementing actions
D. Status of mitigation actions

Question 2. Which of the following would be an appropriate comment regarding a REQUIRED REVISION? 
A. The plan does not meet sub-element B1 because it does not identify locations within the planning area that may experience a landslide. If the entire planning area is prone to landslides, state this. If only some parts of the planning area are prone to landslides, describe these✅
B. This section of the plan is imprecise
C. The plan does not meet sub-element B1 and must be revised so that it complies with Federal planning regulations
D. The plan is poorly worded and difficult to follow and must be rewritten

Question 3. Which of the following best describes the information that a plan reviewer would expect to find in an updated mitigation plan? 
A. Summary of mitigation actions that have been completed and information about new development that has occurred in hazard-prone locations since the last plan was approved✅
B. Names, titles, and affiliations of government officials elected since the last plan was approved
C. Copy of a newspaper article about an Emergency Management Department Building constructed in the community since the last plan was approved
D. Copy of zoning regulations adopted since the last plan was approved

Question 4. Which of the following actions would NOT be consistent with the Guiding Principles? 
A. Work with the State to ensure that the plan review is communicated clearly and is completed in a timely manner
B. Accept the planning process and organization of the plan document as defined by the local community
C. Review the plan to ensure the best available data is used to meet requirements
D. Focus the review on the methodology used for estimating losses and look for ways to deny approval of the plan✅

Question 5. Which of the following is NOT a requirement that is specified in the regulation checklist? 
A. Recommend resources and course of action✅
B. Include an explanation of the plan’s shortcomings with a description of required revisions
C. Indicate that the plan either has met or has not met the requirement
D. Indicate the location in the plan where the requirement has been addressed

Question 6. Which of the following is NOT a guiding principle? 
A. Guiding Principle: Facilitate implementation of the plan✅
B. Guiding Principle: Understand that the process is as important as the plan itself
C. Guiding Principle: Review for intent as well as compliance
D. Guiding Principle: Focus on the mitigation strategy

Question 7. Which of the following is NOT a possible outcome after the plan review process? 
A. Conditional Approval: The plan is approved with the condition that the local governing body must provide the required material that is identified on the conditional commitment within 3 months of plan approval✅
B. Not Approved: The plan reviewers use the Plan Review Tool to explain how the plan is not compliant with the regulations and to provide information about how to revise the plan so that it is compliant.  The community will revise the plan accordingly and resubmit it
C. Approvable Pending Adoption: The plan must receive formal adoption by the local governing authority before FEMA formally approves the plan
D. Approved: Hazard Mitigation Plan is adopted by the local governing authority and has received formal approval from FEMA

Question 8. Which of the following actions would be consistent with the Guiding Principles? 
A. Since you’re only getting to review the plan one time, require and recommend all possible enhancements to the plan
B. Deny approval if the plan document is not organized to facilitate the review process
C. Accept the planning process as defined by the local community✅
D. Review the plan only for compliance, as intent is subjective

Question 9. Which of the following is NOT a step in the Planning Process? 
A. Develop a strategy to mitigate risks
B. Assess risks, analyze vulnerabilities and impacts
C. Identify and examine potential natural hazards
D. Conduct background research and construct a hypothesis✅

Question 10. Which of the following is NOT true of the Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide 
A. FEMA plan approvers must be consulted when reviewing a Local Mitigation Plan
B. Provides standard operating procedures for consistent review of local mitigation plans
C. Outlines best practices for integrating the mitigation planning process into existing local planning mechanisms✅
D. Represents FEMA’s interpretation of Federal regulations, including references to specific language in 44 CFR 201.6

Question 11. Which one of the following items is not part of the Plan Assessment? 
A. Recommendations for implementation
B. Number of actions recommended in the plan✅
C. Strengths of the plan
D. Suggestions for improving the plan

Question 12. Which of the following is NOT an element of the mitigation strategy? 
A. The results of the vulnerability analysis are presented and discussed✅
B. Mitigation actions that were identified in the previous plan must be reaffirmed or updated
C. To identify existing authorities, policies, programs, and resources that can be used to implement actions
D. Description of the hazard mitigation goals and objectives

Question 13. Which one of the following is NOT a section in the Plan Review Tool? 
A. Recommendations Summary Sheet✅
B. Multi-jurisdiction Summary Sheet
C. Plan Assessment
D. Regulation Checklist

Question 14. Which of the following would a reviewer expect to find as part of the flood hazard risk assessment? 
A. Names of owners and addresses of repetitive loss properties
B. List of homeowners interested in buy-outs
C. Area on county/town map shown as “flood-prone,” with no other details
D. For each participating jurisdiction, the types (residential, commercial) and numbers of vulnerable structures, including an estimate of the type and number of repetitive loss properties✅

Question 15. Which of the following is not something that would be included as a recommended resource for implementing the plan? 
A. Upcoming trainings or workshops
B. FEMA Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) Reference Guide
C. Funding programs from other Federal agencies✅
D. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding programs

Question 16. Which of the following would be most appropriate for documenting the provision of an opportunity for the public to participate during the drafting state of the planning process? 
A. Photograph of a public meeting from the FEMA Photo Library
B. Sign-in sheets from open meetings about mitigation planning and copies of comments received about the draft plan through an interactive website✅
C. Sign-in sheets from an open house held at the local library to celebrate the opening of a new children’s library
D. Minutes of a public meeting where hazard mitigation planning was not discussed

Question 17. Which of the following best describes the purpose of reviewing a local hazard mitigation plan? 
A. To learn how the local community has saved money by mitigating the potential effects of natural and human-caused hazards
B. To determine whether the plan meets the requirements of 44 CFR 59.1
C. To determine whether the plan is consistent with the current practice and philosophy of planning
D. To determine whether the plan meets the requirements of 44 CFR 201.6✅

Question 18. Which of the following statements is NOT true? 
A. FEMA does not require a local governing body to adopt the plan before final approval✅
B. FEMA does not require that specific types of projects be proposed for implementation
C. FEMA will not require information above or beyond the requirements
D. FEMA will not require specific formats for a plan to be “approvable”

Question 19. Which of the following statements is appropriate for the Plan Assessment? 
A. The plan should include photos to show the level of damage due to the most recent floods
B. The plan fails to describe the location of flood-prone areas
C. The area clearly needs a new hydrologic and hydraulic study because the areas that are flooded seem to be increasing in acreage every year
D. The plan uses Hazus to produce estimates of losses due to flooding even though this level of study is not required by planning regulations✅

Question 20. During the State review of a local plan, the State Hazard Mitigation Officer is responsible for which one of the following actions? 
A. Coordinate a meeting with the State planning committee to review the community plan
B. Provide the community with the Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide to submit to FEMA with a copy of their plan
C. Review of the plan to make sure that all State and Federal requirements are met, and forward it to FEMA for review
D. Review and approval of the plan✅