Features

Best Available Flood Reference Data

Includes the best available flood mapping data from FEMA and other approved sources and incorporates maps/background and reference layers (aerial photos, roads, elevation contours, addresses, parcels, stream names, etc.) from federal, state, local, and commercial sources. The WV Flood Tool operates on both desktop computers and mobile phones.

Map Views

• The WV Flood Tool has three customized map views: PUBLIC, EXPERT, and RISK MAP. These Views support FEMA’s NFIP/CRS and Risk MAP Programs.
• PUBLIC View allows the general public to obtain quick and easy flood hazard determinations of identified locations.
• EXPERT View and RISK MAP View are for more advanced users who are familiar with FEMA's official flood maps and mitigation programs for flood risk mapping, assessment, and planning (RISK MAP).

Tool Functions and Visualization

• Displays in the Flood Query Results Panel comprehensive information about the identified flood hazard (flood zone, flood height, flood depth), ground elevation, geographic location (watershed name, stream name/flood source, parcel identifier, site address, x-y coordinates), and community information.
• Links specific areas of the map to online FEMA-issued maps, hydraulic models, flood profiles, building-level flood risk assessments, external map viewers, detailed property assessment reports, and local floodplain manager contact.
• Presents three different cartographic representations of flood zones.
• Allows floodplain managers to print flood determination information required for floodplain permits and record keeping.
• Renders 3D Flood Visualizations from the base flood water depth and building type. Visualizations are easier for non-technical users to understand risks to their property in feet of water rather than comprehending the base flood elevation.
• Multiple ways to zoom to geographic locations: street addresses, tax parcels, coordinates, and place names.
• Displays ground elevation values with a vertical accuracy range of 10 ft. to 1 ft.
• Shows effective and advisory flood height values for A or AE Zones using Water Surface Elevation (WSEL) Grids.
• Affords eligible communities CRS credits.
• Warning colors denote risk level: high risk (red/orange), moderate risk (yellow)

Data Layers

Base map (Background) Layer

• ROAD/STREET base maps are useful for viewing the named features of roads, streams, and other points of interest.
• TOPOGRAPHIC and HILLSHADE base maps are helpful for viewing the terrain.
• AERIAL IMAGERY base maps are useful for viewing structures and high-resolution pictures of the earth's surface. Users can access more than ten aerial imagery data sets from 1999 to present that vary in resolution from 1 meter to 4 inches.
• Counties and local communities are encouraged to incorporate their locally acquired data into the Flood Tool. Locally produced data sets such as parcels, E-911 addresses, and leaf-off aerial imagery are integrated at the state level and provided as a shared map service.

Reference Layers

Overlay reference layers consist of vector framework layers. Important layers for property identification are tax parcels, E-911 addresses, geographic names, and community boundaries. Detailed parcel assessment web reports display building information for all primary and secondary structures located in a single parcel. The WV Property Search Tool is a companion application of the WV Flood Tool that allows users to perform advanced search and filter queries on all property assessment records. Other reference layers include the WVDOT roads, hydrography, watersheds, and elevation contours. Reference layers are generalized and more detailed at zoomed-out and zoomed-in scales, respectively, with all layers displayed at the largest zoom-in scale of 1:282. Elevation contour intervals at the highest zoom levels vary from 10 ft. to 1 ft.

Flood Layers

Flood layers encompass information about flood hazards and mitigating flood risks. The Flood Tool displays the primary National Flood Hazard Layers (NFHL) on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). High-Risk Advisory Zones (Advisory A, Updated AE, and Preliminary NFHL – orange colored zones) are non-regulatory flood zones and not shown on the FIRM; however, future FEMA Flood Studies most likely will incorporate these advisory zones on the official FIRM. Other map layers for floodplain management and hazard reduction efforts include mitigated buyout properties, elevation certificates, positionally-verified LOMAs, and high-water marks. In the RISK MAP View, building-level risk assessments are displayed for a 100-year flood.

Contacts

State NFIP Coordinator
(NFIP Permitting, Compliance, Training)

Timothy W. Keaton, CFM
State Office of the National Flood Insurance Program (SONFIP)
WV Emergency Management Division
2403 Fairlawn Ave.
Dunbar, WV 25064
(304) 414-7659 Extension 48462
Website Link (offsite)

CTP Mapping Grants Coordinator
(Floodplain Mapping Projects, Flood Tool Support)

WV GIS Technical Center

(System Administration and Data Integrator)

Eric Hopkins - (eric.hopkins@mail.wvu.edu; phone: 304-293-9463)
Frank LaFone- (frank.lafone@mail.wvu.edu; phone: 304-293-9466)
Kurt Donaldson- (kurt.donaldson@mail.wvu.edu; phone: 304-293-9467)
Maneesh Sharma- (Maneesh.Sharma@mail.wvu.edu; phone: 304-293-6694)

WVU Department of Geology & Geography, 330 Brooks Hall, P.O. Box 6300, Morgantown, WV 26506,
Phone: (304) 293-0557
Website