How to Read a FIRM Map

Learn the basics of how to read and interpret a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) from Brent Gotsch, Resource Educator and Certified Floodplain Manager with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County. The video was produced for the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program in northwest Ulster County, NY. Learn how FIRMs are made, what the 100-Year Flood really is, what different map symbols mean, why base flood elevation is important, and more. This video offers basic education on How to Read a FIRM Map for municipal officials who may be asked questions about FIRMs housed in town offices, property owners who are considering or required to purchase flood insurance, and prospective homebuyers seeking information on a property's flood risk. The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) works with watershed communities to facilitate stream stewardship in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. The watershed is part of the NYC Water Supply System. We offer training and education to watershed landowners, municipal officials, and the general public. The AWSMP provides a range of education programs focused on floodplain management. The AWSMP is a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Funding for this video was provided by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. For more information on floodplain management education, or to learn more about stream management in the Ashokan watershed, visit www.ashokanstreams.org.