Certified Professional (CP) Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Certified Professional (CP) Frequently Asked Questions 1. What types of requests can be processed using eloma? 2. What types of requests are not eligible for eloma? 3. What is required for an eloma application? 4. What needs to be verified or established as correct on the Elevation Certificate (EC)? 5. How do I verify the Vertical Datum on the EC? 6. Do I need to independently verify the Latitude and Longitude shown on the EC? 7. What sources are acceptable to verify the Latitude and Longitude? 8. How do I verify the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)? 9. What is an FIS? 10. What steps need to be followed in order to verify the BFE for a site using the flood profiles in the FIS? 11. Should I measure to the upstream or downstream side of the eloma subject when verifying the BFE? 12. How do I determine the Resultant Zone for the eloma application? 13. Which Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG) elevation provided on the current EC needs to be used to determine the Resultant Zone for the eloma application? 14. Will the property/structure be eligible for an eloma if it is located in a Floodway? 15. Where can I view an FIS? 16. How can I obtain an FIS? 17. What formats of an FIS are available for purchase? 18. How do I download an FIS from the MSC Digital Post Office (preferred method)? 19. How much does it cost to order an FIS or floodway map from the MSC Digital Post Office? 20. How long does the item remain in the MSC Digital Post Office after being purchased for download? 21. Can a draw-down account be established with the MSC to order FIS or floodway maps? 22. How often will FEMA audit an eloma submittal? 23. Will I be able to submit another eloma if I have a pending audit? 24. Where do I send the documentation for an audited eloma request? 25. How long are NFDA Member Companies required to store eloma application documents? Page 1 of 11

2 1. What types of requests can be processed using eloma? eloma may only be used for LOMA requests on single residential structures or legally recorded properties located in Zones AE, AH, and A1-A30 on the FIRM, subject to the eligibility restrictions set forth by FEMA which may change from time to time. 2. What types of requests are not eligible for eloma? o Subject Properties/Structures located in Zones A, AO, V1- V30, VE, or D o Subject Properties/Structures located within the regulatory floodway o Conditional Letters of Map Amendment o Conditional Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill o Letters of Map Revision Based on Fill o Requests for portions of property (metes and bounds) o Requests for multiple lots/structures o Requests in which a previous determination has been issued for the subject property o Requests in which the effective map panel affecting the subject property has been revised by a LOMR o Requests that involve Dual Communities o Properties/Structures in areas that have been annexed by a different community Page 2 of 11

3 3. What is required for an eloma application? The typical documents required to support a LOMA application are also required for an eloma application. These include: o A copy of the effective FIRM panel on which the property location has been accurately plotted o A completed Elevation Form or Elevation Certificate (EC) showing the Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG) for a structure or the Lowest Lot Elevation (LLE) for a legally recorded parcel of land o A detailed explanation of how the BFE was determined. This should include a copy of the effective FIRM showing the Subject property in relation to the flooding source, the flood zone boundary (AE, AH, or A1-A30), and the FIS Profile cross sections; a copy of the FIS Profile with the scaled location of the Subject property (when applicable); a copy of the FIS Summary of Stillwater Elevations Table (when applicable) AND EITHER o A copy of the Plat Map for the property (with recordation data and stamp of the Recorder s Office) OR o A copy of the property Deed (with recordation data and stamp of the Recorder s Office), accompanied by a tax assessor s map or other certified map showing the location of the property relative to local streets and watercourses All map submissions should include the associated scale and North arrow. Page 3 of 11

4 4. What needs to be verified or established as correct on the Elevation Certificate (EC)? o The Vertical Datum o The Latitude and Longitude o Base Flood Elevation 5. How do I verify the Vertical Datum on the EC? o o Elevations entered for structure/property must reference the same vertical datum as used on the effective FIRM Vertcon can be utilized if conversion is necessary: 6. Do I need to independently verify the Latitude and Longitude shown on the EC? Yes o o The Latitude and Longitude coordinates provided by the surveyor/engineer on the EC must be independently verified by the CP. If the coordinates provided by the surveyor/engineer are in degrees/minutes/seconds, they will need to be converted to decimal degrees for the eloma tool. 7. What sources are acceptable to verify the Latitude and Longitude? o Software such as Precision Mapping Streets o Websites such as Google Earth, Topozone or Terraserver Page 4 of 11

5 8. How do I verify the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)? The BFE will need to be verified with the community s Flood Insurance Study (FIS). FEMA requires that BFE determinations for eloma applications be made using the effective FIS when applicable. The BFE shown on the effective FIRM can be used only if there is no applicable Flood Profile or Summary of Stillwater Elevations table in the effective FIS, or if the property is located in Zone AH. 9. What is an FIS? A Flood Insurance Study (FIS) is a booklet that contains information regarding flooding in a community and is developed in conjunction with the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The FIS frequently contains a narrative of the flood history of a community and discusses the engineering methods used to develop the FIRMs. The study also contains flood profiles for studied flooding sources that can be used to determine Base Flood Elevations for some areas. 10. What steps need to be followed in order to verify the BFE for a site using the flood profiles in the FIS? o Riverine Flooding Systems (Zones AE or A1-A30) Consult the effective FIS for the community in which the eloma subject is located. Locate the flood profile for the flooding source by name. Using the Floodway Map or FIRM, locate features near the site that appear on the profile, such as a bridge or cross section. Using an engineer s scale or plan wheel, determine the eloma subject s upstream distance (along the centerline of the stream) from the nearest cross section or other feature that appears on the profile. Page 5 of 11

6 Find the feature(s) on the flood profile for that stream. Check the scale used for the profile and measure the upstream distance from the feature(s) to the site. Find the site s location on the 100-Year flood profile line and draw a straight line to the left or right edge of the graph. Read the elevation on the Y axis by counting squares or using an engineer s scale. Remember to use a different scale if the scale of the Y axis is different than the scale of the X axis. Consult the Floodway Data Table for the flooding source to verify the BFE determined using the Flood Profile. o Lacustrine (Stillwater) Flooding Systems Consult the effective FIS for the community in which the property is located. Locate the Summary of Stillwater Elevations table. Locate the flooding source, by name, and use the 100-Year flood elevation listed in the table. The flooding source s BFE is normally shown to the nearest one-tenth of a foot. If the flooding source is not listed in the Summary of Stillwater Elevations table, use the BFE as shown on the FIRM. o Shallow Flooding (Zone AH) If the eloma subject is located in flood zone AH, an area of shallow flooding, the CP should use the flood elevation listed on the FIRM. 11. Should I measure to the upstream or downstream side of the eloma subject when verifying the BFE? Always determine the distance along the steam centerline from the nearest profile feature to the upstream edge of the eloma subject. Page 6 of 11

7 12. How do I determine the Resultant Zone for the eloma application? o If the Subject s elevation is below the BFE Select the zone that the subject is shown in on the effective FIRM. o If the Subject s elevation is above the BFE The resultant zone should be Zone X/C if the LAG or Lowest Lot Elevation (LLE) is above the BFE and above the 500-Year elevation, or if there is no 500-Year elevation listed in the FIS report. The resultant zone should be Zone X (Shaded)/B only when the LAG or LLE is above the BFE but below the 500-Year elevation. 13. Which Lowest Adjacent Grade (LAG) elevation provided on the current EC needs to be used to determine the Resultant Zone for the eloma application? Use the lower of the two LAG elevations in your calculations to determine the Resultant Zone on the eloma application. 14. Will the property/structure be eligible for an eloma if it is located in a Floodway? The subject of the removal request cannot lie within the mapped Floodway. If the whole property is to be removed, no part of the property can be within the Floodway. If only the structure is to be removed, portions of the property may lie within the Floodway as long as no portion of the structure does. You may need to consult the current Flood Boundary and Floodway Map for the subject if applicable. Page 7 of 11

8 15. Where can I view an FIS? o FIS can be viewed online through the FEMA Map Service Center (MSC). o The MSC also offers FIS images on CD-ROM, in paper format or for immediate download. 16. How can I obtain an FIS? Flood Insurance Studies are available for ordering through the MSC website: FEMA Map Service Center - Flood Insurance Studies (FIS) To order by phone, call the Map Service Center toll-free Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) at: (800) What formats of an FIS are available for purchase? o Download online (preferred method) o Order CD o Paper Format Page 8 of 11

9 18. How do I download an FIS from the MSC Digital Post Office (preferred method)? o Visit the MSC Digital Post office at: FEMA Map Service Center - Flood Insurance Studies (FIS) o Complete Shopper Log-In Registration process to set up an account. o Payment made via Credit Card. Card information will not be retained and must be entered for each purchase. o FIS will be posted immediately to Digital Post Office account after payment. 19. How much does it cost to order an FIS or floodway map from the MSC Digital Post Office? o Online Download: $5.00 per FIS volume & $2.50 per floodway map. o CD: $6.00 per FIS volume & $4.00 per floodway map. o Paper FIS/Floodway Maps: $9.00 per FIS volume & $4.00 per floodway map. Prices are subject to change 20. How long does the item remain in the MSC Digital Post Office after being purchased for download? 30 Days. Page 9 of 11

10 21. Can a draw-down account be established with the MSC to order FIS or floodway maps? o Yes Contact DelLisa L. Talley FEMA MSC Customer Service Department at: (800) , Direct: (410) , dellisa.talley@associates.dhs.gov o Draw-down orders made via phone only. Orders under this type of account cannot be made on the MSC Digital Post Office. o Draw-down accounts can only be used to order paper and CD formats of the FIS/floodway maps. Currently, draw-down orders cannot be uploaded to a Digital Post Office account. o Draw-down orders can only be used to order current and historical FIS and floodway maps. 22. How often will FEMA audit an eloma submittal? o All initial applications will be audited by the eloma Coordinator. o Each subsequent eloma submittal may be subject to an immediate audit. If corrections were made by the eloma Coordinator to an audited application (i.e. the legal not provided in a FEMA approved format), the eloma tool will automatically select the next eloma submittal for audit. 23. Will I be able to submit another eloma if I have a pending audit? You will not be able to submit subsequent requests until the pending audit is completed. However, you may enter and save subsequent eloma application information in the MIP while the audit is in progress. Page 10 of 11

11 24. Where do I send the documentation for an audited eloma request? FEMA has three separate Production and Technical Services (PTS) contractors. Each PTS contractor will be responsible for conducting eloma audits. o The Three PTS contractors, the eloma Coordinators, and the Regions they will be responsible for: RAMPP (Regions 2, 3, & 6) Jonathon Foster, CFM 8401 Arlington Blvd, Fairfax, VA, Fax: STARR (Regions 1, 5, 7, and 10) Keith Loudin Indian Creek Court, Beltsville, MD Fax: BakerAECOM (Regions 4, 8, and 9) David Mummert, CFM 3601 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA Fax: How long are NFDA Member Companies required to store eloma application documents? NFDA Member Companies are required to retain and store each eloma application document for 2 Years. These documents may be requested by FEMA s eloma Coordinator during this time. eloma application documents consist of all materials utilized by a CP to apply for an eloma. Page 11 of 11