Frequently Asked Questions

Flood Map Policy and Program

What does community participation in the National Flood Insurance Program mean and how does that affect a homeowner?

Communities, i.e., local governments, decide to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Specifically, communities that agree to manage flood hazard areas by adopting minimum regulatory standards may participate in the NFIP. These standards are listed in Section 60.3 of the NFIP regulations.

If a community does not participate in the program, property owners in that jurisdiction are not able to purchase federally backed flood insurance. Also, federal grants, loans, disaster assistance, and Federal mortgage insurance are unavailable for the acquisition or construction of structures located in the floodplain as shown on the NFIP maps.

Similarly, if a community does not participate in the program, property owners are not subject to federal requirements of mandatory flood insurance. However, a lender is still required to inspect any flood maps to determine flood hazard risk and provide notice of such risk. A lender may require a borrower to obtain flood insurance even in the absence of a federally mandatory requirement.

Will rates be reduced when a flood control project is partially completed?

The answer to this question depends on whether the flood control project provides an adequate level of protection and if it involves federal funding. If the project is federally funded, then FEMA will revise the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to show changes in the floodplain if the critical features of the project are under construction, 50 percent of the total cost has been expended, and 100 percent of the funding is authorized. When the FIRM is revised, the protected area will be designated Zone A99, and the flood insurance rate will be the same as in Zones B, C, and X.

If a flood control project does not involve federal funds, FEMA would handle a map revision request as a Conditional Letter of Map Revision. The project sponsor must submit engineering and technical information to document the level of protection, how the floodplain is modified, the structural adequacy of the project, and operations and maintenance requirements. The FIRM would be changed after the project is complete and "as built" plans have been certified and submitted to FEMA. At that time, the flood insurance rate in areas certified as protected would be the same as in Zones B, C, and X.

What is a floodway? What if a home or structure located in the floodway is damaged?

Rivers and streams where FEMA has prepared detailed engineering studies may have designated floodways. For most waterways, the floodway is where the water is likely to be deepest and fastest. It is the area of the floodplain that should be reserved (kept free of obstructions) to allow floodwaters to move downstream. Placing fill or buildings in a floodway may block the flow of water and increase flood heights. Because of this, your community will require that you submit engineering analyses before it approves permits for development in the floodway.

If your home is already in the floodway, you may want to consider what you will do if it is damaged. If it is substantially damaged in a flood, or by any other means, (the costs to repair equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the building) your community, in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program regulations, will require that you bring it into compliance. In most cases, this means you will have to elevate the structure above the Base Flood Elevation. Because placing fill dirt in the floodway can make flooding worse, you'll probably have to elevate your structure on columns, pilings, or raised foundation walls. If your land is large enough to have a site outside of the floodway or even out of the floodplain, you may want to think about moving your home to a safer location.

What is required to certify a levee as providing protection from the base flood?

In order for FEMA to recognize a levee system as providing protection from the base (1-percent annual chance) flood, it must meet, and continue to meet minimum design, operation, and maintenance standards established in Section 65.10 of the National Flood Insurance Program regulations. The design criteria include, but may not be limited to, requirements for freeboard, closure devices, embankment protection, embankment and foundation stability, settlement, and interior drainage. Operation and maintenance plans must also be completed. The operation plan for the levee may include, but is not limited to, procedures for closures, interior drainage systems, and emergency measures. The maintenance plan should detail responsibility and frequency of maintenance necessary to ensure the integrity of the levee system. All items necessary for a levee system to be recognized as providing protection from the 1-percent annual chance flood must be certified by a registered professional engineer. The certification requirement is different if a Federal agency has responsibility for the levee.

The Application Certification forms entitled "Revisions to NFIP Map, MT-2," (FEMA Form 81-89 Series) outline the technical data required to recognize a levee as providing protection.

What computer models are accepted by FEMA for National Flood Insurance Program usage?

Numerical Models Accepted by FEMA for National Flood Insurance Program Usage:

Coastal Models
Hydrologic Models: Determination of Flood Hydrographs
Statistical Models
Hydraulic Models: Determination of Water-Surface Elevations for Riverine Analysis

The map shows that my lot is in the mapped floodplain, but the ground my house is on is higher. I believe I shouldn't be shown in the floodplain. What are FEMA's requirements for being removed from the 1-percent annual chance flood hazard area?

To be removed from the floodplain shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), a structure must be on land that is not subject to flooding by the 1-percent annual chance flood. Remember, more severe floods can and do happen, so even if your home is found to be on high ground, it may still be damaged by an extreme flood event.

If your lot or building site is on natural ground that is higher than the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) shown on the FIRM, then you may request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). To support your request, you will have to get a surveyor to determine the elevation of the ground next to your building and complete an Elevation Certificate. If the ground is higher than the BFE, then FEMA will issue a LOMA. With a LOMA, your lender may choose to not require flood insurance.

If your home was built on fill that was placed after the FIRM was prepared, you may request a Letter of Map Revision - based on Fill (LOMR-F). As with a LOMA, you will need to get an Elevation Certificate completed by a land surveyor. If the filled ground is higher than the BFE, and if you do not have a basement, then FEMA may issue a LOMR-F, and your lender may choose to not require flood insurance.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Oct-2007 14:35:27 EDT

Fast Facts

Additional FAQ Topics

Digital Flood Data and Mapping
General Information
Flood Insurance
Flood Map Policy and Program
Flood Map Process
Flood Revision
Flood Study Data
Frequently Used Terms
Q3 Flood Data

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