Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a test program run by FEMA to help cities better map flooding caused by heavy rain and overwhelmed sewers. Unlike traditional flood maps that focus only on rivers or oceans, these maps would look at how water pools on streets and backs up into basements in crowded urban areas.
• Twelve local governments would receive grants to build these maps. The program targets a mix of large, medium, and small cities. Priority goes to places that are extra vulnerable to rising sea levels or have many residents who might struggle to recover from flood damage due to their income or location.
• The new maps would be available on a public website so homeowners and businesses can see the specific flood risk for their own buildings. This information helps people decide how to protect their property, such as by improving drainage or changing how they build or renovate.
• The program would receive 7 million dollars in funding over two years. Cities that get the money must finish their mapping projects within 18 months and report back to the government on what they learned so the program can potentially be expanded to more cities in the future.

Impact Analysis

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