On January 30, 2015, the President signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input, which amended E.O. 11988, Floodplain Management, issued in 1977. Once implemented by Federal agencies, the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) will reduce the risk and cost of future flood disasters by ensuring that Federal investments in and affecting floodplains are constructed to better withstand the impacts of flooding. It will support the thousands of communities across the country that have strengthened their local floodplain management codes and standards and will help ensure Federal projects last as long as intended.

To improve the nation's resilience to flooding and better prepare the nation for the impacts of climate change, the President's Climate Action Plan (June 2013) also directs federal agencies to take the appropriate actions to reduce risk to federal investments by updating flood-risk reduction standards. In compliance with the President's Climate Action Plan and E.O. 11988 as amended by E.O. 13690, HUD expects to issue a proposed rule for public comment. The proposed rule would not apply to single-family home mortgages for acquisition or refinancing of existing homes under the Federal Housing Administration or any other program. The FFRMS would have no effect on the vast majority of privately owned homes and businesses. The new standard would be incorporated into the existing review process for mortgage insurance, so the elevation or floodproofing component would not apply unless new construction or substantial improvement to an existing structure in a floodplain is proposed with Federal funds. The FFRMS elevation or floodproofing component would only apply when Federal program funds are used to build, or significantly retrofit or repair, structures in and around floodplains, to ensure that those structures are resilient, safer, and long-lasting.

For further information on the FFRMS, please see FEMA's page at: https://www.fema.gov/federal-flood-risk-management-standard-ffrms

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