Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Chapter 4 
Map Revisions 

4.1 Background 
To provide a sound basis for floodplain 
management and insurance rating, 
National Flood Insurance Program 
(NFIP) maps must present flood hazard 
and risk information that is correct and 
up to date. Because the information on 
the maps is subject to change, FEMA 
has developed the map revision 
processes discussed in this chapter. 
Through these map revision processes, 
community officials may request that 
effective NFIP maps be revised to 
incorporate new or corrected flooding 
information. Regulatory requirements 
for map revisions are documented in Part 
65 of the NFIP regulations. Procedural 
requirements for map revisions are 
documented in Volume 2 of FEMA’s 

Guidelines and Specifications for Flood 
Hazard Mapping Partners and in 
Sections 2 and 3 of FEMA’s Document 
Control Procedures Manual. These 
documents may be accessed through the 
“Guidance Documents and Other 
Published Resources” page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
rm_docs.shtm. 

The information depicted on effective 
NFIP maps may be revised by a Physical 
Map Revision (PMR), by a Letter of 
Map Revision (LOMR), or by a Letter of 
Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F). 
A PMR involves revising and 
republishing the portions of the map 
affected by the requested changes. When 
NFIP maps are revised by a LOMR, the 

changes made to the affected map(s) are 
described in determination documents, 
which are accompanied by digitally 
produced versions of annotated map 
panels and/or Flood Insurance Study 
(FIS) report materials. 

When NFIP maps are revised by a 
LOMR-F, changes made to the affected 
map panel(s) also are described in 
determination documents. LOMR-Fs 
are not accompanied by annotated map 
panels or FIS report materials because of 
their limited scope. Additional 
background information on LOMR-Fs is 
provided in Section 4. 

Because of the costs involved in printing 
new map panels, FEMA has generally 
physically revised and re-published 
maps only when it is necessary to show 
changes involving a large area of land or 
increased flood hazards. Changes that 
involve increased flood hazards include: 

• Adding new Special Flood 
Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the 
areas that would be inundated by 
the base (1-percent-annualchance flood; 
• Adding new regulatory 
floodways; 
• Enlarging existing SFHAs and/or 
regulatory floodways 
• Shifting existing SFHAs and/or 
regulatory floodways to areas 
not previously within the SFHAs 
and/or regulatory floodways, 
and 
• Increasing Base (1-percentannual-chance) Flood Elevations 
(BFEs). 
To make other types of map changes, 
FEMA has usually issued LOMRs. 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

LOMRs may be used for map revisions 
that decrease the size of 
SFHAs/regulatory floodways, but 
usually are not used for map revisions 
that shift existing SFHAs and regulatory 
floodways to areas not previously within 
the SFHAs/regulatory floodways, even 
when the size of the SFHA and 
regulatory floodway is generally being 
decreased. LOMRs are especially well 
suited to changes that involve small 
areas within a community. 

Although changes may be made to any 
of the information shown on an effective 
NFIP map, FEMA generally will not 
revise an effective map unless the 
changes involve modifications to the 
1-percent-annual-chance flood 
information. Requests for changes that 
involve other information (e.g., roads, 
road names, and corporate limits) will 
usually be filed for future use. If a 
physical revision becomes necessary as a 
result of a FEMA-contracted 
study/mapping project or a request for 
changes to flooding information, all 
requests on file will be reviewed and 
addressed appropriately at that time. 

The procedures for the handling of map 
revision requests involving only changes 
to corporate limits, including a process 
flowchart, can be found in Volume 2, 
Section 2.6, of FEMA’s Guidelines and 
Specifications for Flood Hazard 
Mapping Partners. The Guidelines and 
Specifications are available from the 
FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp) 
and can be accessed through a dedicated 
page on the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/g 
s_main.shtm. 

Often, developers and property owners 
place fill to elevate one or more 
structures or parcels of land. In 
accordance with Part 65 of the NFIP 
regulations, the developers or property 
owners may submit certain data and 
documentation, discussed in detail 
below, and ask that FEMA make an 
official determination regarding whether 
the effective NFIP map for the impacted 
area should be revised. The procedural 
requirements for such requests are 
documented in Volume 2, Section 2.4 of 
FEMA’s Guidelines and Specifications 
for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners and 
in Section 3 of FEMA’s Document 
Control Procedures Manual. These 
documents also are available from the 
FEMA Library or may be accessed 
through the “Guidance Documents and 
Other Published Resources” page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
rm_docs.shtm. 

“Fill” is defined as material from any 
source placed to raise the ground 
(natural grade) to or above the BFE. 
The common construction practice of 
removing unsuitable existing material 
(topsoil) and backfilling with select 
structural material is not considered the 
placement of fill if the practice does not 
alter the existing (natural grade) 
elevation. Fill placed before the date of 
the first NFIP map showing the area in 
an SFHA is considered natural grade. 

Depending on where the soil is placed, 
fill may change the flow of water or 
increase flood elevations. Fill may be 
used to elevate a building to meet NFIP 
requirements. Sometimes fill is 
combined with other methods of 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

elevation such as pilings or foundation 
walls. The placement of fill requires a 
local permit from the community. 

If fill has been placed, the FEMA 
determination regarding the request will 
be based on a comparison of the BFE 
with the elevation of the lowest adjacent 
grade to the structure (lowest ground 
touching the structure) including any 
attached deck(s) or garage and a 
completed version of Form 3, 
“Community Acknowledgment Form” 
from the MT-1 application forms 
package. The MT-1 forms and 
instructions are discussed below and 
later in this chapter. 

For FEMA to remove the SFHA 
designation from a legally defined 
property or portion of property that does 
not have a structure on it, the elevation 
of the lowest ground on the property 
must be at or above the BFE. If FEMA 
determines that the SFHA designation 
does not apply to the particular 
structure(s) or parcel(s) of land, FEMA 
issues a LOMR-F determination 
document that removes the SFHA 
designation from the subject 
property/properties and/or structure(s). 
If FEMA determines that the SFHA 
designation does apply to the particular 
structure(s) or parcel(s) of land, FEMA 
issues a LOMR-F determination 
document that does not remove the 
SFHA designation from the property 
and/or structure. 

FEMA does not issue LOMR-Fs in 
alluvial fan flood hazard areas (areas 
labeled as Zone AO, with both base 
flood depths and velocities shown in feet 
per second on the effective NFIP map) 
or in coastal high hazard areas (areas 
labeled as Zones V, VE, or V1-30 on the 

effective NFIP map). Additional 
information on FEMA procedures for 
requests involving structures or parcels 
in alluvial fan flood hazard areas or 
coastal high hazard areas is provided in 
Section 4. later in this chapter. 

4.2 Application Forms 
In 1992, FEMA developed the MT-1 and 
MT-2 application forms and instructions 
packages for map revisions to facilitate 
map revision processing. The MT-1 
forms can be accessed from the 
following page on the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/d 
l_mt-1.shtm. The MT-2 forms can be 
accessed from the following page: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/d 
l_mt-2.shtm. 

The MT-1 and MT-2 forms packages 
provide step-by-step instructions for 
requesters to follow and is 
comprehensive, ensuring that the 
requesters’ submissions are complete 
and more logically structured. This 
allows FEMA staff to complete their 
review quicker and at lower cost to the 
NFIP. While completing the forms may 
seem burdensome, experience has shown 
that the advantages to the requesters 
outweigh any inconvenience. The forms 
and instructions are discussed in more 
detail later in this chapter. 

4.3 Fee-Charge System 
To reduce the expenses to the NFIP by 
more fully recovering the costs 
associated with processing conditional 
and final map change requests, FEMA 
implemented a procedure to recover 
costs associated with reviewing and 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

processing such requests. The fee 
schedule for map change requests is 
provided in Table D-1 in Appendix D of 
this Guide. 

FEMA reviews its fee-charge procedures 
periodically (usually, once every 2 
years) and may revise the review and 
processing fees for map change requests. 
Therefore, interested parties should visit 
the following page on the FEMA 
Website for the most up-to-date 
information: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
rm_fees.shtm. 

Certain map change requests may 
qualify for exemptions in accordance 
with Section 72.5 of the NFIP 
regulations, as summarized on the 
above-referenced Web page and in 
Appendix D, and include changes that 
correct mapping errors, natural changes, 
and better quality data that do not 
partially or wholly incorporate manmade 
modifications within the SFHA. 

4.4 North American 
Vertical Datum of 
1988 
Since the National Geodetic Survey 
determined that the national vertical 
control network needs to be readjusted, 
FEMA has been gradually converting 
NFIP maps from the National Geodetic 
Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29) to 
the North American Vertical Datum of 
1988 (NAVD88) in the contiguous 
United States. Therefore, when 
submitting map revision requests, 
requesters should use the reference 
datum on the applicable, effective FIRM 
or DFIRM panel. 

For more information on the conversion 
from NGVD29 to NAVD88, requesters 
should refer to FIA-20, Converting the 
National Flood Insurance Program to 
the North American Vertical Datum of 
1988, Guidelines for Community 
Officials, Engineers, and Surveyors, and 
to Appendix B, “Guidance for 
Converting to the North American 
Vertical Datum of 1988,” of FEMA’s 

Guidelines and Specifications for Flood 
Hazard Mapping Partners. These 
guidance documents are available from 
the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp). 
Information on how to obtain copies of 
these and other useful guidance 
documents is provided in Appendix B of 
this Guide. 

4.5 How To Request a 
Map Revision Based 
on Conditions Other 
Than Fill 
A community or private party may 
request that an effective NFIP map be 
revised at any time. When the request 
does not involve the proposed BFEs, the 
map revision procedures of Part 65 of 
the NFIP regulations are to be followed. 
As noted in Chapter 1 of this Guide, 
Section 65.3 of the NFIP regulations 
requires that each participating 
community inform FEMA of any 
physical changes that affect BFEs in the 
community and submit data that show 
the effects of those changes within 6 
months of the date that the data are 
available. 

To request a map revision based on 
conditions other than fill, the requester 

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must complete the appropriate parts of 
the MT-2 application forms and 
instructions package. These forms were 
prepared to address most types of 
revision requests received. For other 
types of requests, such as requests 
involving coastal or alluvial fan 
flooding, only the applicable parts of 
these forms should be submitted. 

Requesters may obtain paper copies of 
these forms and instructions from the 
Map Specialists in the FEMA Map 
Assistance Center (FMAC). Requesters 
may contact the FMAC by telephone, 
toll free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877336-2627), or send an e-mail message to 
FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com. 
For hours of operation and to learn more 
about FMAC services, interested parties 
should visit the FMAC page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
mc_main.shtm. 

Requesters also may download Word, 
PDF, and TXT versions of the MT-2 
application forms and instructions from 
the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp); 
the forms and instructions are accessible 
through the following page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/d 
l_mt-2.shtm. 

Completed application forms, supporting 
data and documentation, and review and 
processing fees for map revision 
requests are to be submitted to: 

LOMC Clearinghouse 
6730 Santa Barbara Court 
Elkridge, MD 21075 

Payment of the review and processing 
fee may be made by credit card, check, 
or money order. Checks and money 
orders are to be made payable in U.S. 
funds to the National Flood Insurance 
Program. If a revision requester chooses 
to use a credit card, the credit card 
information is to be provided on the 
“Payment Information Form” (Figure 
4-1) that is included in the MT-2 forms 
package. 

An assigned FEMA Fee-Charge System 
Administrator (FCSA) will review the 
check, money order, and payment 
information and, if appropriate, deposit 
the payment in the National Flood 
Insurance Fund (NFIF). If the FCSA 
identifies any irregularities with the 
payment, the FCSA will not deposit the 
payment in the NFIF. In such instances, 
FEMA will send a letter to the requester 
explaining any additional actions the 
requester must take to allow FEMA to 
process the request. 

Figure 4-1. Payment Information Form 
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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Because the Chief Executive Officer 
(CEO) of the community is responsible 
for ensuring that the community meets 
its obligations as a participant in the 
NFIP, either the CEO or a community 
official designated by the CEO—such as 
a floodplain administrator (FPA), 
planner, or engineer—must be aware of 
all map revision requests. Therefore, any 
individual property owner, developer, or 
other person who wishes to request a 
map revision based on conditions other 
than fill must have the community CEO, 
FPA or other designated community 
official acknowledge this requested 
change by completing the appropriate 
sections of Form 1, "Overview and 
Concurrence Form," from the MT-2 
application forms package. 

If FEMA receives a map revision request 
directly from a private party, without 
community concurrence, FEMA will ask 
the requester to provide evidence that the 
request was first submitted to the CEO, 
FPA, or other designated official. 

Revisions to effective NFIP maps are 
usually requested because of changes 
that have taken place in the floodplain. 
Such changes include, but are not 
limited to, the construction of new 
bridges, culverts, levee systems, and 
channel modifications. Occasionally, 
map revisions are requested because the 
analyses used by FEMA to develop the 
data shown on the effective NFIP map 
are found to contain errors or because a 
requester believes that the use of 
alternative methodologies or better data 
will provide superior results. 

4.6 Supporting Data and 
Documentation 
Required for Map 
Revisions 
To support requests based on the effects 
of physical changes that have occurred 
in the floodplain or on the use of 
alternative methodologies or better data, 
the requester must provide new analyses, 
in which the alternative methodologies 
or better data are used, and all other data 
FEMA would need to revise the 
effective map and FIS report. FEMA 
will not perform any analyses to 
determine either the nature or extent of 
the changes that might be necessitated 
by those types of requests. 

Based on the reason for the request, the 
requester will need to make a 
determination as to the need for 
additional data in accordance with the 
applicable portions of Sections 65.5, 
65.6, 65.7, 65.10, 65.11, 65.12, and 

65.13 of the NFIP regulations. 
The data and documentation that must be 
submitted in support of map revision 
requests that are summarized in Tables 
4-1 through 4-4 as follows: for revisions 
based effects of physical changes in the 
floodplain (Table 4-1); for revisions 
based on the use of better data (Table 
4-2); for revisions based on the use of an 
alternative methodology (Table 4-3); and 
for revisions based on structural 
modifications within the floodplain 
(Table 4-4). Structural modifications 
include channelizations, culverts and 
storms systems, bridges, levees, and 
dams. 

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Table 4-1. Supporting Data and Documentation for Map Revisions Based on 
Effects of Physical Changes in Floodplain 

Supporting Data Type 
Changes 
Affecting 
Hydrologic 
Conditions 
Changes 
Affecting 
Hydraulic 
Conditions 
Changes 
Affecting 
Topographic 
Conditions 
General description of changes X X X 
Certified as-built plans X X 
New hydrologic analysis X 
New hydraulic analysis based on original 
discharge values X 
New hydraulic analysis based on new 
discharge values X X 
Revised flood zone boundary delineations on 
topographic map X X X 
Revised regulatory floodway boundary 
delineations on topographic map X X 
Annotated copies of FHBM, FIRM/DFIRM, 
FBFM, Flood Profiles, and FIS report tables, 
as appropriate, showing requested revisions X X X 
New topographic information (e.g., spot 
elevations, grading plans, and contour maps) X 

Note: Because the required data and documentation will vary with each individual map revision request, 
requesters should refer to the MT-2 application forms and instructions for details. FEMA may request data 
and documentation other than those listed in Table 4-1 to process a particular map revision request. 

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Table 4-2. Supporting Data and Documentation for Map Revisions Based on 
Use of Better Data 

Supporting Data Type 
Better 
Hydrologic 
Data 
Better 
Hydraulic 
Data 
Better 
Topographic 
Data 
Better data X X X 
Source of data X X X 
Explanation of improvement X X 
New hydrologic analysis X 
New hydraulic analysis based on original 
discharge values X 
New hydraulic analysis based on new discharge 
values X X 
Revised flood zone boundary delineations on 
topographic map X X X 
Revised regulatory floodway boundary 
delineations on topographic map X X X 
Annotated copies of FHBM, FIRM/DFIRM, 
FBFM, Flood Profiles, and FIS report tables, as 
appropriate, showing requested revisions X X X 

Note: Because the required data will vary with each individual map revision request, requesters should 
refer to the MT-2 application forms and instructions for details. FEMA may request data other than those 
listed in Table 4-2 to process a particular map revision request. 

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Table 4-3. Supporting Data and Documentation Required for Map 
Revisions Based on Use of Alternative Methodology 

Supporting Data Type 
Alternative 
Hydrologic 
Methodology 
Alternative 
Hydraulic 
Methodology 
New hydrologic analysis based on alternative methodology X 
New hydraulic analysis based on new hydrologic analysis 
X 
New hydraulic analysis based on alternative methodology and 
original discharge values X 
Explanation for superiority of alternative methodology X X 
Revised flood zone boundary and/or regulatory floodway 
boundary delineations on topographic map X X 
Annotated copies of FHBM, FIRM/DFIRM, FBFM, Flood 
Profiles, and FIS report tables, as appropriate, showing 
requested revisions X X 

Notes: 

Because the required data will vary with each individual map revision request, requesters should refer to 
the MT-2 application forms and instructions for details. FEMA may request data other than those listed in 
Table 4-3 to process a particular map revision request. 

When an alternative hydrologic methodology is used, the methodology should be applied to the entire 
flooding source/waterway. 

To support requests based on the contention that mathematical or measurement errors have been made, the 
requester needs only to identify the errors and provide the new data that FEMA will use to perform new 
analyses and correct the affected map panel(s) and, if appropriate, affected Flood Profile(s) and data 
table(s) in the effective FIS report(s). 

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Table 4-4. Supporting Data and Documentation for Map Revisions Based on Structural Modifications 

Data/Documentation Type Channelizations 
Culverts/ 
Storm 
Systems Bridges 
Levee 
Systems Dams 
Certified as-built construction or grading plans X X X X X 
Hydrologic analysis (if discharges in effective model not used) 
X X X X X 
Calibration run duplicating original hydraulic model (multiple 
profile and regulatory floodway) X X X 
Existing hydraulic model (multiple profile and regulatory 
floodway) if calibration hydraulic model run does not reflect 
conditions prior to start of project X X X 
Revised hydraulic model (multiple profile and regulatory 
floodway) X X 
Revised hydraulic model (multiple profile and regulatory 
floodway) and determination of headwater and tailwater 
elevations X 
Flood zone and/or regulatory floodway boundary delineations 
on the effective map panels X X X X 
Transition structure design plans for as-built conditions X 
New hydrologic analyses or diversion channels X 
Evidence of adequate soil compaction and erosion protection 
(for placement of fill) X X X X X 
Certified topographic data that include entire area of revision 
and delineate flood zone and/or regulatory floodway 
boundaries, BFEs, vertical datum reference, and cross-section 
locations X X X X X 

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Table 4-4. Supporting Data and Documentation for Map Revisions Based on Structural Modifications (Cont’d) 

Data/Documentation Type Channelizations 
Culverts/ 
Storm 
Systems Bridges 
Levee 
Systems Dams 
Hydraulic model with levee if compliant with Section 65.10 of 
the NFIP regulations X 
Hydraulic models with and without levee if not compliant with 
Section 65.10 of the NFIP regulations X 
Evidence of structural stability, certified by a Registered 
Professional Engineer X 
Evidence of operation and maintenance provisions X X 
Interior drainage analyses and SFHA boundary delineations 
X 
Additional design data as necessary X 
Certification by Registered Professional Engineer that 
impoundment structures will remain stable during the base flood X 
Hydraulic analysis X 
Hydrologic analyses for downstream reach, if dam is designed 
and operated to lower base flood discharge X 

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Individuals or community officials that 
are considering whether to submit a map 
revision request based on conditions 
other than fill also should refer to the 
MT-2 instructions and the following 
forms, where appropriate, to determine 
what supporting data and documentation 
are required: 

• “Elevation Form” (Form 1); 
• “Riverine Hydrology & 
Hydraulics Form” (Form 2); 
• “Riverine Structures Form” 
(Form 3); 
• “Coastal Analysis Form” (Form 
4); 
• “Coastal Structures Form” (Form 
5); and 
• “Alluvial Fan Flooding Form” 
(Form 6). 
Certifications, where referenced in the 
requirements for supporting data and 
documentation, are defined as follows: 

• Certification of data is a 
statement that the data are 
accurate to the best of the 
certifier’s knowledge. 
• Certification of analyses is a 
statement that the analyses have 
been performed correctly and in 
accordance with sound 
engineering practices. 
• Certification of structural works 
is a statement that the works are 
designed in accordance with 
sound engineering practices to 
provide protection from the base 
flood. 
• Certification of as-built 
conditions is a statement that a 
structure has been built according 
to the plans being certified, is in 

place, and is fully functional. 

The map revision requester should 
ensure that certifications include the 
certifier’s name, signature, registration 
number, and the registration date of the 
certifier. 

4.7 Processing 
Procedures for Map 
Revisions Based on 
Conditions Other 
Than Fill 
The procedures that are followed in 
processing requests for PMRs and 
LOMRs are summarized in Figures 4-2, 
4-3, and 4-4, which appear at the end of 
this chapter. For additional details 
regarding these procedures, interested 
parties should refer to Volume 2 of 

Guidelines and Specifications for Flood 
Hazard Mapping Partners 

(http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ 
gs_main.shtm) or Section 2 of the 

Document Control Procedures Manual 

(http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ 
gs_dcpm.shtm ). 

In their review of a map revision request, 
FEMA will acknowledge receipt of the 
request by letter and, if necessary, by 
telephone to the person who submitted 
the request. If that person is a private 
party, copies of all letters to that person 
from FEMA will be sent to the 
community CEO and FPA. 

After a map revision request has been 
received from the community CEO, 
another community official designated 
by the CEO, or a private party, FEMA 
will perform a preliminary review to 

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determine whether the requester has 
completed the appropriate forms; to 
determine whether the required 
supporting data and documentation and 
the required review and processing fee 
have been provided; and, if a private 
party submitted the request to FEMA, to 
verify that the community is aware of 
the request. 

If the required supporting data, forms, 
and/or fees have not been provided, 
FEMA will send a letter to the requester. 
This letter will identify the supporting 
data, forms, or review and processing fee 
that the requester must submit before 
FEMA can complete its review of the 
request. In this “additional data” letter, 
FEMA will also provide a timeframe 
(usually 90 days) for submitting the 
required data, forms, and/or review and 
processing fee. 

FEMA will generally send the additional 
data letters within 30 days. Until the 
requested data, forms, and/or fees are 
submitted, FEMA will not take any 
further action concerning the request. 

If FEMA determines from its 
preliminary review that the required 
forms and review and processing fees 
have been provided along with sufficient 
supporting data and documentation to 
complete its review, FEMA will then 
inform the requester of the amount of 
time that will be needed to complete its 
detailed review of the request (usually 
30 to 90 days). 

After completing its detailed review, 
FEMA will inform the requester by letter 
of any additional supporting data and/or 
documentation that must be submitted. 
Such letters will be issued within the 90

day period stipulated in the NFIP 
regulations, and generally are sent within 
30 days. Again, no further action will be 
taken on the request until the required 
supporting data and/or documentation 
are received. 

Once all required data and/or 
documentation have been received, 
FEMA will complete its detailed review 
and determine whether changes are 
warranted. If the data and documentation 
submitted do not warrant any changes to 
the information shown on the effective 
NFIP map panel(s) or the accompanying 
effective FIS report(s), FEMA will 
inform the requester by letter. If changes 
are warranted, FEMA will notify the 
community and non-community 
requester by letter whether the request 
will be processed as a PMR or LOMR. 

4.7.1 Physical Map Revision 
Processing Procedures 
For PMRs, FEMA will revise the 
effective map panel(s), Flood Profile(s), 
and/or data tables affected by the 
changes. FEMA will send a Preliminary 
version of the revised materials to the 
community for review, generally for a 
period of 30 days. 

When PMRs involve new or modified 
BFEs and/or base flood depths, the 30day period is followed by a formal 90day appeal period, during which 
community officials or private citizens 
through community officials may submit 
appeals of the proposed BFEs and/or 
base flood depths. 

FEMA prepares the following when new 
or modified BFEs and/or base flood 
depths are to be proposed for a PMR: 

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• A legal notice, called a 
“Proposed Rule”, which is 
published in the FEDERAL 
REGISTER; 
• Listings of proposed BFEs and/or 
base flood depths shown on the 
Preliminary version of the 
affected map panel(s) and in 
affected portion(s) of the FIS 
report(s), which are posted at 
https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov 
/fhm/Scripts/bfe_main.asp; 

• A public notice announcing the 
start of the appeal period and the 
posting of the BFE and/or base 
flood depth listings, which is 
published in one or more local 
newspapers with wide 
circulation; and 
• Letters notifying the affected 
communities of the new or 
modified BFEs and/or base flood 
depths shown on the Preliminary 
version of the DFIRM, which are 
mailed to the CEOs and FPAs for 
the mapped communities. These 
letters are referred to as 
“proposed flood elevation 
determination letters.” 
Once the actions above have been taken, 
the BFEs and/or base flood depths are 
officially considered "proposed." 

In the proposed flood elevation 
determination letters for PMRs, FEMA 
encourages the CEOs, FPAs, and other 
community officials to provide an even 
wider distribution to ensure that 
residents and other key stakeholders are 
aware of the proposed BFEs and/or base 
flood depths. 

The newspaper notice referenced above 
is published twice; the second 
publication usually takes place 1 week 

after the first. On the date of the second 
publication, the 90-day appeal period 
officially begins. 

During the appeal period, community 
officials and individual property owners 
may appeal the proposed BFEs and/or 
base flood depths by submitting data and 
documentation to show that the BFEs 
and/or base flood depths are 
scientifically or technically incorrect. 
For detailed information on how the 
appeal period is administered and how 
appeals are processed, interested parties 
should review Chapter 3 of this Guide. 

During the 90-day appeal period, 
community officials and/or private 
citizens through community officials 
also may submit comments on the other 
information presented on the Preliminary 
versions of the revised map panel(s), 
Flood Profile(s), and/or data table(s) in 
the FIS report. Detailed information on 
how these comments are processed can 
also be found in Chapter 3 of this Guide. 

Once all appeals and other comments 
have been addressed, FEMA will 
finalize the processing of the revised 
map panel(s) and FIS report materials by 
issuing a Letter of Final Determination 
(LFD) for each community affected by 
the PMR. 

When PMRs do not involve new or 
changed BFEs, no appeal period is 
necessary. Therefore, once the 
community review and comment period 
has ended and any comments submitted 
by the community have been addressed, 
FEMA issues an LFD for each 
community affected by the PMR. 

The LFD announces that the revised map 
and report information is final; provides 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

the effective date for the map and report; 
and notifies the community that they 
have a period of time (usually, 6 months) 
to review, update (if necessary), and 
submit their new or updated floodplain 
management ordinance. As with most 
other correspondence related to PMRs, 
the LFD is addressed to the community 
CEO and copies are sent to the 
community FPA; any other community 
official designated by the CEO, if 
appropriate; and to individual noncommunity appellants and commenters, 
if it is practical to do so. 

During the 6-month adoption/ 
compliance period, FEMA finalizes the 
map panel(s) and FIS report materials 
and has paper copies distributed to the 
affected communities, the State NFIP 
Coordinator, and others by the FEMA 
Map Service Center (MSC). The MSC 
also provides community officials with 
CDs or DVDs containing the electronic 
versions of the map and FIS report 
materials and associated spatial 
database. The MSC staff also posts the 
electronic versions of the map and FIS 
report materials and associated spatial 
database on the MSC Website 
(http://www.msc.fema.gov), where they 
may be downloaded by the public for a 
nominal fee. 

During the processing of the PMR, 
Preliminary (and Revised Preliminary, if 
appropriate) copies of the affected map 
panel(s) and FIS report materials are 
kept on file in the Community Map 
Repository of each affected community. 
The Community Map Repository is the 
community office responsible for 
floodplain management activities in the 
community. Interested citizens who are 

having trouble locating the Community 
Map Repository may call a FEMA Map 
Specialist in the previously referenced 
FMAC, toll free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP 
(1-877-336-2627). 

4.7.2 Letter of Map Revision 
Processing Procedures 
For LOMRs, FEMA sends determination 
documents to the community CEO, the 
community FPA, and non-community 
revision requester(s). The LOMR 
determination documents describe the 
changes that have been made and 
officially revise the effective NFIP map 
panel(s) and, where appropriate, FIS 
report materials. Map panel, Flood 
Profile, and tabular enclosures 
illustrating the changes to the map and 
FIS report materials are enclosed with 
the LOMR determination documents. As 
with the PMRs, the LOMR 
determination documents and enclosures 
also are kept in the Community Map 
Repository of each affected community 
as an official revision to the affected 
map panel(s), Flood Profile(s), and data 
tables. 

Individuals interested in learning more 
about the product requirements for the 
map, Flood Profile, and data table 
enclosures to LOMRs should read 
Volume 2, Section 2.4 of FEMA’s 

Guidelines and Specifications for Flood 
Hazard Mapping Partners, which can be 
accessed through: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/g 
s_main.shtm. 

When LOMRs involve new or modified 
BFEs and/or base flood depths, the 
LOMR determination documents also 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

notify community officials and other 
recipients that a formal 90-day appeal 
period is required. No appeal period is 
necessary for LOMRs that do not 
involve new or modified BFEs and/or 
base flood depths. 

FEMA prepares the following when 
new/modified BFEs and/or base flood 
depths are to be proposed for a LOMR: 

• A legal notice, called an “Interim 
Final Rule”, which is published 
in the FEDERAL REGISTER; 
• Listings of proposed BFEs and/or 
base flood depths shown on the 
affected map panel(s) and in 
affected portion(s) of the FIS 
report(s), which are posted at 
https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov 
/fhm/Scripts/bfe_main.asp; and 

• A public notice announcing the 
start of the appeal period and the 
posting of the BFE and/or base 
flood depth listings, which is 
published in one or more local 
newspapers with wide 
circulation. 
Once the actions above have been taken, 
the BFEs and/or base flood depths are 
officially considered "proposed." 

In the LOMR determination documents, 
FEMA encourages the CEOs, FPAs, and 
other community officials to provide an 
even wider distribution to ensure that 
residents and other key stakeholders are 
aware of the proposed BFEs and/or base 
flood depths. 

The newspaper notice referenced above 
is published twice; the second 
publication usually takes place 1 week 
after the first. On the date of the second 

publication, the 90-day appeal period 
officially begins. 

During the appeal period, community 
officials and individual property owners 
may appeal the proposed BFEs and/or 
base flood depths by submitting data and 
documentation to show that the BFEs 
and/or base flood depths are 
scientifically or technically incorrect. 
For detailed information on how the 
appeal period is administered for 
LOMRs and how appeals are processed, 
interested parties should review 
Chapter 3 of this Guide. 

During the 90-day appeal period, 
community officials or private citizens 
through community officials also may 
submit comments on the other 
information presented on the map panel, 
Flood Profile, and/or data table 
enclosures. For detailed information on 
how these comments are processed, 
interested parties should review 
Chapter 3 of this Guide. 

For most LOMRs, the revisions 
documented in the determination 
documents and enclosures are effective 
on the date FEMA issues the LOMR. 
However, the effective date may vary 
depending on the special circumstances 
involved in a LOMR case. The current 
requirements for setting effective dates 
for LOMR are summarized in Table 4-5. 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Table 4-5 Guidelines for Establishing Effective Dates for LOMRs 

Revision Type 
Affected 
Property 
Owners 
Notified 
Affected 
Property 
Owners 
Accept 
Change 
Status of 
Community 
Ordinances Effective Date 
SFHAs Decrease No No Compliant Effective on Date LOMR Sent 
SFHAs Increase Yes No Non-Compliant Effective 6 Months After Date LOMR Sent 
SFHAs Increase Yes No Compliant Effective After 30-Day Comment Period for 
SFHA Changes Elapses 
SFHAs Increase Yes Yes Compliant Effective on Date LOMR Sent 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Increase, OR 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Decrease, OR 
SFHAs Decrease and BFEs Increase 
Yes Yes Compliant Effective on Date LOMR Sent;,90-Day Appeal 
Period Follows Effective Date 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Increase, OR 
SFHAs Decrease and BFEs Increase Yes No Compliant Effective 30 Days After 90-Day Appeal Period 
Ends 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Decrease Yes No Compliant 
Effective After 30-Day Comment Period for 
SFHA Changes Elapses. 90-Day Appeal 
Period Begins at Same Time as Comment 
Period. 
SFHAs Decrease and BFEs Decrease No No Compliant Effective on Date LOMR Sent;90-Day Appeal 
Period Follows Effective Date 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Increase, OR 
SFHAs Increase and BFEs Decrease, OR 
SFHAs Decrease and BFEs Increase 
Yes Yes Non-Compliant Effective 6 Months After Date LOMR Sent 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

Samples of the LOMR determination 
documents are provided in Appendix B 
of FEMA’s Document Control 
Procedures Manual, which is available 
in the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp) 
and can be accessed from the following 
dedicated page on the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/g 
s_dcpm.shtm. 

Once a LOMR becomes effective, copies 
of the determination documents and 
enclosures are provided to the MSC 
staff. The MSC staff posts the electronic 
versions of the LOMR determination 
documents and enclosures on the MSC 
Website (http://www.msc.gov), where 
they may be downloaded by the public 
free of charge. 

As can be seen from the discussion 
above and by comparing the flowcharts 
in Figures 4-2 and 4-3, an advantage of 
revising an effective NFIP map panel 
and associated FIS report through the 
LOMR process is that the revision can 
become effective on the date that the 
LOMR is issued. By comparison, a 
revision made through the PMR process 
will not become effective until the 
revised map has been issued in 
preliminary form, passed through the 
appropriate review periods, printed, and 
distributed. Samples of the LOMR 
determination documents are provided in 
Appendix B of FEMA’s Document 
Control Procedures Manual, which is 
available in the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp) 
and can be accessed from the following 
dedicated page on the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/g 
s_dcpm.shtm. 

Once a LOMR becomes effective, copies 
of the determination documents and 
enclosures are provided to the MSC 
staff. The MSC staff posts the electronic 
versions of the LOMR determination 
documents and enclosures on the MSC 
Website (http://www.msc.gov), where 
they may be downloaded by the public 
free of charge. 

As can be seen from the discussion 
above and by comparing the flowcharts 
in Figures 4-2 and 4-3, an advantage of 
revising an effective NFIP map panel 
and FIS report materials using LOMR 
process is that the revision can become 
effective on the date that the LOMR is 
issued. By comparison, a revision made 
through the PMR process will not become 
effective until the revised map has been 
issued in preliminary form, passed through 
the appropriate review periods, printed, and 
distributed 

4.7.3 Processing Procedures 
for Map Revision 
Requests Involving 
Structural Measures on 
Alluvial Fans 
Before issuing a determination, FEMA 
will determine if all review and 
processing fees have been received for 
map revision requests involving 
structural measures on alluvial fans. 
Unlike other types of map revision 
requests, requests involving structural 
measures on alluvial fans are not 
processed using a flat review and 
processing fee. If additional fees are 
required, FEMA will send an invoice 
letter to the requester. In the invoice 
letter, FEMA will notify the community 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

officials and non-community revision 
requester that they will not issue the 
Preliminary version of the revised map 
and report materials for a PMR or the 
LOMR determination documents and 
enclosures until the required review and 
processing fees have been received by 
the FEMA Fee-Charge System 
Administrator and deposited in the 
NFIF. 

4.8 How To Request a 
Map Revision Based 
on Fill 
Any owner or lessee of property may 
request that FEMA make a 
determination concerning a structure or 
parcel of land where fill has been placed 
after the date of the first effective NFIP 
map and that, if appropriate, FEMA 
issue a LOMR-F reflecting the removal 
of the SFHA designation from the 
subject structure(s) or parcel(s) of land. 
Under the LOMR-F process, FEMA will 
make determinations for single or 
multiple structures on one or more lots 
and for one or more legally described 
parcels of land. In making such 
determinations, FEMA will use the best 
available data (usually the effective 
NFIP map) and information provided by 
the requester concerning the locations 
and elevations of structures and/or 
legally described parcels of land. 

To request a LOMR-F, the requester 
must complete the MT-1 application 
forms and submit them along with the 
required supporting data, documentation, 
and the appropriate review and 
processing fee. Requesters may obtain 
paper copies of these forms and the step-
by-step instructions from the Map 

Specialists in the FMAC. Requesters 
may contact the FMAC by telephone, 
toll free, at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877336-2627), or send an e-mail message to 
FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com. 
For hours of operation and to learn more 
about FMAC services, interested parties 
should visit the FMAC page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
mc_main.shtm. 

Requesters also may download Word, 
PDF, and TXT versions of the MT-1 
application forms and instructions from 
the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp). 
As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the 
forms and instructions are accessible 
through the following page on the 
FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/d 
l_mt-1.shtm. 

Completed application forms, supporting 
data and documentation, and review and 
processing fees for LOMR-F requests 
are to be submitted to: 

LOMC Clearinghouse 
6730 Santa Barbara Court 
Elkridge, MD 21075 

Payment of the review and processing 
fee may be made by credit card, check, 
or money order. Checks and money 
orders are to be made payable in U.S. 
funds to the National Flood Insurance 
Program. If a LOMR-F requester 
chooses to use a credit card, the credit 
card information is to be provided on the 
“Payment Information Form” that is 
included in the MT-1 forms package. 

An assigned FCSA will review the 
check, money order, and payment 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

information. If appropriate, the FCSA 
will deposit the payment in the NFIF. 

If the FCSA identifies any irregularities 
with the payment, the FCSA will not 
deposit the payment in the NFIF. In such 
instances, FEMA will send a letter to the 
requester explaining any additional 
actions the requester must take to allow 
FEMA to process the request. 

As part of the request submittal process, 
the requester will be responsible for 
submitting a completed Form 3 from the 
MT-1 package. Form 3, "Community 
Acknowledgment Form," certifies that 
the community CEO, or a community 
official designated by the CEO, has 
found that the placement of fill has met 
the community's applicable floodplain 
management regulations, including the 
requirement that no fill has been placed 
in an adopted regulatory floodway. 

4.9 Supporting Data and 
Documentation 
Required for Map 
Revisions Based on 
Fill 
The supporting data and documentation 
summarized below are to be submitted in 
support of a LOMR-F request. 

• Property description 
documentation must be enclosed 
for every request and can consist 
of either the Plat Map or Deed 
(containing the recorder’s stamp 
and recordation date) 
accompanied by a tax assessor’s 
map or other suitable map 
showing the surveyed location of 
the property. Note: The 
recordation data (e.g., Book, 
Volume, Page, Reel, Document 
Number, Date) must appear on 
all documents submitted so that 
FEMA may use the legal 
description of the property in 
making its determination, and 
FEMA must be able to identify 
the property exactly. 

• If the property is not recorded on 
a Plat Map, a copy of the tax 
assessor’s map must be 
submitted to help FEMA locate 
the property. 
• A photocopy of the effective 
FIRM/DFIRM panel, annotated 
to show where the property is 
located, must be submitted for 
every request. If FEMA has 
produced a separate FBFM for 
the area in which the structure(s) 
or parcel(s) of land may be 
located, a photocopy of the 
FBFM panel also should be 
included. The panel number and 
effective date of the 
FIRM/DFIRM and FBFM must 
appear on the copy submitted. 
The original paper copy of the 
map panel(s) or a photocopy of 
the map panels must be used. A 
reproduction from a photocopy is 
unacceptable due to possible 
distortion. 
• Elevation data must be submitted 
for all requests, except requests 
for determinations in which the 
effective FIRM/DFIRM already 
shows the property to be clearly 
outside the SFHA. As discussed 
below, the type and source of the 
elevation data will vary. 
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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

a. For riverine flood hazard 
areas, the BFE can be 
established by interpolation 
along the Flood Profile for 
the flooding source that 
appears in the FIS report. If, 
for some reason, no Flood 
Profile exists, the BFE should 
be taken from the effective 
FIRM/DFIRM. 
b. For lacustrine flood hazard 
areas, the BFE can be taken 
from the Summary of 
Stillwater Elevations in the 
FIS report. If the flooding 
source is not included in the 
table, the BFE should be 
taken from the effective 
FIRM/DFIRM. 
c. For coastal flood hazard 
areas, the BFE should be 
taken from the effective 
FIRM/DFIRM and then 
compared with the elevation 
in the Summary of Stillwater 
Elevations table. If the 
stillwater elevation listed in 
the table is less than or equal 
to the whole-foot BFE shown 
on the map minus 0.5 foot, a 
wave height, wave runup, 
and/or wave setup component 
exists; therefore, the whole-
foot BFE shown on the map 
should be used. If the 
stillwater elevation listed in 
the table is greater than the 
whole-foot BFE shown on 
the map minus 0.4 foot, the 
stillwater elevation shown in 
the table should be used as 
the BFE. 
d. For flood hazard areas 
designated Zone A on the 
map, FEMA has not 
determined BFEs. If a BFE 
for the area has not been 
developed by a Federal, 
State, or local government 
agency, the requester should 
refer to FEMA-265, 
Managing Floodplain 
Development in Approximate 
Zone A Areas: A Guide for 
Obtaining and Developing 
Base (100-Year) Flood 
Elevations, which is 
accessible through the FEMA 
Website: 
http://www.fema.gov/plan/pr 
event/fhm/frm_docs.shtm. 

e. For shallow flooding areas 
designated Zone AH on the 
map, the BFE shown on the 
effective FIRM/DFIRM 
(rounded to a whole foot) 
should be used unless a more 
precise elevation is provided 
in the FIS report. 
f. For shallow/sheet flooding 
areas (designated Zone AO 
on the map), the 
characteristics of the area will 
determine the appropriate 
methodology, and the 
requester should refer to the 
guidance in the MT-EZ and 
MT-1 instructions. 
g. In addition to the BFE, the 
elevation data required for a 
structure is the Lowest 
Adjacent Grade (LAG) to the 
structure (i.e., the elevation 
of the lowest ground touching 
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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

the structure, including 

attached decks or garage). 

h. The elevation data required 
for a legally defined parcel of 
land, or portion thereof, is the 
elevation of the lowest 
ground on the parcel or 
within the portion of land that 
is to be removed from the 
SFHA 
• Unless an NFIP Elevation 
Certificate has been completed 
for the structure(s) in the request, 
the “Elevation Form” (Form 2) 
from the MT-1 package must be 
completed and certified by a 
Licensed Land Surveyor or 
Registered Professional Engineer 
for all requests except requests 
for determinations in which the 
effective FIRM/DFIRM already 
shows the property to be clearly 
outside the SFHA. 
• If an NFIP Elevation Certificate 
(EC) has been completed, it may 
be submitted in lieu of Form 2. 
The EC also must be certified by 
a Licensed Land Surveyor or 
Registered Professional 
Engineer. The EC form is 
available through the FEMA 
Library and is accessible through 
the FEMA Website at 
http://www.fema.gov/plan/preve 
nt/fhm/frm_form.shtm. Paper 
copies of the EC form also may 
be acquired by contacting the 
Map Specialists in the FMAC. 

• The “Community 
Acknowledgment Form” (Form 
3) must be included for all 
LOMR-F requests in which the 
property has been inadvertently 
included within the regulatory 
floodway shown on the NFIP 
map; however, only Section A of 
Form 3 needs to be completed. 

For LOMR-F requests involving 
property located in an area designated 
Zone A on the FIRM/DFIRM, with no 
BFEs determined, the requester should 
refer to FEMA-265, Managing 
Floodplain Development in Approximate 
Zone A Areas: A Guide for Obtaining 
and Developing Base (100-Year) Flood 
Elevations. This manual provides 
engineering guidelines for determining 
BFEs in Zone A areas and is accessible 
through the FEMA Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/f 
rm_docs.shtm. 

Printed paper copies of the effective 
FIRM, DFIRM, and/or FBFM panel(s) 
and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report 
materials are kept on file in the 
Community Map Repository of each 
affected community. (Digital versions 
may also be available in some 
Community Map Repositories.) The 
Community Map Repository is the 
community office responsible for 
floodplain management activities in the 
community. Interested citizens who are 
having trouble locating the Community 
Map Repository may call a Map 
Specialist in the FMAC, toll free, at 
1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627), 
or send an e-mail message to 
FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com. 

To obtain their own digital copy of the 
complete effective NFIP map(s) or 
selected panel(s) and the FIS report, 
LOMR-F requesters should contact the 
MSC. The effective NFIP maps may be 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

viewed online through the MSC 
Website: http://www.msc.fema.gov/. 
Effective NFIP maps, FIS reports, and 
related products also may be 
downloaded from the MSC Website. 
(Note: Effective October 1, 2009, the 
MSC distributes only digital versions of 
the flood maps and FIS reports.) A 
screen shot of the MSC Web page is 
provided in Appendix B of this Guide. 

Individuals who do not have Internet 
access or who require additional 
assistance also may contact the MSC 
staff by telephone, toll free, at 
1-800-358-9616; or by facsimile 
transmission, toll free, at 
1-800-358-9620. 

For many LOMR-F requests, requesters 
may also choose to create another 
product available from the MSC 
Website. This product is called a 
FIRMette. A FIRMette is a full-scale 
portion of a particular map panel that a 
user creates by selecting a desired area 
from the online image of that map panel. 
In addition to the area of interest, the 
FIRMette includes the map title block, 
north arrow, and scale bar. 

The LOMR-F requester will not be 
assessed a fee for producing a FIRMette. 
To assist first-time users , the MSC has 
developed a FIRMette tutorial, which 
also is available on the MSC Website. 

Certifications, where referenced in the 
requirements for supporting data and 
documentation, are defined as follows: 

• Certification of data is a 
statement that the data are 
accurate to the best of the 
certifier’s knowledge. 
• Certification of analyses is a 
statement that the analyses 
have been performed 
correctly and in accordance 
with sound engineering 
practices. 
• Certification of structural 
works is a statement that the 
works are designed in 
accordance with sound 
engineering practices to 
provide protection from the 
base flood. 
• Certification of as-built 
conditions is a statement that 
a structure has been built 
according to the plans being 
certified, is in place, and is 
fully functional. 
The LOMR-F requester should ensure 
that certifications include the certifier’s 
name, signature, registration number, 
and the registration date of the certifier. 

4.10Map Revision Based 

on Fill Processing 

Procedures 

The procedures that are followed in 
processing requests for LOMR-Fs are 
shown in Figure 4-5 at the end of this 
chapter and are summarized below. 

After the LOMR-F request has been 
received at the LOMC Clearinghouse 
mentioned earlier in this chapter, FEMA 
will review the submittal package for 
completeness and acknowledge receipt 
of the request by letter to the requester, 
usually within 10 days, but not later than 
60 days. This letter will identify any 
required supporting data, application 
forms, and/or fees that the requester did 
not submit and inform the requester to 

4-23 Map Revisions 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

submit the required data, forms, and/or 
fees within 90 days of the date of the 
letter. If the required supporting data 
and/or documentation are not provided 
within 90 days, FEMA will suspend the 
processing of the request. 

If all required supporting data, forms, 
and fees have been provided with the 
request, FEMA staff will acknowledge 
the request by letter and proceed with 
performing a technical review. If any 
questions or problems arise during this 
review, FEMA will work with the 
requester to resolve them. 

Once all required data, forms and other 
documentation, and fees are received, 
FEMA staff will complete their review. 
Upon completion of the review, FEMA 
will issue one of the following 
determinations, as appropriate: 

• Out of the SFHA because the 
structure or parcel of land has 
been elevated above the BFE. 
FEMA will issue a LOMR-F to 
notify the requester and the 
community that the SFHA 
designation no longer applies to 
the existing structure or parcel of 
land. 
• In the SFHA because the 
structure or parcel of land is 
below the BFE. FEMA will issue 
a LOMR-F to notify the 
requester and the community that 
the SFHA designation still 
applies to structure or parcel of 
land. 
• A LOMR-F for the structure 
only. For this determination, 
FEMA will issue a determination 
informing the requester and the 
community that the structure is 
above the BFE and, therefore, the 
SFHA designation does not apply 
to the structure; however, the 
SFHA designation does still 
apply to the rest of the parcel of 
land. 

Samples of the LOMR-F determination 
documents are provided in Appendix B 
of FEMA’s Document Control 
Procedures Manual, which is available 
in the FEMA Library 
(http://www.fema.gov/library/index.jsp). 
The Manual also can be accessed from 
the following page on the FEMA 
Website: 

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/g 
s_dcpm.shtm. 

As provided for in the NFIP regulations, 
FEMA must complete the processing of 
LOMR-F requests within 60 days of the 
date that all required supporting data and 
documentation are received. However, 
FEMA generally issues determinations 
for LOMR-Fs within 4 weeks of the date 
that all required supporting data and 
documentation are received. 

When an effective NFIP map is revised 
by a LOMR-F, the revision is effective 
as of the date of the LOMR-F. 

4.11 Summary of Map 
Actions Processing 
When a revised FIRM or DFIRM panel 
becomes effective, all previous map 
changes for that panel are superseded. 
Therefore, each time a panel is 
physically revised and republished, the 
panel must be updated to include the 
changes in the flood hazard information 
made via a LOMR, LOMR-F, LOMA, 
or Letter of Map Change Revalidation 

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Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

(LOMC-VALID) Letter. (See next 
Section 4.11.) 

The changes made to the effective FIRM 
or DFIRM via the LOMR, LOMR-F, 
LOMA, or LOMC-VALID processes 
become effective without the affected 
panels being republished and distributed. 
Therefore, FEMA maintains records of 
these changes so that these changes may 
be incorporated as appropriate into the 
next physical update of the affected map 
panels. 

Frequently, the results of a LOMR-F or 
LOMA cannot be shown on the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panel for the following 
reasons: 

• Limitations in the accuracy of 
map data; 
• Results indicated a particular 
property or structure was outside 
the SFHA as shown on the 
effective FIRM/DFIRM; 
• Flood hazard and risk 
information on which the 
determination in the LOMC was 
based has been superseded by 
new flood hazard information. 
To assist a community in maintaining 
the FIRM/DFIRM, FEMA prepares a 
Summary of Map Actions (SOMA), 
which is a summary of the LOMCs that 
will be superseded when the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panels become effective. 

As shown in the process flowchart in 
Figure 4-2 at the end of this chapter, 
FEMA provides the SOMAs to the 
affected communities at significant 
stages during the processing of PMRs. 
The SOMAs are provided to inform the 
affected communities about the effect 

that the revised FIRM/DFIRM panels 
resulting from the PMR will have on 
previously issued LOMCs. 

So that modifications made by LOMC 
are included in a physical map update, 
FEMA or an assigned FEMA 
Contractor/Mapping Partner supporting 
FEMA performs searches for all 
determinations at the following four 
processing stages: 

1. Before the Preliminary versions 
of the affected FIRM/DFIRM 
panels are prepared and sent to 
the community for review and 
comment; 
2. Before Revised Preliminary 
versions of the affected 
FIRM/DFIRM panels, if 
required, are prepared and sent to 
the community for review and 
comment; 
3. Before the LFD is sent to the 
community; and 
4. Before the effective date of the 
revised FIRM/DFIRM panels. 
At each of the four processing stages, the 
LOMCs are sorted into the following 
categories: 

• Category 1 includes those 
LOMCs for which results have 
been shown on the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panel(s). 
• Category 2 includes those 
LOMAs and LOMR-Fs for 
which results could not be 
mapped and shown on the 
revised FIRM/DFIRM panel(s) 
because of map data limitations 
or because the affected areas was 
determined to be outside the 
4-25 Map Revisions 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

SFHA as shown on the effective 
FIRM/DFIRM. (These LOMCs 
are revalidated after the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panels become 
effective. LOMRs cannot be 
revalidated, and must be reissued 
if they are inadvertently not 
incorporated into the new 
FIRM/DFIRM panels.) 

• Category 3 includes those 
LOMCs for which results have 
not been, and will not be, 
reflected on the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panels because 
the flood hazard and risk data on 
which the determinations were 
based are being superseded by 
new detailed flood hazard data. 
• Category 4 includes those 
LOMCs which were previously 
issued for multiple lots or 
structures where the 
determination for one or more of 
the lots or structures has changed 
and cannot be revalidated 
through the administrative 
process used for Category 2 
LOMCs. 
For the Category 4 LOMCs, FEMA 
reviews the data submitted in support of 
the original LOMC request and provides 
a new determination for the subject 
properties after the revised 
FIRM/DFIRM panels become effective. 

As shown in the sample Preliminary 
transmittal letters and LFDs presented in 
Appendix A of the FEMA Document 
Control Procedures Manual, FEMA 
provides an explanation of the 
Preliminary or Final SOMA, 
respectively, that is enclosed with the 

letter or explains that no LOMCs have 
been issued since the affected map 
panel(s) became effective. 

To learn more about the detailed 
procedures followed in preparing the 
SOMAs, interested parties should refer 
to Subsections 1.5 and 1.11 of the 
FEMA Document Control Procedures 
Manual 

(http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ 
gs_dcpm.shtm). 

4.12 Revalidation Letter 
Processing 
As discussed in the previous section on 
SOMAs, LOMCs affecting particular 
map panels are superseded when revised 
versions of those map panels become 
effective. Therefore, approximately 4 
weeks before the effective date of the 
FIRM/DFIRM panel(s) affected by a 
PMR, FEMA prepares and distributes a 
LOMC-VALID letter for the LOMCs 
that would be superseded. FEMA mails 
the LOMC-VALID letter(s) to the 
community CEO(s), community FPA(s), 
and other community official(s) 
identified by the CEO. 

During the processing of a revised 
FIRM/DFIRM and FIS report, FEMA 
may issue LOMC determination 
documents to amend or revise the 
effective FIRM/DFIRM and FIS report. 
In these determination documents, 
FEMA includes a notification to the 
community or individual property owner 
that the affected map panel is scheduled 
to be republished and the determination 
made in the LOMC will be superseded 
on the date the new panel became 
effective. 

4-26 Map Revisions 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

As shown in the sample determination 
documents and enclosures in Appendices 
B and C of the FEMA Document 
Control Procedures Manual, FEMA also 
notifies the community and individual 
property owner if the LOMC will be 
revalidated after the effective date of the 
revised map panel(s). 

The LOMC-VALID letter typically 
becomes effective 1 day after the 
effective date of the newly effective 
FIRM/DFIRM panels. The 
LOMC-VALID letter is considered 
legally binding, in the same manner as 
an original LOMR-F or LOMA, 
provided a copy of the original LOMR-F 
or LOMA accompanies the LOMCVALID letter. 

If requested, FEMA will provide a copy 
of the original LOMR-F or LOMA 
determination documents and 
enclosures, if any, with the LOMCVALID letter. FEMA does not charge 
the requester a review and processing fee 
for such requests. 

4-27 Map Revisions 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


4-28 Map Revisions 


REQUESTER COMPLETES MT-2 APPLICATION FORMS 
PACKAGE, COMPILES REQUIRED DATA/DOCUMENTATION, 
AND ENCLOSES CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR PAYMENT 
INFORMATIONFORM 
REQUESTER SUBMITS REQUEST PACKAGE TO FEMA LOMC 
CLEARINGHOUSE AT ADDRESS IN MT-2 INSTRUCTIONS


FEMA CASE INITIATOR OBTAINS CASE NUMBER FROM MIP; 
LOGS IN CASE; AND ADDS COMMUNITY NAME AND CASE 
NUMBER TO CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR PAYMENT 
INFORMATION FORM 
PAYMENT 
INCLUDED WITH 
PACKAGE 
YES 
FEMA CASE INITIATOR REVIEWS INITIAL SUBMITTAL 
A 
FEMA CASE INITIATOR SENDS ORIGINAL PAYMENT AND COPY 
OF REQUEST LETTER TO FCSA, PLACES COPY OF PAYMENT 
INFORMATION WITH SUBMITTAL PACKAGE, AND FORWARDS 
PACKAGE TO FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
FCSA DEPOSITS PAYMENT IN NFIF 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER VERIFIES CASE TYPE, CONFIRMS 
CASE NUMBER, ENTERS CASE INFORMATION IN MIP AND CIS, 
AND ESTABLISHES BUDGET/SCHEDULE 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS CASE TO DETERMINE IF 
REQUEST IS EXEMPT FROM FEE REIMBURSEMENT 
PROCEDURES 
FEMA CASE INITIATOR CHECKS WITH 
FCSA TO SEE IF PAYMENT RECEIVED; 
IF PAYMENT RECEIVED, CASE 
REVIEWER GIVES FCSA CASE NUMBER 
NO 
Figure 4-2. Initial Processing Procedures for Map Revisions 

4-29 


A 
REQUEST ISFEE-EXEMPT YES 
NO 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER COMPLETES INITIAL 
REVIEW OF DATA/DOCUMENTATION FOR 
ADEQUACY/COMPLETENESS 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES/SENDS 
LOMR/CLOMR ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER 
AND REQUESTS DATA, DOCUMENTATION, 
AND/OR REVIEW AND PROCESSING FEE 
REQUIRED 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES 
REFUND LETTER OR INCLUDES 
REFUND PARAGRAPH IN 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTERPAYMENT 
DEPOSITED IN NFIF YES 
NO 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
PREPARES RETURN 
LETTER OR INCLUDES 
RETURN PARAGRAPH IN 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
LETTER 
FEMA REFUND COORDINATOR 
PREPARES REFUND 
MEMORANDUM 
FEMA COORDINATOR SENDS 
ORIGINAL MEMORANDUM TO 
OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER AND 
RETURNS REFUND LETTER (IF 
REQUIRED) AND COPY OF 
MEMORANDUM TO CASE 
REVIEWER 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER SENDS 
REFUND OR RETURN LETTER AND 
DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER AND FCSA 
UPDATE MIP AND CIS 
B 
Figure 4-2. Initial Processing Procedures for Map Revisions (Cont’d) 

4-30 


B 

C 
REQUIRED DATA/
DOCUMENTATION 
FEE RECEIVED BY 
DEADLINE 
NO 
FEMA 
SUSPENDS 
PROCESSING 
OF REQUEST 
AND UPDATES 
MIP AND CIS 
ADDITIONAL DATA AND/
OR DOCUMENTATION 
REQUIRED 
NO 
FEMA CASE 
REVIEWER 
PROCEEDS WITH 
TECHNICAL REVIEW 
AND PROCESSING 
YES 
2 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES/
SENDS ADDITIONAL DATA LETTER 
AND DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
PREPARES/SENDSACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER AND 
DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
FEMA 
RECEIVES 
WRITTEN 
REQUEST FOREXTENSION 
YES 
NO 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
PREPARES/SENDS 
EXTENSION APPROVAL 
LETTER 
REQUIRED DATA/
DOCUMENTATION 
FEE RECEIVED BY 
DEADLINE 
NOYES 
YES 
3 
Figure 4-2. Initial Processing Procedures for Map Revisions (Cont’d) 

4-31 


C 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES 
DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS FOR 
LOMR (SEE FIGURE 4-3) OR 
PMR (SEE FIGURE 4-4) 
DATA AND/ORDOCUMENTATION 
RECEIVED WITHIN 
ALLOTTED TIME 
NO 
FEMA SUSPENDS 
PROCESSING OF 
REQUEST 
YES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
COMPLETES 
TECHNICAL REVIEW 
ADDITIONAL 
FEE REQUIRED FOR 
REQUEST INVOLVING 
STRUCTURE ON 
ALLUVIAL 
FAN 
NO 
ADDITIONAL FEE 
REQUIRED 
3 
YES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
PREPARES/SENDS INVOICE 
LETTER TO REQUESTER 
2 
NO 4 
D 
YES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER HOLDS 
DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS UNTIL FEE 
PAYMENT IS RECEIVED FOR REQUEST 
INVOLVING STRUCTURE(S) ON ALLUVIAL FAN 
Figure 4-2. Initial Processing Procedures for Map Revisions (Cont’d) 

4-32 


D 

YES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER SENDS 
PAYMENT TO FCSA OR FCSA 
NOTIFIES CASE REVIEWER OF 
RECEIPT OF PAYMENT AND 
SENDS COPY OF PAYMENT 
INFORMATION; FCSA 
DEPOSITS PAYMENT IN NFIF 
NO 
FEMA SUSPENDS 
PROCESSING OF 
REQUEST 
FEMA COMPLETES 
PROCESSING OF 
LOMR (SEE FIGURE 4-3) 
OR PMR (SEE FIGURE 4-4) 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
SENDS BACKUP DATA/
CASE FILE TO FEMA 
LIBRARY FOR ARCHIVING 
4 
PROCESSING COMPLETE; 
PAYMENT 
RECEIVED WITHIN 
90 DAYS OF 
ORIGINAL 
INVOICE 
3 
CASE CLOSED 

Figure 4-2. Initial Processing Procedures for Map Revisions (Cont’d) 

4-33 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

This Page Intentionally Left Blank 

4-34 Map Revisions 


FEMA REVIEWER CONFIRMS 
SCOPE OF REVISION 
FEMA/ REVIEWER INCLUDES APPROPRIATE 
LANGUAGE IN DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS 
AND PREPARES COVER LETTER(S), 
DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS, 
AND ENCLOSURES FOR TRANSMITTAL TO 
COMMUNITY CEO(S), FPA(S), AND NON
COMMUNITY REVISION REQUESTER(S)



YES 
90-DAY 
APPEAL PERIOD 
REQUIRED 
FEMA REVIEWER MAILS COVER 
LETTER(S), DETERMINATION 
DOCUMENTS, AND ENCLOSURES TO 
CEO(S) FPA(S), AND INDIVIDUAL 
REQUESTER(S) 


NO 
FEMA REVIEWER POSTS PROPOSED BFE(S) 
AND/OR BASE FLOOD DEPTHS ON 
FEMA WEBSITE, CREATES INTERIM FINAL 
RULE FOR PUBLICATION IN FEDERAL 
REGISTER, AND COORDINATES PUBLICATION 
OF INTERIM FINAL RULE WITH FEMA 
OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL (OCC)


1 
FEMA REVIEWER PREPARES/ MAILS 
TRANSMITTAL LETTER(S) TO NEWSPAPER(S) 
WITH NEWSPAPER NOTICE(S) 
FEMA REVIEWER MAILS COVER LETTER(S), 
DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS, AND 
ENCLOSURES TO CEO(S) FPA(S), AND 
INDIVIDUAL REQUESTER(S)


A 
Figure 4-3. Final Processing Procedures for LOMRs 

4-35 


FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER 
REVIEWS AFFIDAVIT FROM 
NEWSPAPER 
NOTICE PUBLISHED 
IN NEWSPAPER 
YES 
A 
NOTICE OKAY 
YES 
FEMA REVIEWER COORDINATES 
PUBLICATION; PREPARES/SENDS 
LETTER(S) TO NOTIFY CEO(S) AND 
FPA(S) OF PROBLEM 
NO 
FEMA PUBLISHES REVISED NOTICE IN 
NEWSPAPER; PREPARES/SENDS 
LETTER(S) TO NOTIFY CEO(S) AND 
FPA(S) OF PROBLEM 
NO 
FEMA REVIEWER OBTAINS COPY OF PUBLISHED INTERIM RULE, 
REVIEWS INTERIM RULE TO CONFIRM ACCURACY; AND 
COORDINATES WITH FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR IF 
PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED 
APPEAL PERIOD BEGINS ON SECOND PUBLICATION DATE OF 
NOTICE IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER 
2 
2 
APPEAL(S)/COMMENT(S)
RECEIVED DURING APPEAL
PERIOD


FEMA RESOLVES APPEAL(S); 
SEE FIGURE 3-2; FEMA 
ADDRESSES OTHER COMMENTS; 
SEE FIGURE 3-3 
YES 
90-DAY APPEAL PERIOD ENDS; APPEAL(S) RESOLVED; 
FEMA REVIEWER PREPARES FINAL DETERMINATION LETTER(S) 
AND MAILS LETTER(S) TO CEO(S), FPA(S), 
AND APPELLANT(S) 
NO 
B 
Figure 4-3. Final Processing Procedures for LOMRs (Cont’d) 
4-36 


B 
FEMA REVIEWER COMPILES REQUIRED INFORMATION AND 
PREPARES FINAL RULE FOR PUBLICATION IN FEDERAL 
REGISTER 
FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR ROUTES ORIGINAL 
FINAL RULE FOR CONCURRENCE AND SIGNATURE, AND 
COORDINATES PUBLICATION OF FINAL RULE WITH OCC 
FEMA REVIEWER OBTAINS COPY OF PUBLISHED FINAL RULE, 
REVIEWS FINAL RULE FOR ACCURACY, 
AND COORDINATES WITH OCC IF PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED 
COMMUNITY 
ORDINANCES 
COMPLIANT WITHIN 60 
DAYS 
YES 
NO 
FEMA PREPARES/MAILS 90-DAY SUSPENSION LETTER TO 
COMMUNITY CEO(S) AND FPA(S), IF REQUIRED 
COMMUNITY 
ORDINANCES 
COMPLIANT WITHIN 60 
DAYS 
YES 
NO 
FEMA PREPARES/MAILS 30-DAY SUSPENSION LETTER TO 
COMMUNITY CEO(S) AND FPA(S), IF REQUIRED 
1 
1 
C 
Figure 4-3. Final Processing Procedures for LOMRs (Cont’d) 

4-37 


YESCOMPLIANT ORDINANCES 
ADOPTED BY EFFECTIVE DATE 
COMMUNITY SUSPENDED FROM PROGRAM 
COMMUNITY ORDINANCES 
ADOPTED AFTER EFFECTIVE 
DATE 
YES 
FEMA PREPARES/SENDS REINSTATEMENT 
LETTER(S) AS APPROPRIATE; SENDS COPY OF 
REINSTATEMENT LETTER TO FEMA LIBRARY FOR ARCHIVING 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER SENDS DETERMINATION 
DOCUMENTS TO MSC CONTRACTOR FOR POSTING ON MSC 
WEBSITE, AS APPROPRIATE 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER SENDSBACKUP DATA, CASE FILE, 
AND FEDD FILE TO FEMA LIBRARY FOR ARCHIVING; 
PROCESSING COMPLETE 
1 
C 
NO 
1NO 
1 
Figure 4-3. Final Processing Procedures for LOMRs (Cont’d) 

4-38 


FEMA CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS DATA AND COORDINATES WITH 
COMMUNITY AS APPROPRIATE 
SENDS LETTER TO CEO AND FPA, AND DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
YES 
ADDITIONAL DATA 
RECEIVED FROM 
COMMUNITY 
NO1 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS MIP, CIS DATABASE, CASE FILES, AND OTHER 
FILES FOR LOMCS ISSUED FOR EACH AFFECTED MAP PANEL SINCE ORIGINAL 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PANEL 
LOMCS IDENTIFIED 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER COMPARES LOMC DETERMINATION WITH INFORMATION 
SHOWN ON REVISED DFIRM PANEL(S) 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER DETERMINES WHETHER RESULTS OF LOMC CAN BE 
2 
YES 
NO 
1 
SHOWN ON DFIRM PANEL(S), REVISES PANEL(S) AS APPROPRIATE, AND SORTS 
LOMCS INTO CATEGORIES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES PRELIMINARY COPIES OF MAP PANEL(S) 
AND FIS REPORT, APPROPRIATE PRELIMINARY TRANSMITTAL LETTERS FOR 
EACH AFFECTED COMMUNITY, PRELIMINARY SOMA FOR EACH AFFECTED 
COMMUNITY, AND OTHER ENCLOSURES 
FEMA MAILS TRANSMITTAL LETTERS, PRELIMINARY COPIES OF 
MAP PANEL(S) AND FIS REPORT, PRELIMINARY SOMAS, AND OTHER 
2 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs 
4-39 
A 
ENCLOSURES TO CEOS AND FPAS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 

A 
COMMENTS RECEIVED 
DURING REVIEW 
PERIOD 
FEMA REVIEWS COMMENTS AND DETERMINES 
WHETHER REVISIONS TO MAP PANEL(S) AND 
REPORT(S) ARE APPROPRIATE 
NO 
YES 
3 
REVISED 
PRELIMINARY 
VERSIONS 
REQUIRED 
3NO 
YES 
FEMA PREPARES REVISED PRELIMINARY VERSION(S) OF 
MAP PANEL(S) AND FIS REPORT(S); TRANSMITTAL LETTERS 
OR LFD INSERTS; AND REVISED SOMAS (IF REQUIRED) 
FOR AFFECTED COMMUNITIES


90-DAY APPEAL 
PERIOD REQUIRED NO 
YES 
FEMA MAILS REVISED PRELIMINARY 
COPIES OF MAP PANEL(S), FIS 
REPORT(S), TRANSMITTAL 
LETTER(S), AND SOMAS (IF 
REQUIRED) TO
CEO(S) AND FPA(S) OF 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES


FEMA CASE REVIEWER POSTS PROPOSED BFES AND/OR 
BASE FLOOD DEPTHS ON DEDICATED FEMA WEB PAGE 
AND PREPARES NEWSPAPER TRANSMITTAL LETTER(S), 
NEWSPAPER NOTICES, AND PROPOSED BFE 
DETERMINATION LETTERS 


4 
B 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs (Cont’d) 

4-40 


B 

FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES PROPOSED RULE FOR 
PUBLICATION IN FEDERAL REGISTER 
FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR FACILITATES 
REVIEW AND CONCURRENCE PROCESS AND COORDINATES 
WITH FEMA OCC TO ASSURE TIMELY PUBLICATION OF 
PROPOSED RULE 
FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR DISTRIBUTES 
COPIES OF PROPOSED RULE FOR FILING



FEMA CASE REVIEWER OBTAINS COPY OF PROPOSED 
RULE PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER, REVIEWS 
NOTICE TO VERIFY ACCURACY, AND COORDINATES 
WITH FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR
IF PROBLEMS WITH PROPOSED RULE IDENTIFIED


FEMA CASE REVIEWER DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES OF 
NEWSPAPER TRANSMITTAL LETTERS, PROPOSED BFE 
DETERMINATION LETTERS, ,AND ENCLOSURES 
C 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER TRANSMITS NEWSPAPER NOTICE(S) TO 
NEWSPAPER(S) AND COORDINATES WITH NEWSPAPER TO 
VERIFY THAT NOTICE(S) ARE PUBLISHED 
FEMA SENDS PROPOSED BFE DETERMINATION LETTER(S), 
REVISED PRELIMINARY COPIES OF MAP AND REPORT (IF 
REQUIRED), AND PROPOSED BFE LIST TO CEOS AND FPAS OF 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs (Cont’d) 

4-41 


C 
NO 
YES 
NEWSPAPER 
PUBLISHES NOTICE ON 
SCHEDULE 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
COORDINATES PUBLICATION; 
FEMA SENDS NOTIFICATION 
LETTERS TO CEOS AND FPAS 
OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS 
AFFIDAVITS FROM NEWSPAPERS 
NOTICE OKAY 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
COORDINATES PUBLICATION 
OF REVISED NOTICE(S) IN 
NEWSPAPER(S); FEMA 
SENDS NOTIFICATION 
LETTERS TO CEOS AND FPAS 
OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 
NO 
YES 
D 
APPEALS/COMMENTSRECEIVED DURING APPEAL 
PERIOD 
YES 
FEMA ADDRESSES 
APPEALS (SEE FIGURE 3-1) 
OR COMMENTS (SEE 
FIGURE 3-3) 
NO 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS FILES FOR LOMCS ISSUED 
SINCE ISSUANCE OF PRELIMINARY OR REVISED PRELIMINARY 
MAP PANEL(S) AND FIS REPORT(S) 
4 

D 

FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES APPROPRIATE VERSIONS 
OF LFDS, FINAL SOMAS, AND APPROPRIATE ENCLOSURES FOR 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER 
ADDS NEW LOMCS TO 
FINAL SOMA 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES FINAL MAP AND FIS REPORT 
MATERIALS FOR DELIVERY TO MSC CONTRACTOR 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES PRINTING PAPERWORK 
AND TRANSMITTAL LETTERS TO CEOS FOR 
DELIVERY TO MSC CONTRACTOR 
NEW LOMCS ISSUED YES 
NO 
FEMA SENDS LFDS TO CEOS AND FPAS OF AFFECTED 
COMMUNITIES AND NON-COMMUNITY APPELLANTS OR 
COMMENTERS (IF FEASIBLE) WITH FINAL SOMAS AND OTHER 
ENCLOSURES AS APPROPRIATE


FEMA CASE REVIEWER PREPARES FINAL RULE PUBLICATION IN 
FEDERAL REGISTER AND DELIVERS TO FEMA FEDERAL 
REGISTER COORDINATOR 
FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER COORDINATOR COORDINATES WITH 
FEMA OCC TO ASSURE TIMELY PUBLICATION OF FINAL RULE


E 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER OBTAINS COPY OF FINAL RULE 
PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER TO VERIFY ACCURACY 
AND COORDINATES WITH FEMA FEDERAL REGISTER 
COORDINATOR IF PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs (Cont’d) 

4-43 


E 

COMMUNITIES ADOPT 
COMPLIANT ORDINANCES 
WITHIN 
60 DAYS 
NO 
FEMA SENDS 90-DAY SUSPENSION LETTERS TO 
CEOS AND FPAS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 
COMMUNITY ADOPTS 
ORDINANCES WITHIN 
60 DAYS 
YES 
YES 
FEMA SENDS 30-DAY SUSPENSION LETTERS TO CEOS AND FPAS 
OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
FEMA INITIATES PREPARATION OF REVALIDATION (LOMC-VALID) 
LETTERS, IF REQUIRED 
NO 
FEMA SENDS LOMC-VALID LETTERS (IF REQUIRED) TO CEOS AND 
FPAS OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES



MAP(S) AND REPORT(S) BECOME EFFECTIVE; LOMC REVALIDATION 
LETTER, IF REQUIRED, BECOMES EFFECTIVE 1 DAY 
AFTER MAP EFFECTIVE DATE



FEMA CASE REVIEWER SENDS BACKUP DATA AND CASE FILES 
TO FEMA LIBRARY FOR ARCHIVING


F 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs (Cont’d) 

4-44 


F 

COMMUNITIES 
COMPLIANT BEFORE 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
NO 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES SUSPENDED FROM 
PARTICIPATION IN NFIP 
COMMUNITIES ENACT 
ORDINANCES AFTER 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES REMAIN 
SUSPENDED FROM NFIP 
PARTICIPATION 
NO 
YES 
FEMA SENDS REINSTATEMENT LETTER(S) TO 
CEO(S) AND FPA(S) OF AFFECTED COMMUNITY(IES) 
FEMA CASE REVIEWER SENDS FEDD FILE TO 
FEMA LIBRARY FOR ARCHIVING; PROCESSING COMPLETE; 
YES 
Figure 4-4. Final Processing Procedures for PMRs (Cont’d) 

4-45 


Guide for Community Officials (December 2009) 

This Page Intentionally Left Blank 

4-46 Map Revisions 


REVISION REQUESTER COMPLETES MT-1 APPLICATION FORMS 
PACKAGE, COMPILES REQUIRED DATA, AND ENCLOSES 
APPROPRIATE PAYMENT 
REVISION REQUESTER SUBMITS REQUEST PACKAGE TO 
FEMA LOMC CLEARINGHOUSE AT ADDRESS SHOWN IN 
MT-1 FORM INSTRUCTIONS


PAYMENT INCLUDED 
WITH PACKAGE 
YES 
FEMA/ LOMC CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEWS 
INITIAL SUBMITTAL PACKAGE 
NO 1 
LOMC CLEARINGHOUSE SENDS PAYMENT (CHECK, MONEY ORDER, CREDIT 
CARD INFORMATION) TO FCSA; FCSA EVALUATES WHETHER PAYMENT 
ACCEPTABLE AND NOTIFIES LOMC CLEARINGHOUSE AND ASSIGNED CASE 
REVIEWER


FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER ASSIGNS CASE NUMBER, LOGS IN CASE, 
VERIFIES CORRECT COMMUNITY NAME/CASE NUMBER ON PAYMENT 
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FCSA 
A 
FEMA FCSA DEPOSITS PAYMENT IN NFIF 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER PREPARES/MAILS 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER TO REQUESTER 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER REVIEWS CASE TO DETERMINE IF 
REQUEST IS EXEMPT FROM FEE REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES 
1 
Figure 4-5. Processing Procedures for LOMR-Fs 

4-47 


A 
REQUEST ISFEE-EXEMPT 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE 
REVIEWER PREPARES/MAILS 
REFUND LETTER 
YES 
B 
PAYMENT 
DEPOSITED IN NFIF YES 
NO 
FEMA/MAPPING 
PARTNER CASE 
REVIEWER 
PREPARES 
RETURN LETTER 
FEMA PREPARES/SENDS 
MEMORANDUM TO OFFICE OF 
COMPTROLLER 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER MAILS 
LETTER TO REQUESTER 
NO 
OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER SENDS 
REFUND TO REQUESTER AS 
APPROPRIATE 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER 
COMPLETES INITIAL REVIEW OF SUPPORTING 
DATA/DOCUMENTATION FOR ADEQUACY/ 
COMPLETENESS 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER 
CONTACTS REQUESTER BY TELEPHONE TO 
DISCUSS CASE AS APPROPRIATE 
SUFFICIENT DATA/
DOCUMENTATION 
RECEIVED 
NO 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER PREPARES/SENDS 
APPROPRIATE LOMR-F ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
LETTER TO REQUEST REQUIRED 
DATA/DOCUMENTATION/PAYMENT 
YES 2 
Figure 4-5. Processing Procedures for LOMR-Fs (Cont’d) 

4-48 


B 

C 
REQUIRED DATA/
DOCUMENTATION 
RECEIVED WITHIN 
90 DAYS 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER 
SUSPENDS PROCESSING 
OF REQUEST 
3 
ADDITIONAL DATA/
DOCUMENATION 
REQUIRED 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER PROCEEDS 
WITH TECHNICAL REVIEW AND PROCESSING 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER REQUESTS 
DATA/DOCUMENTATION BY TELEPHONE 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER PREPARES/SENDS 
APPROPRIATE “ADDITIONAL DATA” LETTER DEPENDING 
ON DATA/DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED; AND 
DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
YES 
DATA/DOCUMENTATION 
SUFFICIENT TO 
COMPLETE TECHNICAL 
REVIEW 
REQUIREDDATA/DOCUMENTATION 
RECEIVED WITHIN 90 
DAYS 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER 
SUSPENDS PROCESSING 
OF REQUEST 
NO 
2YES 
YES 
NO 
2NO 
YES 
NO 
3 
Figure 4-5. Processing Procedures for LOMR-Fs (Cont’d) 

4-49 


2 
C 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER 
COMPLETES TECHNICAL REVIEW 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER PREPARES 
LOMR-F DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER CONTACTS 
REQUESTER BY TELEPHONE TO DISCUSS CASE AS 
APPROPRIATE; SENDS APPROPRIATE “ADDITIONAL 
DATA” LETTER; AND DISTRIBUTES FILE COPIES 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER SENDS LOMR-F 
DETERMINATION DOCUMENTS TO REQUESTER 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER CASE REVIEWER SENDS 
BACKUP DATA/CASE FILE TO FEMA LIBRARY FOR 
ARCHIVING; PROCESS COMPLETE 
FEMA/MAPPING PARTNER SENDS DETERMINATION 
DOCUMENTS TO MSC CONTRACTOR FOR POSTING ON 
MSC WEBSITE, AS APPROPRIATE 
Figure 4-5. Processing Procedures for LOMR-Fs (Cont’d) 

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