The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has announced the release of anew Rhode Island Floodplain Mapping Tool. This tool is an easily navigable online resource, which provides users with flood risk information relative to residences, businesses and other structures statewide. Property owners will be able to navigate and find their particular structure, determine flood zone and elevation information if it’s available.

While the Mapping Tool is not intended for legal, engineering or surveying purposes, it does provide users with an approximate flood zone determination relative to the flood hazard areas delineated on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). Multiple links are embedded in the program to guide users towards relevant information pertaining to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Floodplain Mapping Tool as well as the attached tutorial can also be found on the RIEMA website at: www.riema.ri.gov