WELCOME TO
CERTIFIED FLOODPLAIN SURVEYOR PROGRAM!
Congratulations on
receiving your Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS) certification. Now that you are a CFS, you may have some
questions regarding how to begin to process Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs)
and Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-Fs). This fact sheet serves as an update and review of a few of the
guidelines and procedures for submitting LOMAs and LOMR-Fs to FEMA for review
and issuance.
As a reminder,
please remember that a CFS may process cases that meet the following standards:
- Existing single or multiple structure(s),
property(ies), and metes & bounds constructed on fill or natural
ground;
- Existing structure(s),
property(ies), and metes &
bounds in riverine,
lacustrine, and stillwater coastal flooding areas (i.e. Zone AE or
A numbered Zones only, V or VE Zones not included);
- Existing structure(s),
property(ies), and metes &
bounds in Zone A flooding areas only if a BFE is available
from State or Federal governmental
agency or other accepted source (Tennessee Valley Authority);
- If the existing structure(s),
property(ties), and metes & bounds are not located in flood prone
zone/Special Flood hazard Area, they are Out as Shown (OAS).
- Cases where the subject (i.e. existing structure(s),
property(ies), and metes & bounds) are one-quarter inch or more
from the outside edge of the FEMA-designated floodway at the original
scale of the Flood Insurance Rate Map/Flood Boundary and Floodway Map
(NOTE: this rule supersedes all
other rules; this is a new rule and was not presented to you in your
training course).
All submittals
received by FEMA that do not meet these criteria will be processed using
standard procedures and may take up to 60 days after all required data is
received to complete processing.
Additional guidelines regarding what you may process are available in
your training manual.
Please remember
that each case file must be complete. A
complete case file includes all applicable data used in making the
determination including profiles, Floodway Data tables, a certified plot of the
subject of determination on the FIRM, BFEs from acceptable sources, etc. The case file must include all applicable
FEMA forms, including the property information form, elevation certificate or
elevation information form, and community acknowledgement of fill forms (in
case where fill was placed). Please be
advised that these forms are periodically updated. FEMA will attempt to notify you in the event the forms are
updated, however you may wish to refer to the FEMA website periodically for the
most up-to-date information regarding FEMA forms and other FEMA
activities. For metes and bounds
requests, a certified map and accompanied certified matching description must
be received. All cases must also be
accompanied by the three page case file summary (enclosed). If you have any questions regarding the data
required for LOMA and LOMR-F processing, please refer to your course manual.
All data should be
sent to the FEMA LOMA Depot at the address shown below. It is imperative that the submittal be
marked “Attention: CFS Coordinator.”
Failure to properly mark the submittal could result in a delay in
processing or the case being fast tracked.
Additionally, all submittals must be complete upon submittal by you and
must contain your signature and contact information on the property information
form.
LOMA Depot
P.O. Box 2210
Merrifield, VA 22116-2210
Attn:
CFS Coordinator
Once the case file
is received and logged into the fast track program, a letter will be available
for fax, overnight or standard mailing within five business days. During those five days you may be contacted
via e-mail regarding your submittal. It
is important that you provide FEMA with a valid and current e-mail address and
facsimile number. If you wish to have
the letter sent via overnight delivery, you must supply FEMA with recipient’s
overnight vendor account number. If you
would like the letter faxed or sent by overnight delivery, you must note this
in your original submittal. Failure to
note this may cause a delay in the fax or delivery. Determinations will not be given over the telephone or via
e-mail. If the submittal received is
incomplete, you will receive a letter stating the submittal has been removed
from the fast track program and that additional data is required. Requests that are incomplete and removed
from the fast-track program will be subject to the standard 60 day processing
timeframe.
If you need any
additional information or forms, please contact the FEMA Map Assistance Center
at 1-877-336-2627.