Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Appendix B 
How To Obtain FEMA 
Publications and Backup 
Data 

To comply with the requirements for 
supporting data discussed in this Guide, 
community officials and others who wish 
to submit Appeals, Protests, or requests for 
Map Revisions or Map amendments may 
find it necessary to obtain copies of 
effective Flood Hazard Boundary Maps 
(FHBMs), Flood Insurance Rate Maps 
(FIRMs), Flood Boundary and Floodway 
Maps (FBFMs), Digital Flood Insurance 
Rate Maps (DFIRMs), and Flood 
Insurance Study (FIS) reports; backup data 
for NFIP maps; or FEMA publications that 
explain the map change processes further. 
As discussed in the paragraphs that follow, 
those materials are available from the 
FEMA Map Service Center (MSC), 
Regional Offices, or Headquarters Office. 
(See Appendix D of this Guide for contact 
information.) 

Maps and Reports 

The location and availability of the maps, 
reports, and directly related products (e.g., 
the DFIRM Database) will depend on 
whether the processing of the maps, 
reports, and other products is still in 
progress or they have been completed and 
are effective for NFIP flood insurance and 
floodplain management purposes. 

In-Progress Maps, Reports, and 
Other Products 

After Preliminary versions of the NFIP 
map, report, and associated products for a 
community have been issued, and again 
after Revised Preliminary versions have 
been issued by FEMA as a result of 
appeals or other comments submitted by 
community officials or by individuals 
through community officials, copies of the 
maps and, if applicable, the accompanying 
FIS report and other products are sent to 
the community. 

After FEMA issues the Letter of Final 
Determination for a study/mapping project 
or Physical Map Revision (PMR) and 
before the affected NFIP map panel(s), the 
FIS report, and associated products 
become effective, the MSC will prepare 
and distribute a limited number of paper 
copies of these final products to the 
community along with a digital version on 
a CD or DVD. 

Communities that are participants in good 
standing in the NFIP are to store the paper 
copies of the maps, reports, and associated 
products in an official local Community 
Map Repository, where they are to be 
made available for community residents 
and other interested parties to review. The 
Community Map Repository is often in the 
office of a community floodplain 
administrator, engineer, planner, or clerk. 
To locate the Community Map Repository, 
interested parties may call a Map Specialist 
in the FEMA Map Assistance Center 
(FMAC), toll free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP 
(1-877-336-2627). 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

FEMA also sends copies of completed 
Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) that 
amend NFIP maps and copies of Letters of 
Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs) 
and Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs) that 
revise maps to the Community Map 
Repository. 

In some communities and States, these 
products also are made available online 
through a State- or community-maintained 
Website; information on such Websites 
should be obtained from the staff at the 
local Community Map Repository. 

Completed Maps, Reports, and 
Other Products 

After a new or updated NFIP map, FIS 
report, database, LOMA, LOMR-F, or 
LOMR becomes effective, a digital version 
of the product is maintained at the MSC 
and is accessible for viewing or download 
through the MSC Website: 
http://www.msc.fema.gov/. The home 
page for the MSC Website is shown in 
Figure B-1. After reviewing a copy of the 
completed product on the MSC site, 
requesters may want to order a digital copy 
of their own from the MSC. Effective 
October 1, 2009, the MSC distributes only 
digital versions of the flood maps and FIS 
reports. 


Figure B-1. Map Service Center Home Page 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Written requests for digital copies of 
effective NFIP maps, reports, and related 
products should be sent to the following 
address: 

Federal Emergency Management Agency 
Map Service Center 

P.O. Box 1038 
Jessup, MD 20794-1038 
Requesters can also place an order for 
NFIP products by calling the MSC staff, 
toll-free, at 1-800-358-9616, or by sending 
a request by facsimile, toll free, to (800) 
358-9620. 

Complete ordering information, including 
the products that are available and the 
nominal fees that apply to the products, 
also area accessible through the MSC 
Website. 

Other Mapping-Related 
Resources 

To help communities and individual map 
users, FEMA has prepared a number of 
resources that provide additional 
information about the NFIP, NFIP maps, 
and the map change processes. These 
documents, which are accessible through 
the FEMA Library, include the following: 

• National Flood Insurance 
Program and Related Regulations 
is a reprint of the regulations that 
govern the administration of the 
NFIP, including the map change 
processes discussed in this Guide. 
Individual parts of the NFIP 
regulations also are accessible 
through the following page on the 
FEMA Website: 
(http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent 
/fhm/frm_docs.shtm). 

• Answers to Questions about the 
NFIP (MitDiv-2) provides answers 
to frequently asked questions about 
the purpose and operation of the 
NFIP, flood insurance and 
floodplain management 
requirements, and the mapping of 
flood hazards under the NFIP. An 
HTML version of the questions and 
answers is also accessible through 
http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/ 
qanda.shtm. 

• Guidelines and Specifications for 
Flood Hazard Mapping Partners – 
This publication defines technical 
requirements, product 
specifications for Flood Hazard 
Maps and related NFIP products, 
and associated coordination and 
documentation activities. More 
information on this publication is 
provided on the FEMA Website at 
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/ 
fhm/gs_main.shtm. 

• Document Control Procedures 
Manual provides guidance for the 
processing of the standard and nonstandard documents used by 
FEMA, FEMA mapping partners, 
and contractors in the processing 
the map change requests discussed 
in this Guide. More information on 
this publication is provided on the 
FEMA Website at 
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/ 
fhm/gs_dcpm.shtm. 

• Use of Flood Insurance Study 
(FIS) Data As Available Data 
(Floodplain Management Bulletin 
1-98) provides guidance on the use 
of FEMA draft or preliminary 
study data as "available data" for 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

regulating floodplain development 
in an NFIP participating 
community. An HTML version of 
this bulletin is accessible at 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/ 

floodplain/fis_data.shtm. 

• Managing Floodplain 
Development in Approximate 
Zone A Areas: A Guide for 
Obtaining and Developing Base 
(100-Year) Flood Elevations 
(FEMA 265) provides engineering 
guidelines for determining Base 
Flood Elevations in Special Flood 
Hazard Areas studied by 
approximate methods only. FEMA 
265 is accessible through the 
following page: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/ 

fhm/frm_docs.shtm. 

• Adoption of Flood Insurance Rate 
Maps by Participating 
Communities (FEMA 495) 
provides a high-level overview of a 
community’s role in adopting the 
NFIP flood maps as a participant in 
the NFIP. FEMA 495 is accessible 
through the “Floodplain 
Management Publications” page on 
the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floo 
dplain/publications.shtm 

• Joining the National Flood 
Insurance Program (FEMA 496) 
provides a high-level overview of 
the steps a community must take to 
become a participant in the NFIP 
for the first time. FEMA 495 also 
is accessible through the Floodplain 
Management Publications” page on 
the FEMA Website. 

The MT-EZ, MT-1, and MT-2 
application forms and instructions 

referenced throughout this Guide describe 
the map revision, map amendment, and 
conditional determination processes and 
the required supporting data and 
documentation in more technical terms and 
in greater detail than does this Guide. 

The application forms and instructions, 
also available from the FEMA Library, are 
accessible through the “Forms” page on 
the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fr 
m_form.shtm 

The NFIP Elevation Certificate (EC) and 
instructions and the Standard Flood Hazard 
Determination Form (SFHDF) also are 
accessible through the “Forms” page 
referenced above. The EC is to be used to 
provide elevation information necessary to 
ensure compliance with community 
floodplain management ordinances, to 
determine the proper insurance premium 
rate, and to support a LOMA or LOMR-F 
request. The SFHDF is to be used by 
lending institutions when informing 
borrowers of their determinations 
regarding the location of structures in 
relation to the mapped Special Flood 
Hazard Area. 

FEMA is continuing to convert maps and 
reports from the National Geodetic 
Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29) to the 
North American Vertical Datum of 1988 
(NAVD88) for the contiguous United 
States. For a better understanding of 
requirements with regard to the conversion 
from NGVD29 to NAVD88, interested 
parties should read Converting the 
National Flood Insurance Program to the 
North American Vertical Datum of 1988, 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Guidelines for Community Officials, 
Engineers, and Surveyors (FIA-20). 

Technical Bulletins 

FEMA has produced a number of 
Technical Bulletins that community 
officials and other map change requesters 
may find useful. These Technical 
Bulletins, including those that are listed 
below, are on file in the FEMA Library 
and are accessible through the following 
page: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodpl 
ain/techbul.shtm. 

• Openings in Foundation Walls 
and Walls of Enclosures 
(Technical Bulletin 1) provides 
guidance on the NFIP regulations 
concerning the requirement for 
openings in below-Base Flood 
Elevation foundation walls for 
buildings located in Zones A, AE, 
A1-A30, AR, AO, and AH. 

• Flood Damage-Resistant 
Materials Requirements
(Technical Bulletin 2) provides 
guidance on the NFIP regulations 
concerning the required use of 
flood damage-resistant construction 
materials for building components 
located below the Base Flood 
Elevation in Special Flood Hazard 
Areas (both A and V Zones). 

• Design and Construction 
Guidance for Breakaway Walls 
Below Elevated Coastal Buildings 
(Technical Bulletin 9) provides 
guidance on the NFIP regulations 
concerning the design and 
construction of breakaway walls 

beneath elevated buildings in 
Coastal High Hazard Areas. 

• Ensuring that Structures Built in 
or Near Special Flood Hazard 
Areas Are Reasonably Safe from 
Flooding (Technical Bulletin 1000) discusses building techniques, 
including the use of fill, that can be 
used to ensure structures are 
reasonably safe from flooding. 
• Crawlspace Construction for 
Buildings Located in Special 
Flood Hazard Areas (Technical 
Bulletin 11-01) provides interim 
guidance on minimum NFIP 
requirements as well as best 
practices for crawlspace 
construction in the Special Flood 
Hazard Area. 
Floodplain Management 
Publications 

A number of useful publications, including 
those listed below, are provided on the 
previously referenced “Floodplain 
Management Publications” page, which is 
located at 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodpl 
ain/publications.shtm. 

• Design Guidelines for Flood 
Damage Reduction (FEMA-15) 
provides general information about 
flooding and how to properly 
design and build in floodprone 
areas. 
• Elevated Residential Structures 
(FEMA-54) covers proper design 
and construction methods for 
elevated homes. 

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• Coastal Construction Manual 
(FEMA-55) demonstrates design 

and construction techniques for 

construction in coastal high hazard 

areas. 

• Manufactured Home Installation 
in Flood Hazard Areas (FEMA85) contains information about how 
to properly site and install a 
manufactured home in a flood 
hazard area, with emphasis on 
design of elevated foundations. 
• A Unified National Program for 
Floodplain Management (FEMA100) updates a 1979 report that 
presents strategies fundamental to 
implementing a balanced approach 
to floodplain management. 
FEMA Map Assistance Center 

For answers to most flood hazard mapping 
questions, interested parties may call a 
FEMA Map Specialist in the FMAC, toll 
free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-3362627), or send an e-mail message to a Map 
Specialist in the FMAC at 
FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com. 

The FMAC provides information to the 
public about NFIP rules, regulations, and 
procedures. Map Specialists respond to 
inquiries from Federal, State, and local 
officials and the general public, and inform 
callers about a variety of topics including: 

(1) requirements necessary to meet NFIP 
criteria for Letters of Map Change 
(LOMCs), PMRs, appeals and other 
comments submitted during the 90-day 
appeal period, and community compliance; 
(2) Preliminary, Revised Preliminary, and 
final versions of maps and reports; (3) 
requests for technical and administrative 
support data; and (4) map change and data 
request processing fees. 

For additional information on the FMAC, 
including hours of operation, please visit 
the FMAC Web page at 

www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fmc_mai 
n.shtm. 

Technical and Administrative 
Support Data 

While an NFIP map is being processed for 
publication, copies of the technical and 
administrative support data on which the 
NFIP map is based are available through 
the appropriate FEMA Regional Office or, 
with Regional Office approval, directly 
through the FEMA contractor responsible 
for maintaining the data until the map 
becomes effective. 

Once the map becomes effective, the 
archived technical and administrative 
support data are available through: 

FEMA Project Library 

South Pickett Street 

Alexandria, VA 22304 

Attention: Library Manager 

Information on the types of technical and 
administrative support data that are 
available and the fees associated with data 
requests is provided in Table E.3 in 
Appendix E of this Guide. 

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