Discovery is the first part of the Risk MAP Process. After the State prioritizes a watershed for Discovery based on evaluations of risk, need, availability of elevation data, regional knowledge of issues, and local input, the communities within the watershed are asked if they would like to participate in a Risk MAP study. If a community is interested in participating, FEMA will work with the State, community, and tribes to understand needs, resources, and capabilities to support the community in risk reduction and resilience efforts. The process to collect data regarding local flood and other hazard risks will begin at this initial stage. FEMA has data on national and regional levels, however FEMA relies heavily on information and data provided by communities because local officials are able to provide a holistic view of their communities and their known risks.

During the Discovery Meeting, FEMA and the State will meet in-person with communities and tribes to gather information on their perspective about local natural hazards and their risk. Typically, FEMA will bring large , paper maps of the community to the Discovery Meeting and residents will be asked to mark up the maps based on their knowledge of local hazards. This information is used to prioritize future mapping, risk assessment, and mitigation planning assistance.

• City and Borough of Juneau Risk MAP Discovery Interview Presentation
• City and Borough of Juneau All-Hazards Mitigation Plan 2012
• City and Borough of Juneau Risk MAP Discovery Interview Meeting Notes
• City and Borough of Juneau Risk MAP Discovery Meeting Agenda
• City and Borough of Juneau Risk MAP Discovery Meeting Presentation
• City and Borough of Juneau Risk MAP Discovery Meeting Sign-In Sheet

If it is determined during Discovery that a Risk MAP project is appropriate for the community and the project involves flood engineering analysis, the project team will conduct additional coordination with the impacted community to discuss anticipated changes to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS).

If the data and research does not support the need for a Regulatory Flood Study (FIRMs and FIS), local and tribal officials may request technical assistance or risk and vulnerability assessments to support risk reduction.

Prior to work starting on any risk assessment or flood insurance study mapping, a meeting must be held with the community to share the scope of work and explain the deliverables resulting from the project. In addition to sharing the Scope of Work at this meeting, FEMA provides a Partnership Agreement to the community, a non-binding document that outlines roles and responsibilities during the Risk MAP study.

• City and Borough of Juneau Draft Study Scope Map

Draft Workmaps are an interim or “draft” product that FEMA shares with communities in advance of the release of the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) to get early input on the mapping and underlying data.

Following the release of the Draft Workmaps, FEMA and the State will schedule a Flood Risk Review (FRR) Meeting with the local jurisdiction (See next drop-down).

• Draft Workmap A1
• Draft Workmap A2
• Draft Workmap A3
• Draft Workmap A3-1
• Draft Workmap A4
• Draft Workmap A4-1
• Draft Workmap A5
• Draft Workmap A6
• Draft Workmap B3
• Draft Workmap B4
• Draft Workmap B4-1
• Draft Workmap B5
• Draft Workmap B6
• Draft Workmap B6-1
• Draft Workmap C7
• Draft Workmap C7-1
• Draft Workmap C8
• Draft Workmap D7
• Draft Workmap D8

Following the release of Draft Workmaps, FEMA and the State will hold a Flood Risk Review (FRR) Meeting with the local jurisdiction. The FRR Meeting provides local officials with an opportunity to review and ask questions about the flood study and its results. The meeting allows the project team to highlight the flood risk associated with the study so that local officials can begin communicating that risk to impacted residents and businesses. The FRR Meeting also gives local officials the opportunity to comment on areas where they believe risks are inappropriately mapped (understated or overstated). By identifying concerns early in the map development process, FEMA can avoid delays and costly revisions to the preliminary FIRMs following their release.

• City and Borough of Juneau Flood Risk Review Meeting Presentation
• City and Borough of Juneau Flood Risk Review Meeting Minutes
• City and Borough of Juneau Flood Risk Review Meeting Sign-In Sheet

The release of the Preliminary Flood Insurance Study, Maps and Data is an important step in a community’s flood mapping process. There are several benefits for the public and professionals in viewing their community’s preliminary data before it becomes an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM):

• It allows the public to voice their opinions or concerns regarding how the data may affect them or to question data accuracy
• Insurance agents can compare existing FIRMs with preliminary FIRMs to see how their clients may be affected. However, policies cannot be written using preliminary data
• Loan and mortgage brokers can use preliminary data as a guide to determine whether a property may be mapped into a high-risk area, allowing the borrower to be informed of any changes or requirements before finalizing the loan
• Real estate agents and brokers can determine what changes are likely to occur and how it might affect any properties for sale
• Engineers, developers and builders can plan for safer construction

• City and Borough of Juneau Flood Insurance Study, Preliminary 8/25/2017
• Juneau Borough FIRM Database
• 90-Day Appeal Period Start Letter

After the Preliminary FIRMS and FIS have been released, FEMA will place a notification of Proposed Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) in the local newspaper and on FEMA’s website. There will be two publications in the local newspaper(s) within a 10-day period immediately following the notification to the community.

The second newspaper publication begins a 90-Day appeal and comment period. The appeal and comment period allows citizens to appeal the modified BFEs or document concerns on the preliminary maps. FEMA welcomes information because additional proven scientific and technical information increases the accuracy of the maps and better reflects the community’s flood risks identified on the FIRMs.

The release of the Preliminary Flood Insurance Study, Maps and Data is an important step in a community’s flood mapping process. There are several benefits for the public and professionals in viewing their community’s preliminary data before it becomes an effective FIRM:

• It allows the public to voice their opinions or concerns regarding how the data may affect them or to question data accuracy
• Insurance agents can compare existing FIRMs with preliminary FIRMs to see how their clients may be affected. However, policies cannot be written using preliminary data
• Loan and mortgage brokers can use preliminary data as a guide to determine whether a property may be mapped into a high-risk area, allowing the borrower to be informed of any changes or requirements before finalizing the loan
• Real estate agents and brokers can determine what changes are likely to occur and how it might affect any properties for sale
• Engineers, developers and builders can plan for safer construction

To locate and open a Preliminary Map Panel using a reference map of the City and Borough of Juneau, click the map thumbnail, below right. Otherwise, if you already know the panel number, select the specific panel, below left.

Click to find and open a Preliminary DFIRM panel on a map.

• Panel 1194
• Panel 1218
• Panel 1239
• Panel 1243
• Panel 1506
• Panel 1507
• Panel 1527
• Panel 1528
• Panel 1532
• Panel 1551
• Panel 1562
• Panel 1566
• Panel 1567
• Panel 1569
• Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map Index 1
• 90-Day Appeal Period Start Letter

Following the release of preliminary map products, the Risk MAP Project Team will travel to the community to hold a Consultation and Coordination Officer (CCO) Meeting for the local officials. The purpose of the CCO Meeting is to present the preliminary FIRM panels and data to stakeholders, including community officials, before presenting the information to the public.

Following the CCO Meeting, the Risk MAP Project Team will travel to the community to assist the community in hosting an Open House-Style Public Meeting . At this open house, the public will learn about the results of the updated flood maps, as well as the appeal period and map adoption timelines. The meeting also highlights local multi-hazard risks and resources available from the State, FEMA, and other partners which focus on reducing risk.

• Community Coordination Officers (CCO) Preliminary Flood Map Meeting Minutes, January 9, 2019

Resilience is the final phase of the Risk MAP process when stakeholders of the Risk MAP process reflect on how the new information, tools and products of the Risk MAP study can be used to increase resilience in the community. A Resilience Workshop is an in-person meeting led by FEMA, the State Risk MAP Coordinator and the Risk MAP Project Team. The goal of the meeting is to help communities understand the results of the risk assessment products and to develop resilience-focused strategies using the new data and resources. During this meeting FEMA, State and Local officials engage with the mapping partners to identify the hazard risks through the use of the Risk MAP Products Suite, providing a new perspective and understanding of flood risk within their community.

• Draft Risk Report, November 2018
• Resilience Dashboard

During the course of a flood study, FEMA's mapping contractor will provide Detailed Status Updates which are emailed quarterly to the community and project team. These updates include the overall project status, changes to the scope or schedule of the project, and a detailed overview of the individual technical tasks associated with the project.

• August 15, 2016 Quarterly Report
• May 18, 2016 Quarterly Report
• February 15, 2016 Quarterly Report
• December 8, 2015 Quarterly Report
• September 9, 2015 Quarterly Report