Status of Rhode Island Maps

The following represents the current status of map changes int he state of Rhode Island. If your county is having its Flood Insurance Rate Maps updated, check out "What to Know When Your Flood Hazard Maps Change."

Bristol County

Bristol County was the first county in Rhode Island to receive updated digital FIRMs. The digital FIRMs became effective November 16, 2006. Bristol County was essentially a digitization of the previous maps. Please keep in mind, Bristol County maps are still using the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29).

Providence County

Providence County is the latest to receive new digital FIRMs. The digital FIRMs became effective on March 2, 2009.

Changes to Providence County Maps

In preparation of the new digital FIRMs for Providence County, the reach of the Blackstone River from the mouth at Providence Harbor and Narrangansett Bay in the City of Pawtucket to the upstream corporate limit in the town of North Smithfield was restudied. Additionally, some areas in Woonsocket were incorporated into special flood hazard areas due to the decertification of the levee system.

Newport County

Scoping for Newport County took place back in early 2006. The preliminary digital FIRMs were released on March 24, 2009. The community coordination meeting was held on May 13th, 2009. The Letter of Final Determination, which begins the 6-month compliance period, is expected to be released on October 5th, 2009. This means the new digital FIRMs will become effective April 5, 2010.

Newport County Coordination Meeting Presentation

Changes to Newport County Maps

No new flood hazard data are reflected on the preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM). However, the 1% (100-year) and 0.2% (500-year) annual chance flood hazard areas and floodways on the current FIRMs for Newport County may have been adjusted, as appropriate, to accommodate an updated base map and streamlines. Specifically, the Special Flood Hazard Areas for Bailey Brook, Maidford River, and the shoreline of the Town of Middletown have been redelineated using updated topography provided by the Town of Middletown.

Washington County

Preliminary maps for Washington County were released on June 1st, 2009. The community coordination meeting was held on July 8th at 10am. The Letter of Final Determination, which begins the 6-month compliance period, is expected to be released on April 19th, 2010. This means the new digital FIRMs would become effective in October 2010.

Washington County Coordination Meeting Presentation

Changes to Washington County Maps

The Washington County Maps were mostly a digitization of the older FIRMs. However, a redelineation of special flood hazard areas was performed along the coastal areas based on LiDAR flights in 2006. Additionally, there were some changes to flood hazard areas by identifying primary frontal dunes. Mismatches across community borders and georeferencing issues were also corrected in the process. Please keep in mind that no new hydraulic or hydrologic studies were conducted.

Kent County

Preliminary maps for Kent County were released on June 5th, 2009. As such, we are beginning the commenting and appeal process.  The community coordination meeting was held on July 8th, 2009 at 2pm. The Letter of Final Determination, which begins the 6-month compliance period, is expected to be released on June 3rd, 2010. This means the new digital FIRMs would become effective in December 2010.

Kent County Coordination Meeting Presenation

Changes to Kent County Maps

The Kent County maps were intended to be a digitization of the existing effective FIRMs and LOMRs. No new flood hazard data was collected. There were some revisions to the 1% (100-year) and 0.2% (500-year) annual chance flood hazard areas in order to resolve mismatches with neighboring communities, geo-referencing issues, and alignment with base map water features. The redelineations were based on existing digital terrain contours provided by RI GIS. Additionally, the vertical datum was converted from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).

Also, in order to resolve a mismatch with the Town of Scituate in Providence County (which became effective March 2, 2009), new floodplain information was added along the North Branch of the Pawtuxet River in the Town of Coventry. The current effective maps do not show floodplain boundaries in this reach of river. However, this reach was studied in the neighboring town of Scituate and is published in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Scituate (Providence County). This published profile information was used to delineate the floodplain boundaries in the Town of Coventry and has been added to the preliminary Kent County DFIRM and FIS.

It is important to keep in mind that no new analyses were performed for these preliminary DFIRMs.

If you have any questions or need more information please contact Emily Pysh, Map Modernization/RISK Map Coordinator.