Q3 FLOOD DATA ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* README FILE CONTENTS: I. INTRODUCTION II. Q3 FLOOD DATA DESCRIPTION III. INDEX OF DOCUMENTATION IV. Q3 FLOOD DATA CD-ROM CONTENTS V. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS VI. USE AND PRECAUTIONS ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* I. INTRODUCTION: In its continuing efforts to perform hazards mitigation and to improve customer service by expanding the availability of flood risk data, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released the Q3 Flood Data product. Designed to support FEMA's Response and Recovery activities and flood insurance policy marketing initiatives, Q3 Flood Data will be used in floodplain management, hazards analysis, and risk assessment activities. The product contains a subset of information derived from paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). While the digital data were developed to support floodplain management activities, they do not replace the paper FIRMs. ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* II. Q3 FLOOD DATA DESCRIPTION: The Q3 Flood Data are developed by electronically scanning the current effective map panels of existing paper FIRMs. Certain key features are digitally captured and then converted into area features (floodplain boundaries, flood insurance zones, political boundaries). Using computer mapping software, you can overlay the Q3 Flood Data with your own information (land parcels, transportation networks, customer addresses, etc.) to display zones of potential flood risk and identify future marketing opportunities. Q3 Flood Data are intended to capture certain key features from the existing paper FIRMs. These features include: > 100-year and 500-year (1% and 0.2% annual chance) floodplain areas, including Zone V areas, certain floodway areas (when present on the FIRM), and zone designations. > Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) areas. > Political areas, including community identification number. > FIRM panel areas, including panel number and suffix. > U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle corner points and neatlines. The most current FIRM panels are used in the Q3 Flood Data production. In addition, Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) and Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs), if they are mappable at the publication scale of the paper FIRM, are incorporated into the Q3 Flood Data. However, the user should keep in mind that changes may have occurred between the time of the digital Q3 Flood Data conversion and the production date of the CD-ROM. Therefore, because of the dynamic nature of these revisions and updates, the user should confirm that the most up-to-date information is being used to meet the needs of her/his desired application. FEMA intends to perform bi-annual reviews (and possible revisions) of the Q3 Flood Data CD-ROMs to ensure the most current and useful data are available to the user community. The paper FIRMs from which the Q3 Flood Data are extracted contain no horizontal control (x/y, latitude/longitude coordinates). However, the digital Q3 Flood Data specifications require horizontal control consistent with the specifications required for mapping at a scale of 1:24,000. Horizontal control is typically accomplished by fitting the flood data to a USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle. Edge- matching errors, overlaps and underlaps in coverage, and similar problems are not corrected during the Q3 Flood Data conversion process. The Q3 Flood Data are distributed in USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) format, compatible with FEMA document FIA-21/October 1993 ("Standards for Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps"). The Q3 data are also provided in proprietary formats (ARC/INFO (R) and MapInfo (R)) for use with numerous compatible desk-top mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) software packages. ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* III. INDEX OF DOCUMENTATION: The following document files are located in the \DOCUMENT directory: 1. USERGD.TXT.........."Q3 Users Guide" documentation provides users with an overview of the Q3 Flood Data in an ASCII text format. 2. USERGD.WP5.........."Q3 Users Guide" documentation provides users with an overview of the Q3 Flood Data in a Word Perfect 5.1 format. 3. USERGD.EPS.........."Q3 Users Guide" documentation provides users with an overview of the Q3 Flood Data in a PostScript format. 4. Q3SPEC.TXT.........."Q3 Specifications" documentation for the Q3 Flood Data in ASCII text format. 5. Q3SPEC.WP5.........."Q3 Specifications" documentation for the Q3 Flood Data in Word Perfect 5.1 format. 6. Q3SPEC.EPS.........."Q3 Specifications" documentation for the Q3 Flood Data in Postscript format. ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* IV. Q3 FLOOD DATA CONTENTS: This Q3 Flood Data came from a CD-ROM, Disc 29, dated September 1998 that contains Q3 data for 34 counties. Each Q3 Flood Data set included on the CD-ROM is provided in Digital Line Graph (DLG) format, ARC/INFO export format, and MapInfo native table format. > Metadata are provided for each Q3 Flood Data set in ASCII text format. > Documentation for the Q3 Flood Data is also included on the CD-ROM. Directory Structure: This Q3 Flood Data is organized with the following directory structure: \DLG Q3-DLG files for 34 counties \ARC Q3 ARC/INFO export files for 34 counties \MAP Q3 MapInfo native table files for 34 counties (Not on FTP server) \DOCUMENT Documentation readme.txt This " readme " file lists the contents of the CD-ROM as well as background information regarding the Q3 Flood Data product. For general inquiries or to order Q3 Flood Data, call 1-800-358-9616. For technical support, call 617-354-2614. You may also email technical questions to FEMA@hdm.com. \DLG: This Q3 Flood Data CD-ROM contains Q3 Flood Data for 34 individual counties in DLG format. One countywide Q3-DLG file per county is provided in DOS ASCII format. The following Q3-DLG files are contained in the \DLG directory: COUNTY FILE Barbour County \DLG\C54001.DLG Braxton County \DLG\C54007.DLG Brooke County \DLG\C54009.DLG Cabell County \DLG\C54011.DLG Calhoun County \DLG\C54013.DLG Clay County \DLG\C54015.DLG Gilmer County \DLG\C54021.DLG Grant County \DLG\C54023.DLG Greenbrier County \DLG\C54025.DLG Hardy County \DLG\C54031.DLG Harrison County \DLG\C54033.DLG Jackson County \DLG\C54035.DLG Kanawha County \DLG\C54039.DLG Lewis County \DLG\C54041.DLG Lincoln County \DLG\C54043.DLG Logan County \DLG\C54045.DLG Mcdowell County \DLG\C54047.DLG Marshall County \DLG\C54051.DLG Mason County \DLG\C54053.DLG Mingo County \DLG\C54059.DLG Ohio County \DLG\C54069.DLG Putnam County \DLG\C54079.DLG Raleigh County \DLG\C54081.DLG Randolph County \DLG\C54083.DLG Roane County \DLG\C54087.DLG Summers County \DLG\C54089.DLG Tucker County \DLG\C54093.DLG Tyler County \DLG\C54095.DLG Upshur County \DLG\C54097.DLG Wayne County \DLG\C54099.DLG Wetzel County \DLG\C54103.DLG Wirt County \DLG\C54105.DLG Wood County \DLG\C54107.DLG Wyoming County \DLG\C54109.DLG COUNTY METADATA FILE Barbour County \DLG\C54001.DLM Braxton County \DLG\C54007.DLM Brooke County \DLG\C54009.DLM Cabell County \DLG\C54011.DLM Calhoun County \DLG\C54013.DLM Clay County \DLG\C54015.DLM Gilmer County \DLG\C54021.DLM Grant County \DLG\C54023.DLM Greenbrier County \DLG\C54025.DLM Hardy County \DLG\C54031.DLM Harrison County \DLG\C54033.DLM Jackson County \DLG\C54035.DLM Kanawha County \DLG\C54039.DLM Lewis County \DLG\C54041.DLM Lincoln County \DLG\C54043.DLM Logan County \DLG\C54045.DLM Mcdowell County \DLG\C54047.DLM Marshall County \DLG\C54051.DLM Mason County \DLG\C54053.DLM Mingo County \DLG\C54059.DLM Ohio County \DLG\C54069.DLM Putnam County \DLG\C54079.DLM Raleigh County \DLG\C54081.DLM Randolph County \DLG\C54083.DLM Roane County \DLG\C54087.DLM Summers County \DLG\C54089.DLM Tucker County \DLG\C54093.DLM Tyler County \DLG\C54095.DLM Upshur County \DLG\C54097.DLM Wayne County \DLG\C54099.DLM Wetzel County \DLG\C54103.DLM Wirt County \DLG\C54105.DLM Wood County \DLG\C54107.DLM Wyoming County \DLG\C54109.DLM \ARC: This Q3 Flood Data CD-ROM contains Q3 Flood Data for 34 individual counties in ARC/INFO export format. One countywide Q3-ARC/INFO export file per county is provided. All Q3-ARC/INFO export files are uncompressed. Only polygon attributes are provided. The following Q3-ARC/INFO export files are contained in the \ARC directory: COUNTY FILE Barbour County \ARC\C54001.E00 Braxton County \ARC\C54007.E00 Brooke County \ARC\C54009.E00 Cabell County \ARC\C54011.E00 Calhoun County \ARC\C54013.E00 Clay County \ARC\C54015.E00 Gilmer County \ARC\C54021.E00 Grant County \ARC\C54023.E00 Greenbrier County \ARC\C54025.E00 Hardy County \ARC\C54031.E00 Harrison County \ARC\C54033.E00 Jackson County \ARC\C54035.E00 Kanawha County \ARC\C54039.E00 Lewis County \ARC\C54041.E00 Lincoln County \ARC\C54043.E00 Logan County \ARC\C54045.E00 Mcdowell County \ARC\C54047.E00 Marshall County \ARC\C54051.E00 Mason County \ARC\C54053.E00 Mingo County \ARC\C54059.E00 Ohio County \ARC\C54069.E00 Putnam County \ARC\C54079.E00 Raleigh County \ARC\C54081.E00 Randolph County \ARC\C54083.E00 Roane County \ARC\C54087.E00 Summers County \ARC\C54089.E00 Tucker County \ARC\C54093.E00 Tyler County \ARC\C54095.E00 Upshur County \ARC\C54097.E00 Wayne County \ARC\C54099.E00 Wetzel County \ARC\C54103.E00 Wirt County \ARC\C54105.E00 Wood County \ARC\C54107.E00 Wyoming County \ARC\C54109.E00 COUNTY METADATA FILE Barbour County \ARC\C54001M Braxton County \ARC\C54007M Brooke County \ARC\C54009M Cabell County \ARC\C54011M Calhoun County \ARC\C54013M Clay County \ARC\C54015M Gilmer County \ARC\C54021M Grant County \ARC\C54023M Greenbrier County \ARC\C54025M Hardy County \ARC\C54031M Harrison County \ARC\C54033M Jackson County \ARC\C54035M Kanawha County \ARC\C54039M Lewis County \ARC\C54041M Lincoln County \ARC\C54043M Logan County \ARC\C54045M Mcdowell County \ARC\C54047M Marshall County \ARC\C54051M Mason County \ARC\C54053M Mingo County \ARC\C54059M Ohio County \ARC\C54069M Putnam County \ARC\C54079M Raleigh County \ARC\C54081M Randolph County \ARC\C54083M Roane County \ARC\C54087M Summers County \ARC\C54089M Tucker County \ARC\C54093M Tyler County \ARC\C54095M Upshur County \ARC\C54097M Wayne County \ARC\C54099M Wetzel County \ARC\C54103M Wirt County \ARC\C54105M Wood County \ARC\C54107M Wyoming County \ARC\C54109M \MAP: This Q3 Flood Data CD-ROM contains Q3 Flood Data for 34 individual counties in MapInfo native table format. A MapInfo table is comprised of four distinct files (with .tab, .dat, .map, and .id extensions). Only polygon attributes are provided. The following Q3-MapInfo files are contained in the \MAP directory: COUNTY FILE Barbour County \MAP\C54001P.dat \MAP\C54001P.id \MAP\C54001P.map \MAP\C54001P.tab Braxton County \MAP\C54007P.dat \MAP\C54007P.id \MAP\C54007P.map \MAP\C54007P.tab Brooke County \MAP\C54009P.dat \MAP\C54009P.id \MAP\C54009P.map \MAP\C54009P.tab Cabell County \MAP\C54011P.dat \MAP\C54011P.id \MAP\C54011P.map \MAP\C54011P.tab Calhoun County \MAP\C54013P.dat \MAP\C54013P.id \MAP\C54013P.map \MAP\C54013P.tab Clay County \MAP\C54015P.dat \MAP\C54015P.id \MAP\C54015P.map \MAP\C54015P.tab Gilmer County \MAP\C54021P.dat \MAP\C54021P.id \MAP\C54021P.map \MAP\C54021P.tab Grant County \MAP\C54023P.dat \MAP\C54023P.id \MAP\C54023P.map \MAP\C54023P.tab Greenbrier County \MAP\C54025P.dat \MAP\C54025P.id \MAP\C54025P.map \MAP\C54025P.tab Hardy County \MAP\C54031P.dat \MAP\C54031P.id \MAP\C54031P.map \MAP\C54031P.tab Harrison County \MAP\C54033P.dat \MAP\C54033P.id \MAP\C54033P.map \MAP\C54033P.tab Jackson County \MAP\C54035P.dat \MAP\C54035P.id \MAP\C54035P.map \MAP\C54035P.tab Kanawha County \MAP\C54039P.dat \MAP\C54039P.id \MAP\C54039P.map \MAP\C54039P.tab Lewis County \MAP\C54041P.dat \MAP\C54041P.id \MAP\C54041P.map \MAP\C54041P.tab Lincoln County \MAP\C54043P.dat \MAP\C54043P.id \MAP\C54043P.map \MAP\C54043P.tab Logan County \MAP\C54045P.dat \MAP\C54045P.id \MAP\C54045P.map \MAP\C54045P.tab Mcdowell County \MAP\C54047P.dat \MAP\C54047P.id \MAP\C54047P.map \MAP\C54047P.tab Marshall County \MAP\C54051P.dat \MAP\C54051P.id \MAP\C54051P.map \MAP\C54051P.tab Mason County \MAP\C54053P.dat \MAP\C54053P.id \MAP\C54053P.map \MAP\C54053P.tab Mingo County \MAP\C54059P.dat \MAP\C54059P.id \MAP\C54059P.map \MAP\C54059P.tab Ohio County \MAP\C54069P.dat \MAP\C54069P.id \MAP\C54069P.map \MAP\C54069P.tab Putnam County \MAP\C54079P.dat \MAP\C54079P.id \MAP\C54079P.map \MAP\C54079P.tab Raleigh County \MAP\C54081P.dat \MAP\C54081P.id \MAP\C54081P.map \MAP\C54081P.tab Randolph County \MAP\C54083P.dat \MAP\C54083P.id \MAP\C54083P.map \MAP\C54083P.tab Roane County \MAP\C54087P.dat \MAP\C54087P.id \MAP\C54087P.map \MAP\C54087P.tab Summers County \MAP\C54089P.dat \MAP\C54089P.id \MAP\C54089P.map \MAP\C54089P.tab Tucker County \MAP\C54093P.dat \MAP\C54093P.id \MAP\C54093P.map \MAP\C54093P.tab Tyler County \MAP\C54095P.dat \MAP\C54095P.id \MAP\C54095P.map \MAP\C54095P.tab Upshur County \MAP\C54097P.dat \MAP\C54097P.id \MAP\C54097P.map \MAP\C54097P.tab Wayne County \MAP\C54099P.dat \MAP\C54099P.id \MAP\C54099P.map \MAP\C54099P.tab Wetzel County \MAP\C54103P.dat \MAP\C54103P.id \MAP\C54103P.map \MAP\C54103P.tab Wirt County \MAP\C54105P.dat \MAP\C54105P.id \MAP\C54105P.map \MAP\C54105P.tab Wood County \MAP\C54107P.dat \MAP\C54107P.id \MAP\C54107P.map \MAP\C54107P.tab Wyoming County \MAP\C54109P.dat \MAP\C54109P.id \MAP\C54109P.map \MAP\C54109P.tab COUNTY METADATA FILE Barbour County \MAP\C54001.MIM Braxton County \MAP\C54007.MIM Brooke County \MAP\C54009.MIM Cabell County \MAP\C54011.MIM Calhoun County \MAP\C54013.MIM Clay County \MAP\C54015.MIM Gilmer County \MAP\C54021.MIM Grant County \MAP\C54023.MIM Greenbrier County \MAP\C54025.MIM Hardy County \MAP\C54031.MIM Harrison County \MAP\C54033.MIM Jackson County \MAP\C54035.MIM Kanawha County \MAP\C54039.MIM Lewis County \MAP\C54041.MIM Lincoln County \MAP\C54043.MIM Logan County \MAP\C54045.MIM Mcdowell County \MAP\C54047.MIM Marshall County \MAP\C54051.MIM Mason County \MAP\C54053.MIM Mingo County \MAP\C54059.MIM Ohio County \MAP\C54069.MIM Putnam County \MAP\C54079.MIM Raleigh County \MAP\C54081.MIM Randolph County \MAP\C54083.MIM Roane County \MAP\C54087.MIM Summers County \MAP\C54089.MIM Tucker County \MAP\C54093.MIM Tyler County \MAP\C54095.MIM Upshur County \MAP\C54097.MIM Wayne County \MAP\C54099.MIM Wetzel County \MAP\C54103.MIM Wirt County \MAP\C54105.MIM Wood County \MAP\C54107.MIM Wyoming County \MAP\C54109.MIM \DOCUMENT: The \DOCUMENT directory contains text files which document the Q3 Flood Data. See Index of Documentation (III above) for more information. ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* V. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The following questions and answers have been developed in anticipation of questions that users of FEMA's Q3 Flood Data product might ask. FEMA provides detailed technical information describing the Q3 Flood Data. Users with general inquiries or ordering Q3 Flood Data can call: 1-800-358-9616 Users with technical questions regarding data formats and content are directed to: 1-617-354-2614. You may also email technical questions to FEMA@hdm.com. Users are also directed to FEMA's Internet Homepage: (http://www.fema.gov) 1) What is the Q3 Flood Data product? A: The Q3 Flood Data product is a digital representation of certain features of FEMA's FIRM product, intended for use with desk-top mapping and GIS technology. FEMA has produced data for approximately 1300 counties, including incorporated communities, across the United States. 2) Why was the Q3 Flood Data product developed? A: The Q3 Flood Data product was designed to 1) serve the needs of FEMA's Response and Recovery activities, 2) promote flood insurance policy marketing initiatives, 3) assist in floodplain management activities at the local level. 3) What are the uses of the Q3 Flood Data? A: The Q3 Flood Data are designed to serve FEMA's needs for disaster response activities, National Flood Insurance Program activities, risk assessment, and floodplain management. The data are expected to be used for a variety of planning applications including broad-based review for floodplain management, land-use planning, commercial siting analysis, insurance target marketing, natural resource/environmental analyses, and real estate development and targeting. 4) What are the limitations of the Q3 Flood Data? A: The Q3 Flood Data are designed to provide guidance and a general proximity of the location of Special Flood Hazard Areas. The Q3 Flood Data cannot be used to determine absolute delineations of flood risk or CBRS boundaries, but instead should be seen as portraying zones of uncertainty and possible risks associated with flood inundation. Users must apply considerable care and judgment in the application of this product. Users of the Q3 Flood Data should refer to the "Users Guide" and "Specifications" for further information. 5) How are the Q3 Flood Data created? A: The Q3 Flood Data are created by scanning (producing raster or grid data files) the effective FIRM paper maps and vectorizing (converting to lines and areas) select data features into a county-wide format. 6) What features are contained in the Q3 Flood Data files? A: The Q3 Flood Data contain the following vectorized (lines and areas) data features: 1) 1% (100 year) and 0.2% (500 year) annual chance floodplain boundaries (including Velocity zones), 2) flood insurance zone designations, 3) floodway boundaries (when available), 4) political boundaries (state, county, and community), 5) community and map panel identification numbers, 6) FIRM Panel neatlines, 7) USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic map quadrangle neatlines, and 8) external boundaries of Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS) areas. 7) What features are not contained in the Q3 Flood Data files? A: The Q3 Flood Data do not contain the following data features that are shown on the official paper FIRM: 1) hydrographic features, 2) base flood elevations, 3) cross section lines, 4) roads, road names, or address ranges, and 5) elevation reference mark locations and elevations. 6) internal boundaries of contiguous CBRS areas. 7) prohibition dates associated with individual CBRS areas. 8) Will the Q3 Flood Data CD-ROM let me display flood maps? A: No. The CD-ROM contains data only. The Q3 Flood Data contain certain key data and information found on FEMA's FIRMs. They are not the maps themselves. The user will require mapping software and `base map' data as a foundation on which to overlay the Q3 Flood Data. 9) Can I locate a street address (e.g., residential or commercial buildings) with the Q3 Flood Data? A: No. The Q3 Flood Data do not contain any transportation data (e.g., streets, roads, addresses). The user will need to acquire a transportation or other address data base to be used with mapping software in order to associate street addresses with floodplain boundaries. 10) Can I make flood risk or CBRS determinations with this data? A: No, the Q3 Flood data product was not designed to make strict in/out flood risk determinations. The data are designed to provide guidance and a general proximity of the location of Special Flood Hazard Areas and Coastal Barrier Resources System areas. The Q3Flood Data product is not suitable for engineering applications such as detailed site design and development plans or flood risk determinations. The Q3 Flood Data can not be used to determine absolute delineations of flood or CBRS boundaries, but instead should be seen as portraying zones of uncertainty and possible risks associated with flood inundation and areas of Federal funding and flood insurance prohibitions associated with the CBRS. Users must apply considerable care and judgment in applying this product. Users of the Q3 Flood Data should refer to the"Users Guide" and "Specifications"for further information. 11) How can I view the Q3 Flood Data? A: You will need desk-top mapping software or a GIS to use the data. Whatever software you choose must be able to read in one or more of the three data formats contained on the CD. 12) Can you recommend a desk-top mapping or GIS software that I could purchase? A: No. FEMA does not endorse or promote the use of any one proprietary software package. FEMA uses several systems and has made these data available as a by-product of the Q3 Flood Data production process. 13) In what data formats will the Q3 Flood Data be available? A: FEMA will produce the vector Q3 Flood Data in three data formats that are usable with desk-top mapping and GIS software packages. These formats are 1) Digital Line Graph (DLG), 2) ARC/INFO (R), and 3) MapInfo (R). 14) How can I get a list of available GIS and desk-top mapping software? A: Many software retailers should be able to recommend a few PC based desktop mapping applications. Larger workstation GIS software is a more specialized market and is usually sold directly by the manufacturer or through consultants. GIS or Survey trade publications will contain advertisements for most of the popular packages. 15) How many data layers are included in the Q3 Flood Data? A: One. All features listed in question 6 are stored on one county-wide data layer. 16) Will additional counties be produced? A: FEMA will update this Q3 Flood Data CD set in the future in response to additional counties having information added to them. Additionally, Q3 Flood Data files are sometimes produced in response to a declared disaster. Approximately 400 additional counties of Q3 Flood Data have been produced since the original publication in September 1996. 17) How will the data be distributed? A: The data will be distributed on CD-ROM from FEMA's Map Service Center (1-800-358-9616 or http://www.fema.gov). The data will be arranged by states on CD-ROMs, with one or more states per CD-ROM. Coverage for some states may require two CD-ROMs. In the future, this data may be available via the Internet. 18) Who will have to pay for this data? A: All users, including government organizations, will be required to purchase the Q3 Flood Data. 19) How often will the Q3 Flood Data be updated? A: The Q3 Flood Data are currently scheduled for a bi-annual review to determine the need for revisions and/or updates. Letters of Map Change (LOMC) and physical map revisions will be assessed to determine the need for data updates. However, no specific update schedule has been determined to date. 20) When will the raster data from the Q3 Flood Data production be available? A: No immediate dates for the release of the Q3 raster data have been determined. 21) Are the FIRM-DLGs still available? A: No. The Q3 Flood Data replace the FIRM-DLG data product. 22) Are the Q3 Flood Data compatible with other digital FIRM data products? A: Yes. FEMA intends to produce consistent, quality assured data for use in floodplain management, hazards analysis, and risk assessment. 23) When will DFIRM-DLG data be available in my area? A: The DFIRM-DLG data product requires a more rigorous development cycle including a community review prior to its release. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate when an individual area of the country will be produced and distributed. FEMA intends to produce and release the DFIRM-DLG in the same manner as the Q3 Flood Data on both CD-ROM and over the Internet. 24) Do the Q3 Flood Data Files represent the current effective FIRM panels? A: Maybe. FEMA attempts to use the most current data when producing the Q3 Flood Data. The user is responsible for ensuring the Q3 Flood Data has the same date as the most current effective FIRM. 25) Can the Q3 Flood Data be used as the legal or official FIRM document? A: No. The paper FIRM is the official document. 26) What is the scale of Q3 Flood Data? A: Although paper FIRMs can be compiled from different sources and scales ranging from 1:2,400 (1 inch = 200 feet) to 1:24,000 (1 inch = 2,000 feet), and the Q3 Flood Data are captured from the actual FIRMs at publication scale, the data have horizontal control specifications consistent only with 1:24,000 scale mapping. When using desk-top mapping or GIS software, the user can view or print the Q3 Flood Data at large scales (i.e., 1:500 or 1:1,000); however, the data will have the horizontal control of only the 1:24,000 scale map. 27) Do the Q3 Flood Data include a base map? A: No. However, the vector (line/area) data files are horizontally controlled to USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles. This allows users to overlay the Q3 Flood Data with their own geographic information. 28) May I change the flood boundary delineations on the map? A: The location of the Special Flood Hazard Areas on the FIRMs are derived from hydrologic engineering models that estimate the extent of the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood event. FEMA recognizes that the geographic processing used to create the Q3 Flood Data may have introduced differences with the source hardcopy FIRMs. FEMA does not recommend the alteration of the Q3 Flood Data product. Users must apply considerable care and judgment in applying this product. Users of the Q3 Flood Data should refer to the "Users Guide" and "Specifications" for further information and use policy. 29) May I add cross-section lines or base flood elevation lines to the map? A: The Q3 Flood Data product does not contain base flood elevations nor is it registered to a base map. FEMA does not recommend altering the Q3 Flood Data product. Users must apply considerable care and judgment in applying this product. Users of the Q3 Flood Data should refer to the "Users Guide" and "Specifications" for further information. 30) Whom may I contact regarding the Q3 Flood Data production and updating schedule? A: Any questions on, comments on, or contributions to, the production, utility, and distribution of the Q3 Flood Data product may be directed to the following address: Federal Emergency Management Agency Mitigation Directorate Q3 Flood Data Program 500 C Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20472 31) What do I do if I find inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the data? A: The Q3 Flood Data are currently scheduled for periodic review to determine the need for revisions and/or updates. Although no specific update schedule has been determined to date, FEMA is interested in the identification and correction of Q3 Flood Data inaccuracies. Please report any data inaccuracies or inconsistencies to the following address: Federal Emergency Management Agency Mitigation Directorate Q3 Flood Data Program 500 C Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20472 ************************************************************************************* ************************************************************************************* VI. USE AND PRECAUTIONS: The Q3 Flood Data contained on this CD-ROM can be a valuable tool to assist FEMA and the user community in floodplain management, hazards analysis, and risk assessment activities. However, the geographic processing and conversion used to produce the Q3 Flood Data may introduce differences from the original paper FIRMs; therefore, the Q3 Flood Data product must be used with considerable care and judgment. The Q3 Flood Data are derived from effective FIRM maps but do not replace those products. Users of Q3 Flood Data should refer to the "Users Guide" documentation on this CD-ROM for information regarding limitations of these products in practical application. ARC/INFO(R) is a registered trademark of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. MapInfo(R) is a registered trademark of MapInfo Corporation. Use of or reference to registered trademarks does not constitute or imply an endorsement on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ************************************************************************************* *************************************************************************************