What is a Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
(From) FIS Middlesex County, MA Volume 1
This countrywide FIS investigates the existence and severity of flood hazards in, or revises and updates previous FISs / Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the geographic area of Middlesex County.
The FIS aids in the administration of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973. This FIS has developed flood risk data for various areas of the county that will be used to establish actuarial flood insurance rates. This information will also be used by Middlesex Country to update existing floodplain regulations as part of the Regular Phase of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and will also be used by local and regional planners to further promote sound land use and floodplain development. Minimum floodplain management requirements for participation in the NFIP are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations at 44 CFR, 60.3.
In some Commonwealths or communities, floodplain management criteria or regulations may exist that are more restrictive or comprehensive than the minimum Federal requirements. In such cases, the more restrictive criteria take precedence and the Commonwealth (or other jurisdictional agency) will be able to explain them.
To view the entire Middlesex County FIS, visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center website.