Quick2 FEMA Tutorials

Quick2 was developed during the Microsoft DOS operating system and the Managing Zone A - FEMA 265 manual came with Quick2 software on a 3.5 inch floppy disk (in 1995). In addition FEMA created other references that showcased GIS and digital flood insurance rate maps (DFIRM) using interactive tutorials.

The tutorials are in the obsolete SWF format but are still available on FEMA's website site.  Quick2 is no longer available from FEMA but is still listed as approved software. The SWF files do not automatically play unless you install a player or use an on-line player.

Found an SWF online player and thought I would share. It's simple: download the SWF files below, open the ruffle.rs/demo/ web site in your web browser and drop the file in the window.

ENJOY👍

Quick-2 Tutorial Overview

The Quick-2 Tutorial is a very detailed explanation of the processes published in FEMA 265. Very informative even today.

GIS Tutorial Series II

GIS Tutorial Series III

The tutorial series above reflects FEMA's efforts to integrate GIS into the mapping process and documents the conversion of FIRM maps to DFIRM maps.

Managing Floodplain Development in Approximate Zone A Areas

This is the main reference for the BFE process as it existed in 1995. This copy has been highlighted for convenience. 

CAUTION: None of the above references are comprehensive or current. They are out of date and do not leverage current GIS capabilities or mapping practices. They are intended as historical references only.

QUICK2 / QUICK2AF Ingredients List and BFE Recipe

REFERENCES

• MANAGING FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT IN APPROXIMATE ZONE A AREAS 
• Guidance for Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping: Alluvial Fans
• REST Service to NFIP mapped Alluvial Fan Areas
• CAUTIONS: Backwater Conditions and Alluvial Fans

DOWNLOADS

• Quick2af (download)
• Quick2af BFE Worksheet (download)
• Statewide/County SFHA Database (download)
• Stateplane Zones (download)
• DEM for request area (State/USGS/NRCS)
• StreamStats stream grid (download)
• Landcover for request area (download)
• Landcover Mannings N reference (download)
• QGIS (if needed) (QGIS.ORG) (long-term release recommended)
• QGIS Plugins: Lat Lon Tools, Profile Tool and QuickMapServices (w/contribution pack)

CREATE AND MEASURE IN GIS

1. Create a BFE project in GIS and locate the project by coordinates
2. Use the state plane CRS of the project location in feet (Stateplane Zones)
3. DEM(s) is/are merged and converted to vertical feet if needed (DEM for request area)
4. One foot contours are created from DEM
5. Cross-section layer is created using H&H common practice and assigned the project CRS
6. Measurements are then taken from attached layers (using workbook working down and right through tabs).
7. Backwater test from nearest downstream Zone AE elevation (State SFHA Database).
8. Place a cross sections are placed from left to right looking downstream with a state plane projection in feet, one at home/site and one upstream a minimum 100 feet with a positive slope value and a change in elevation minimum of a foot.
9. StreamStats report is generated from Cross Section intersection with NSS stream grid (fill in basin sq mi, region, 1% AEP discharge).
10. Mannings N is determined from XS, aerial, landcover, and Mannings N reference. Stream is always 0.04.
11. Profile is created from 40 points at the downstream XS of location (copied) and pasted into the worksheet Downstream XS tab. Copy and past from resulting QGIS attribute table by creating SHP file, points along line spaced length divided by 39, and extract elevations from DEM.
12. Left and right banks are identified in Downstream XS tab Notes field
13. The Quick2 Worksheet tab fields: Number of Stations, Left Bank Station, and Right Bank Station - column A is text file input for Quick2.

FEMA Quick2 Workbook spreadsheet

The Quick2 program was programed before geographical information system (GIS) software and is  designed to calculate a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) by inputting:

• station and distance values
• a discharge value
• bank stations
• Manning's N values
• and a slope value

Once entered a water surface elevation is generated that can meet FEMA minimum BFE requirements. When reading FEMA 265 - the Zone A document for Quick2 - the mapping references are now all GIS processes. 

The attached BFE Worksheet provides a place to collect the information and values needed in this process. Once all the values above are entered into the Workbook, they are formatted into a Quick2 formatted file that is imported. Once imported, the slope is entered and a result screen is displayed. The result screen references a WS ELEV (water surface elevation) that is calculated from a referenced discharge.

The discharge is referenced from the USGS StreamStats program for the stream location. Depending on the state and USGS study an entire range of discharge values is available and can include the 1% annual chance discharge value. It is this value that can be used to calculate a FEMA BFE for Zone A's.

The value of this Worksheet is for the utility of collecting the individual variables and to format a text file for input into Quick2.

Download HERE

FEMA Quick2 DOS Program

Quick2 is DOS based software created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published with FEMA 265 - MANAGING FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENTINAPPROXIMATE ZONE A AREASA GUIDE FOR OBTAINING AND DEVELOPINGBASE (100-YEAR) FLOOD ELEVATIONS dated APRIL 1995: 

"This guide was developed for use by community officials, property owners, developers, surveyors, and engineers who may need to determine Base (100-year) Flood Elevations (BFEs) in special flood hazard areas designated as approximate Zone A on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Flood Insurance Rate Maps published as part of the National Flood Insurance Program. One of the primary goals of this document is to provide a means of determining BFEs at a minimal cost.

The guidance provided herein is primarily intended for use in riverine and lake areas where flow conditions are fairly uniform, and do not involve unusual flow regimes (rapidly varying flow, two-dimensional flow, supercritical flow, hydraulic jumps, etc.).

This guide is not to be used for areas that experience alluvial fan flooding or areas that contain characteristics of alluvial fan flooding. In addition, this guide is not to be used in Zone V (velocity) areas or coastal Zone A areas that are subject to flooding due to storm surge from hurricanes and other coastal storms. Furthermore, guidance on determining regulatory floodways is not provided in this guide." 

The download file on this site is the original Quick2 version 1 DOS based program that has been repackaged and now includes a DOSBOX emulator to run with Microsoft Windows. This program is provided as-is and is only intended for educational purposes.