The National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) is a Federal program created by Congress to mitigate future flood losses nationwide through sound, community enforced building and zoning ordinances. Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between local communities and the Federal Government that states that if a community will adopt and enforce a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risks to new construction in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), commonly referred to as the 100-year floodplain, the Federal Government will make flood insurance available within the community as a financial protection against flood losses. The City of Bismarck began its participation in the NFIP in 1974.