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Q3 flood data, Alabama

Identification Information
Citation
Originator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Publication Date
19980101
Title
Q3 flood data, Alabama
Geospatial Data Presentation Form
vector digital data
Publication Information
Publication Place
500 C Street SW, Washington, DC, 20472, US
Publisher
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Online Linkage
https://figgy.princeton.edu/downloads/00cdb0ee-f669-41ff-9279-07c5e6881996/file/9bdc96ce-471e-4d53-b104-dad873e58965
Abstract
Q3 flood data for Alabama, 1996. The Q3 Flood Data are derived from the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file is georeferenced to earth's surface using geographic projection and decimal degree coordinate system. Specifications for the horizontal control of Q3 Flood Data files are consistent with those required for mapping at a scale of 1:24000.
Purpose
Q3 Flood Data files are intended to convey certain key features from existing hard copy FIRMs to provide users with automated flood risk data. The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are 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 puchase 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 1973 Flood Disaster Protection Act). 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. For Q3 Flood Data files, edge-matching errors, overlaps and deficiencies in coverage, and similar problems are not corrected during digitizing or post-processing. These data may be used to locate SFHAs. More detailed information may be obtained from the paper FIRMs.
Supplemental Information
Original data development environment varies. Additional manipulation, topological structuring, and attribute encoding were undertaken using ARC/INFO software on a UNIX-based workstation. Shapefile was created by converting ARC/INFO export format (.e00) files of each county that were available to the library and merging them by state. All counties of state may not be represented in shapefile. Shapefile download also includes original .e00 files and the document "Q3 Flood Data Specifications" in .txt format.
Temporal Extent
Currentness Reference
Publication date by FEMA.
Bounding Box
West
-88.431925
East
-84.889008
North
34.992690
South
30.139344
Theme Keyword
flood
floods
risk
insurance
FEMA
FEMA flood hazard zones
Q3
Q3 flood data
Q3 coverage
Special Flood Hazard Areas
SFHAs
digital flood insurance rate maps
Theme Keyword Thesaurus
None
Theme Keyword
inlandWaters
Theme Keyword Thesaurus
ISO 19115 Topic Categories
Place Keyword
Alabama
Madison
Madison County
Morgan
Morgan County
Calhoun
Calhoun County
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa County
Randolph
Randolph County
Dallas
Dallas County
Russell
Russell County
Montgomery
Montgomery County
Barbour
Barbour County
Henry
Henry County
Conecuh
Conecuh County
Coffee
Coffee County
Dale
Dale County
Covington
Covington County
Houston
Houston County
Baldwin
Baldwin County
Geneva
Geneva County
Mobile
Mobile County
Place Keyword Thesaurus
None
Temporal Keyword
Access Restrictions
None
Use Restrictions
Data are licensed to Princeton University-affiliated persons only.
Status
Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Irregular
Point of Contact
Contact Organization
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
Delivery Point
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
City
Princeton
State
NJ
Postal Code
08544
Country
US
Contact Telephone
609-258-1097
Point of Contact
Contact Organization
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mitigation Directorate
Delivery Point
500 C Street SW
City
Washington
State
DC
Postal Code
20472
Contact Telephone
(800) 358-9616
Credit
FEMA/GIS Data Depot
Native Data Set Environment
Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.2.0.3348
Data Quality Information
Quantitative Attribute Accuracy Assessment
Quantitative Horizontal Positional Accuracy Assessment
Lineage
Spatial Data Organization Information
Direct Spatial Reference Method
Vector
Point and Vector Object Information
SDTS Terms Description
SDTS Point and Vector Object Type
GT-polygon composed of chains
Point and Vector Object Count
27224
Spatial Reference Information
Horizontal Coordinate System Definition
Geographic
Latitude Resolution
8.9830550972891565e-009
Longitude Resolution
8.9830550972891565e-009
Geographic Coordinate Units
Decimal Degrees
Geodetic Model
Horizontal Datum Name
D North American 1927
Ellipsoid Name
Clarke 1866
Semi-major Axis
6378206.4
Denominator of Flattening Ratio
294.9786982
Entity and Attribute Information
Entity Type
Entity Type Label
Q3_FloodData_AL
Entity Type Definition
Polygon attribute table comprising 20 items.
Entity Type Definition Source
FEMA FIRM, digital data sources, or other information as appropriate.
Attributes
FID
Internal feature number. (Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.)
Definition Source
Esri
Shape
Feature geometry. (Coordinates defining the features.)
Definition Source
Esri
FIPS
This item contains the five-digit State and County FIPS code, as defined in the Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 6-4, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The State and County FIPS codes are further separated by the redefined items ST_FIPS and CO_FIPS. (Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST))
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
COMMUNITY
This item contains the four-digit community identification number assigned by FEMA to each community that participates in the NFIP. This number may be found in the title block of each FIRM panel, or in the NFIP Community Status Book. (0 to 9999)
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
FIRM_PANEL
This item contains the eleven-digit FIRM panel number. The FIRM panel number is found in the title block of each FIRM panel. The FIRM panel number is further separated into its components by the redefined items STATE (contains the State FIPS code), PCOMM (for countywide panels, this is the County FIPS code plus the letter "c"; for community based panels, this is the community identification number), and PANEL (the panel number and suffix). (Code comprises a unique alpha-numeric sequence based on FIPS and FEMA Community and Panel identification numbers. )
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
QUAD
This item contains the eight-digit USGS quadrangle identification number. It identifies the alphanumeric map sheet identifier used by the USGS. The list of values for each state is published by USGS in the State Indexes to Topographic and Other Map Coverage. This item is further separated into its components by three redefined items. They are LAT (the latitude, rounded down to the nearest whole degree, of the 7.5-minute quadrangle map sheet), LONG (the longitude, rounded down to the nearest whole degree, of the 7.5-minute quadrangle map sheet), and QUAD_UNIT (the alphanumeric map sheet identifier used by USGS, A1 through H8). (Unique sequence based on latitude and longitude.)
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
ZONE
This item contains a representation of the flood hazard zone designator.
100IC
1% Annual Chance Flood Discharge Contained in Channel. An area where the 1% annual chance flooding is contained within the channel banks and the channel is too narrow to show to scale. An arbitrary channel width of 3 meters is shown. BFEs (base flood zone elevations) are not shown in this area, although they may be reflected on the corresponding profile. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 13]
500IC
0.2% Annual Chance Flood Discharge Contained in Channel. An area where the 0.2% annual chance flooding is contained within the channel banks and the channel is too narrow to show to scale. An arbitrary channel width of 3 meters is shown. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 14]
A
Zone A. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding, for which no BFEs (base flood zone elevations) have been determined. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 3]
A99
Zone A99. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding, for which no BFEs have been determined. This is an area to be protected from the 1% annual chance flood by a Federal flood protection system under construction. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 8]
AE
Zone AE. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding, for which BFEs have been determined. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 4]
AH
Zone AH. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding (usually an area of ponding), for which BFEs have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 7]
ANI
Area not included. An area that is located within a community or county that is not mapped on any published FIRM. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 0]
AO
Zone AO. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain), for which average depths have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 5]
AOVEL
Zone AO (Alluvial Fan). An alluvial fan inundated by 1% annual chance flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain), for which average flood depths and velocities have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 6]
AR
Zone AR (Future). An area inundated by flooding, for which BFEs (base flood zone elevations) or average depths have been determined. This is an area that was previously, and will again, be protected from the 1% annual chance flood by a Federal flood protection system whose restoration is Federally funded and underway. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 10]
D
Zone D. An area of undetermined but possible flood hazards. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 9]
FPQ
Flood Prone Area. An area designated as a "Flood Prone Area" on a map prepared by USGS and the Federal Insurance Administration. This area has been delineated based on available information on past floods. This is an area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding for which no BFEs (base flood zone elevations) have been determined. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 16]
FWIC
Floodway Contained in Channel. An area where the floodway is contained within the channel banks and the channel is too narrow to show to scale. An arbitrary channel width of 3 meters is shown. BFEs are not shown in this area, although they may be reflected on the corresponding profile. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 15]
IN
Area in SFHA. An area designated as within a "Special Flood Hazard Area" (or SFHA) on a FIRM. This is an area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding for which BFEs or velocity may have been determined. No distinctions are made between the different flood hazard zones that may be included within the SFHA. These may include Zones A, AE, AO, AH, A99, AR, V, or VE. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 17]
OUT
Area Outside SFHA. An area designated as outside a "Special Flood Hazard Area"(or SFHA) on a FIRM. This is an area inundated by 0.2% annual chance flooding; an area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; an area protected by levees from 1% annual chance flooding; or an area that is determined to be outside the 1% and 0.2% annual chance floodplains. No distinctions are made between these different conditions. These may include both shaded and unshaded areas of Zone X. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 18]
UNDES
Area of Undesignated Flood Hazard. A body of open water, such as a pond, lake, ocean, etc., located within a community's jurisdictional limits, that has no defined flood hazard. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 0]
V
Zone V. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding with velocity hazard (wave action); no BFEs (base flood zone elevations) have been determined. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 1]
VE
Zone VE. An area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding with velocity hazard (wave action); BFEs have been determined. [SFHA = IN; SYMBOL = 2]
X
Zone X. An area that is determined to be outside the 1% and 0.2% annual chance floodplains. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 12]
X500
Zone X (0.2% Annual Chance). An area inundated by 0.2% annual chance flooding; an area inundated by 1% annual chance flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 1% annual chance flooding. [SFHA = OUT; SYMBOL = 11]
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
FLOODWAY
This item contains a representation of the floodway type (channel, river, or watercourse reserved for flood discharge). Floodway, Flowage Easement, and State Encroachment Areas are included in the Q3 Flood Data files if they are portrayed on the source graphic (the FIRM) used for data capture. If they are portrayed on a separate map panel (the Flood Boundary Floodway Map), they will not be included in the Q3 Flood Data files.
FW
Floodway. An area that includes the channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water-surface elevation by more than a designated height. (Note: this area is normally in Zone AE.)
EASE
Flowage Easement Area. An area within a community, usually bordering a stream, that has more restrictive floodplain development criteria imposed upon it by the governing body (town, city, etc.) than the criteria imposed as a prerequisite to participation in the NFIP. (Note: Unlike the floodway, this area may overlap any other flood zone.)
STATE
State Encroachment Area. An area within a community, usually bordering a stream, that has more restrictive floodplain development criteria imposed upon it by the state, than the criteria imposed as a prerequisite to participation in the NFIP. (Note: Unlike the floodway, this area may overlap any other flood zone.)
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications/FEMA FIRM
COBRA
This item indicates whether the area is inside or outside of a designated Coastal Barrier Resources System Area (COBRA). Only the extents of the Coastal Barrier Resources System Area boundaries are portrayed in the Q3 Flood Data files. The boundaries between Coastal Barrier Resources System areas with different designation dates are not included in the Q3 Flood Data files. Users should refer to the FIRM for such information.
COBRA_IN
Inside Coastal Barrier Resources System Area. An area designated as within the Coastal Barrier Resources System in which flood insurance is unavailable for structures newly built or substantially improved after the Coastal Barrier date. The specific Coastal Barrier designation date is available on the printed FIRM.
COBRA_OUT
Outside Coastal Barrier Resources System Area. An area outside the Coastal Barrier Resources System.
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
SFHA
This item indicates whether the area is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). It is derived from the area's flood hazard zone designation. The SFHA definitions that correspond with each of the flood hazard zone types are given in the enumerated ZONE values. Please note that areas whose ZONE is listed as Area Not Included (ANI) are given the SFHA attribute of "OUT," even though their SFHA designation is unknown at this time.
IN
Area located within Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).
OUT
Area located outside of SFHA.
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
SYMBOL
This item represents a polygon shade symbol (for graphic output) that is unique to the Zone, Floodway, and COBRA area definitions. Users should note that in order to replicate these colors, a Q3 Flood Data Shadeset must be installed. (Unique numbers corresponding to unique permutations of ZONE, FLOODWAY, COBRA, and SFHA values. Refer to the definitions of individual ZONE values for their corresponding SYMBOL values.)
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
PANEL_TYP
This item contains a representation of the FIRM panel type.
CBPP
Community based - panel printed. The portion of a community covered by a community based map sheet (panel). A community may consist of more than one FIRM panel. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number and its suffix.
CBNP
Community based - panel not printed. The portion of a community covered by a community based map sheet (panel) that is not printed. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number and its suffix.
CWPP
Countywide - panel printed. The portion of a community covered by a countywide map sheet (panel). A community may consist of more than one FIRM panel. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number and its suffix.
CWNP
Countywide - panel not printed. The portion of a community covered by a countywide map sheet (panel) that is not printed. The FIRM panel is further identified by its FIRM panel number and its suffix.
AOPN
Area outside FIRM panel neatline. Any unpanelled areas of a participating county. It should be used to identify any areas that fall within a participating community but outside of the defined panelling scheme. It should not be confused with the Unmapped Community attribute, which should be used for unmapped or non-participating communities.
UNMC
Unmapped community. A jurisdiction that has not been mapped or identified by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It may be applied to a jurisdiction that has no maps because it has no Special Flood Hazard Area, or it may be applied to a jurisdiction that is not identified by the NFIP or is not participating in the NFIP.
Definition Source
Q3 Flood Data Specifications
ST_FIPS
State FIPS code. [For more information refer to FIPS attribute.] (Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST))
Definition Source
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST)
CO_FIPS
County FIPS code. [For more information refer to FIPS attribute.] (Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST))
Definition Source
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST)
STATE
State FIPS code. [For more information refer to FIRM_PANEL attribute.] (Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST))
Definition Source
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST)
PCOMM
FIRM Community/County Identifier. [For more information refer to FIRM_PANEL attribute.] (Code comprises a unique alpha-numeric sequence based on FIPS and FEMA Community and Panel identification numbers.)
Definition Source
FEMA FIRM
PANEL
FIRM Panel number and suffix. [For more information refer to FIRM_PANEL attribute.] (Unique sequence based on FEMA FIRM.)
Definition Source
FEMA FIRM
LAT
Origin latitude (degrees) of 7.5-minute quadrangle. [For more information refer to QUAD attribute.] (0 to 90)
Definition Source
USGS Quadrangle Index
LONG
Origin longitude (degrees) of 7.5-minute quadrangle. [For more information refer to QUAD attribute.] (-180 to 180)
Definition Source
USGS Quadrangle Index
QUAD_UNIT
Index number to 7.5 minute quadrangle. [For more information refer to QUAD attribute.] (Unique numeric sequence.)
Definition Source
USGS Quadrangle Index
Entity and Attribute Overview
In addition to locational and topological information, Q3 Flood data elements are explicitly encoded using attribute items. Each attribute item identifies characteristics about the Flood Hazard Area, COBRA, Floodway, Political Jurisdiction, Quadrangle, or FIRM panel. All polygon data elements may be encoded with one or more feature characteristics.
Distribution Information
Format Name
ARC/INFO Coverage Format
Distributor
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Map Service Center
Online Access
http://www.fema.gov
Name
Metadata Reference Information
Metadata Date
20150122
Metadata Contact
Contact Information
Contact Organization Primary
Contact Organization
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
Contact Address
Address
Map and Geospatial Information Center, Lewis Library, Princeton University
City
Princeton
State or Province
NJ
Postal Code
08544
Country
US
Contact Voice Telephone
609-258-1097
Metadata Standard Name
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata Standard Version
FGDC-STD-001-1998
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