FLOOD HAZARD MAPPING FOR CALIFORNIA Eric Simmons, FEMA Region 9 We’re firmly in the era of big data. Hazard maps are no exception, but what are the differences between various flood products? Five common map types for California are summarized to help clarify their uses. Tsunami hazard area maps are online, cover the state’s populated coastal areas, and are currently being updated. An example around Emma Wood State Park at the mouth of the Ventura River is shown. The California Legislature passed Senate Bill 92 requiring the development of inundation maps for state jurisdictional dams.
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These maps are posted when approved by Division of Safety of Dams. An example based on a reservoir breach is provided around the same area in Ventura, California. Levee flood protection zone maps from the California Department of Water Resources highlight areas behind State-Federal levees. One can view this using a parcel lookup tool. For the entire nation, the National Levee Database, or NLD, includes maps of ‘leveed areas’ as well as a dashboard to search geographically. The NLD is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
