The Emergency Phase of the NFIP is the initial phase of a community's participation in the NFIP and was designed to provide a limited amount of insurance at less than actuarial rates. A community participating in the Emergency Phase is usually provided with a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM), and the community is required to adopt limited floodplain management requirements to control future use of its floodplains. Less than 10 percent of the 19,000 communities participating in the NFIP remain in the Emergency Phase, and FEMA plans to convert all communities to the Regular Phase of the NFIP as quickly as possible.

1. Community applies for participation in the NFIP either (a) as a result of interest in eligibility for flood insurance, or (b) as a result of receiving notification from FEMA that it contains one or more SFHAs. Application includes adopted resolutions or ordinances to minimally regulate new construction in SFHAs.
2. FEMA authorizes the sale of flood insurance in the community up to the Emergency Program limits. FEMA assesses the community's degree of flood risk and development potential, and if appropriate...
3. FEMA arranges for a study of the community to determine base flood elevations and flood risk zones. Consultation with the community occurs at the start of and during the study. Communities with minimal or no flood risk are converted to the Regular Program without a study (below).
4. FEMA provides the studied community with Flood Insurance Rate Map delineating base flood elevations and flood risk zones. Community is given 6 months to adopt base flood elevations in its local zoning and building code ordinances, and to meet other requirements.
5. Community adopts more stringent ordinances and FEMA converts the community to the NFIP's Regular Program (below).