What is an Elevation Certificate?

An elevation certificate is a federal form administered by the Department Of Homeland Security. This form is completed by a Licensed Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer and provides specific information about your property & building relative to the specific Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) . This form can be helpful in determining a properties specific flood insurance rate and compliance with FEMA flood programs as well as a supporting document for a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). The end result could be large savings to you by not paying for flood insurance or at least reducing your premiums.

Where can I find more information about the maps that were used to determine my relative risk level?

FEMA publishes maps indicating a community's flood hazard areas and the degree of risk in those areas. Flood insurance maps usually are on file in a local repository in the community, such as the planning and zoning or engineering offices in the town hall. 

What is a LOMA or LOMR-F?

LOMA stands for A Letter of Map Amendment. For a LOMA to be issued to remove a structure from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations require that the lowest adjacent grade (the lowest ground touching the structure) be at or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). To remove an entire lot from the SFHA, NFIP regulations require that the lowest point on the lot be at or above the BFE. LOMR-F stands for a Letter of Map Revision – Fill.