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Are FEMA Map Downloads now free?

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(@the-pseudo-ranger)
Posts: 2369
Topic starter
 

Today I see that FEMA has completely redesigned their map services websites, and it looks like they will let you download any map you want (or all the maps in your county as a Zip) for free.

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 4:17 pm
(@plumb-bill)
Posts: 1597
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You could always get a single map for free. The whole-county for free is new. It should all always be free, we already paid for it once.

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 5:19 pm
(@gromaticus)
Posts: 340
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Last Friday, I was one click away from purchasing the new maps and FIS for my area for about $100. I just downloaded them all for free!

So the answer to your question is YES!

Finally - I never understood how a government agency could get away with charging so much for their data.

Thank you for bringing this up!

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 5:20 pm
(@the-pseudo-ranger)
Posts: 2369
Topic starter
 

I'm pretty sure that you could get a FIRMETTE for free, but they charged to download the entire map and FIS.

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 6:00 pm
(@jimmy-cleveland)
Posts: 2812
 

Thanks for sharing!

I just downloaded all the FEMA info for my home county.

This will be helpful to have this on my laptop.

Jimmy

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 6:25 pm
(@coady)
Posts: 150
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THANKS, PSUEDO RANGER!!

 
Posted : July 29, 2014 8:13 pm
(@djames)
Posts: 851
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Check out the new http://fris.nc.gov/fris/ site , Dont need no maps , but if you do you can get it . Also can download the shape files of the flood hazard area to insert in the survey . Looks like NC , VA , LA are on the site .

So all you do is pick the structure and it automagically gives you the base flood for the structure . Real handy.

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 4:32 am
 dig
(@dig)
Posts: 62
Registered
 

Post Link?

Can someone post a link? I lost the bookmark. Thx

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 9:12 am
(@thebionicman)
Posts: 4438
Customer
 

There are 2 issues I see with this. First is the opening splash screen that says "do not quote or cite data". The other is reconciling the use of someone else's data regarding the structure location. When I certify the structure as in or out of the SFHA the owner is greatly impacted. I owe it to them to measure the horizontal location and make the determination in accordance with FEMA policy. How can I seal the document without doing the work?

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 9:18 am
 dig
(@dig)
Posts: 62
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Post Link?

Nevermind....google is my friend.

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 10:16 am
(@tom-adams)
Posts: 3453
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Post Link?

> Nevermind....google is my friend.

Yeah....maybe now. But wait 'til it takes over the world. Then see how much it likes you....:-P

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 10:43 am
(@the-pseudo-ranger)
Posts: 2369
Topic starter
 

Post Link?

Yeah, probably should have included a link. This is where I found it.

https://msc.fema.gov/portal/advanceSearch

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 11:37 am
(@djames)
Posts: 851
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I agree and the site give you the shape files for Flood hazard line on State plan to bring into the dwg to verify the location . I dont see it getting any better than that for verification.

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 12:12 pm
(@thebionicman)
Posts: 4438
Customer
 

Gotcha... What I've seen lately is Surveyors turning on the NFHL in Google Earth and calling it good. In my area it can be off from a few feet to a few hundred feet...

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 12:41 pm
(@djames)
Posts: 851
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Buy the way NC flew the whole state for Lidar and Ortho photos . So what you see on the FRIS site is our flood maps to the letter. But still I do the verification with the shape files .

 
Posted : July 30, 2014 2:22 pm