Flood Plain Maps
About Floodplain Maps
Floodplain maps or flood hazard maps have been produced for many areas of the country because of the risks that are associated with habitation and development of these areas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) routinely conducts hazards assessment and mitigation of loss resulting from flooding of low lying coastal and riverine areas. To increase awareness of hazards due to flooding and to better coordinate response and mitigation activities, FEMA has published a series of Flood Hazard Boundary Maps (FHBM) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
FHBMs and FIRMs are available for many cities, villages, and counties in Wisconsin (unincorporated areas are listed separately in the index). FHBMs are mostly early versions produced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) prior to the late 1970s. FIRMs are more recent maps produced by FEMA. FEMA publishes an index to these maps that is periodically updated. Information about ordering this index or specific flood hazard or flood insurance rate maps can be obtained by contacting FEMA's Flood Map Distribution Center.
Aerial photography is often used in floodplain mapping and flood analysis. Riverway photography provides a good source of information on the landforms, vegetation, and settlement of floodplains. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has acquired aerial photography of many of Wisconsin's riverways. Those specifically interested in river or floodplain photography can search our aerial photography catalog for projects within any of Wisconsin's 72 counties, or you may contact the nearest USACE office.
Obtaining Floodplain Maps
The DNR has scanned and geo-registered all of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Wisconsin (overlaid on either 7.5' topographic maps or digital orthophotos).
If you are interested in ordering the index of the most recent FIRMs or specific flood hazard and flood insurance rate maps contact the FEMA's Flood Map Distribution Center. Those specifically interested in river or floodplain photography can search our aerial photography catalog for projects within any of Wisconsin's 72 counties, or you may contact the nearest USACE office.
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