Local insurtech FloodMapp says US emergency management is to make use of its dynamic flood inundation analytics to create a common operational picture for its National Flood Insurance Program.

Better understanding of the source, location and depth of floodwaters could enable the National Flood Insurance Program to estimate the impacts of flood events more accurately to inform its actions in support of policyholders.

“We’re honoured to be awarded this contract and I believe that together, we will make a big impact,” FloodMapp CEO and Co-Founder Juliette Murphy said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contract was awarded through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program.

FEMA Acting Assistant Administrator for Federal Insurance Jeffrey Jackson said he looked forward to exploring how the predictive and real-time flood analysis could improve understanding of major flood events as they unfold.

“Timely decision making is critical to support our policyholders as they face devastation from flooding and begin their recovery,” he said.

FloodMapp CTO and Co-Founder Ryan Prosser says that after demonstrated success in Australia and some US states, the team is excited to deploy its technology on a national scale in the US.

“We have successfully supported emergency managers within local, state, and federal government in Australia through some of the worst flooding the country has ever seen,” he said.

“These products are already being used operationally today to help government agencies coordinate targeted evacuations, inform road closures and operational traffic routing, and fast track community recovery with targeted distribution of funding and resources.”

FloodMapp says most emergency management agencies rely on static flood studies primarily designed for planning and construction, not disaster response. FloodMapp’s real-time modelling was purpose-built by flood engineers, hydrology experts and data scientists for emergency management.

It simulates coastal, riverine and pluvial flooding with an ability to scale across vast areas and provides real-time situational intelligence on inundation extent and depth before, during, and after flood events. Products include ForeCast, NowCast and PostCast.