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Alaska Risk MAP Program

Community Risk MAP Studies: City of Cordova

FEMA and the State of Alaska are conducting a coastal Risk MAP Study in the City of Cordova that began in 2011.

City of Cordova Risk MAP Discovery Documents City of Cordova Risk MAP Coastal Study Documents Preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, August 25, 2014 Revised Preliminary Flood Insurance Study and Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, October 31, 2014 City of Cordova Risk MAP Resilience Webinar City of Cordova Risk MAP GIS Database
  • Download a zip file of Cordova's Risk MAP GIS Database
Region X Service Center Quarterly Reports

Study Scope

The scope of work of the City of Cordova Risk MAP Study includes (see also the map below)

  • The mapping of approximately 9.7 miles of shoreline utilizing the new storm surge modeling (coastal hydrology) and overland wave height analysis (coastal hydraulics), as well as floodplain boundaries for 1-percent and 0.2-percent-annual-chance (100- and 500-year) flood events. Updated areas include approximately 4.5 miles of Eyak Lake, 1 mile of Eyak River using detailed study analysis, 1.2 miles of Ibek River using approximate study analysis, and 1.0 miles of Shaded Zone X on Fleming Creek, Creek No. 1, and Creek No. 2 using approximate study analysis.
  • Preparation of a regulatory Flood Insurance Study (FIS) Report document to the Community. A FIS is a book that contains information regarding flooding in a community and is developed in conjunction with the FIRM. The FIS, also known as a flood elevation study, frequently contains a narrative of the flood history of a community and discusses the engineering methods used to develop the FIRM. The study also contains flood profiles for studied flooding sources and can be used to determine Base Flood Elevations for some areas.
  • Preparation of a regulatory Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) map for all panels within the Community which identifies the Community's flood zones, base flood elevations, and floodplain boundaries. This map is used to determine where the purchase of flood insurance is required for properties with federally-backed mortgages. The preliminary FIS and DFIRM’s were released on August 25, 2014.
  • All of the above datasets will be in the in the North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
  • The State and FEMA will provide guidance, feedback, coordination and technical support throughout the Risk MAP Project Life Cycle.

Project Status

The flood study has concluded and the FIRMs and FIS became effective on December 16, 2015. Once all risk assessments are completed, FEMA will compile them into a multi-hazard Risk MAP Risk Report, which will include a risk assessment of flood, earthquake, and tsunami hazards.

A Resilience Workshop Webinar was held with the City of Cordova on February 22, 2016 to discuss the results and risk reduction strategies. The following table illustrates project status and includes major milestones with dates:

Activity Actual or Projected End Date
Discovery Interview February 11, 2011
Discovery Meeting March 4, 2011
Base Map Acquisition Spring 2011
Discovery Report May 2011
Perform Field Survey Summer 2013
Develop Topographic Data Summer 3013
Hydrologic Analysis January 2014
Perform Coastal Analysis January 2014
Hydraulic Analysis January 2014
Perform Floodplain Mapping Spring 2014
Develop DFIRM Database Spring 2014
Draft Work Maps Issued March 14, 2014
Flood Risk Review Meeting June 25, 2012
Preliminary DFIRM/FIS Release August 25, 2014
Consultation Coordination Officers (CC) Meeting September 23, 2014
Public Meeting/Workshop September 23, 2014
Revised Preliminary DFIRM/FIS Release October 31, 2014
90-Day Appeal Period Starts January 2, 2015
90-Day Appeal Period Ends April 1, 2015
Letter of Final Determination June 16, 2015
Flood Risk Datasets (CSL, Depth Grids) August 2015
Maps and FIA Became Effective December 16, 2015
Risk MAP Resilience Webinar February 22, 2016
Delivery of Final Risk Report and Risk Assessment Database February 23, 2016
Draft Multi-Hazard Risk Report Winter 2016

*All projected dates are subject to revision as the project progresses

Map of Cordova Study Scope

Blue line = Coastal study; Green Line = New Zone A; Red Line = New Zone AE; Yellow Line = Updated Zone AE
Cordova Study Scope Map

For more information contact:

Rebecca Rein

State of Alaska Risk MAP Coordinator
Division of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1650, Anchorage, AK 99501-3569
Phone (907) 269-3037
Fax (907) 269-4539
Email: rebecca.rein@alaska.gov

Revised 08/01/2024