Federal Emergency Management Agency

FGDC Annual Report to OMB

Format for Agency Reports - FY 2001

The following outline should be used by FGDC Member Agencies (or Bureaus) for their Annual Spatial Data Reports, which will be consolidated by the FGDC and submitted to OMB. Reports should be brief, using bullets where possible. Please provide only the information that will be useful for OMB to assess the agencies' achievements using the funding they received, and for establishing future direction.

Part A
GENERAL FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES REPORT (All Agencies)

1. Agency or Bureau:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

2.

3.

4.

5. Subcommittee or Working Group Participation: Subcommittees or Working Groups in which your agency is actively involved, but does not lead:

Subcommittee on Base Cartographic Data, Bathymetric Subcommittee, Cadastral Committee Subcommittee on Cultural and Demographic Data, Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee, Geologic Subcommittee, Ground Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on International Boundaries and Sovereignty, Soils Subcommittee, Subcommittee on Spatial Water Data, Vegetation Subcommittee, Wetlands Subcommittee, Biological Data Working Group, Clearinghouse Working Group, Communications and Education Working Group, Earth Cover Working Group, Facilities Working Group, Historical Data Working Group, Metadata Ad Hoc Working Group, SIMNRE Working Group, Geospatial Applications Services Working Group, and Standards Working Group

6. Goals and Accountability: Are you using spatial data with regard to performance?

a. List agency GPRA strategic plan goals specifically related to spatial data activities (or "none"):

Strategic Goal 1:
Protect lives and prevent the loss of property from natural and technological hazards:

Annual Performance Goal M.1.1.: Public Hazards Information Increase the availability and effectiveness of natural hazards information

Strategic Goal 2:
Reduce human suffering and enhance the recovery of communities after disaster strikes

Annual Performance Goal RR.3.1.: Operate Emergency Communication Systems Operate emergency communications systems to deliver emergency warning, messages, and critical information to reduce losses and lower response and recovery costs.

b. List agency GPRA performance measures specifically related to spatial data activities (or "none"):

RR.3.1.
Deliver maps, models, data and analyses as requested to FEMA and emergency partners within 72 hours of notification.

M.1.1.
(1) Produce 3,000 updated NFIP flood-hazard map panels in digital format.
(2) Process 11,000 requests from individuals and communities for map changes.
(3) Convert 14,900 existing flood maps from manual to digital format.
(4) Complete 5 and initiate 3 hurricane-evacuation studies.

7. Strategy: Has your agency prepared a strategy for advancing geographic information and spatial data activities in coordination with the FGDC strategy, pursuant to Circular A-16?

The CIO has established an Agency-wide GIS Working Group to determine and develop Agency-wide GIS requirements and to promote and implement an enterprise GIS solution for FEMA in accord with the Information Technology Architecture (ITA) and the Agency's mission.

FEMA is the lead agency for flood mapping, per A-16. Most of FEMA's flood mapping history has involved the generation of paper maps, but in recent years FEMA has implemented a map modernization strategy for the generation of maps through digital means, and eventual distribution of standardized spatial database products.

8. Standards: Has your agency developed and/or adopted appropriate standards?

An important part of the Agency Enterprise GIS effort will include establishing standards. Currently, FEMA's Mapping and Analysis Center (the part of the Agency responsible for GIS disaster response activities) maintains standards for: map layouts, projections and a GIS software standard for desktop mapping. The Agency is moving toward an open Oracle spatial format standard and is considering an Agency-wide standard for map symbols.

FEMA has developed specifications for our Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM) that address standards such as base map spatial accuracy, database format, FGDC metadata, layout, and graphics.

9. Metadata: Is your agency's metadata and/or data available and discoverable online through an NSDI-compatible clearinghouse node registered as part of the NSDI Clearinghouse Network?

FEMA's Mapping and Analysis Center maintains a current set of metadata that is compatible with the NSDI standards. The GIS Working Group within FEMA anticipates expanding the metadata collection as an important part of the Enterprise GIS effort. The Agency is currently working on spatial data projects that will lead to a node on the NSDI Clearinghouse Network.

10. Vertical and Horizontal Data Integration: Is your data integrable with other Federal agencies and other sources of data (State, County, local, private)?

Data maintained in FEMA's Mapping and Analysis Center are maintained in an easy-to-use, readily translatable formats. Mapping and Analysis Center staff can readily share this data with other agencies.

11. E-Gov: How are you using geospatial data in your mission activities to provide better services? (Please list)

The Mapping and Analysis Center has in place a GIS Internet site:
http:www.gismaps.fema.gov where staff post a selection of disaster response maps from the latest disasters, as well as those from the current year and recent years.

In addition, the Mapping and Analysis Center has newly released an interactive GIS Intranet site for managers and staff within FEMA. Anyone inside FEMA now has the capability to create customized maps at their workstation.

FEMA has instituted a number of recent improvements for our clients related to the map modernization program. These include:

• Purchase of Flood Insurance Rate Maps from an Internet map store. This includes an index/geolocator, reducing times for delivery of flood maps from weeks to days.
• Generation of flood data themes to support hazard mitigation, response and recovery.
• Scanning existing flood maps and developing software-viewing tools for faster and more convenient delivery of flood hazard information.

FEMA is also continuing to develop the GIS-based risk-modeling tool, HAZUS. Currently used for earthquake loss estimation, a December 2002 release will extend capabilities to cover hurricanes and flooding.

12. Are there areas or issues regarding spatial data that require attention, or lessons-learned that you would like to share with others? Please describe.

FEMA's GIS Working Group would appreciate hearing from other Agencies in their efforts to create and implement an Enterprise GIS.