FEMA Map Update is Complete.

U.S. Representative Candice Miller speaks to U.S. House in opposition to the Authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.   

The maps for all local communities within St. Clair County have been revised as of May 3, 2010.  The "Official site of the NFIP" and all associated links are changing to reflect these new maps.  While the St. Clair County Parcel Viewer (click here) and previous maps (click here) contain generalized flood information; residents are encouraged to create a free map "FIRMette (click here)" of their specific interest area: (click here for a tutorial).  The new flood boundaries were created using source maps from the United States Geological Survey and are often adjusted away from buildable areas based on site survey maps and engineering reports.  Residents are encouraged to periodically check the status of these property owner initiated map amendments using the FEMA Map Service Center or the interactive map viewer hosted by FEMA.  For questions regarding the use of these tools; please call FEMA, toll free: 1 (888) 379-9531.

This information is important to residents and businesses with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders!  Did you know all such properties in high-risk flood areas are required by a lender to have flood insurance?  Also, FEMA has produced a "Top Ten Facts" for lending agencies which includes a statement that lenders may require flood insurance on all loans, even those outside mapped flood areas.  And, while flood insurance is not federally required if you live in a moderate-to-low risk flood area, coverage may be available and is strongly recommended by FEMA.

Does Your Community Participate?

The ability to purchase Federal flood insurance is based on community participation.  In Michigan, community requirements to enable participation have been incorporated within the State Building Codes and by the Michigan DNRE Floodway/Floodplain Management.  If your community is not on the participating list; consider contacting your local city, township or village officials for details.   Check your community status on the Michigan listing of participating counties (Click Here)  maintained by FEMA.  If your community does not appear on the list:

• Federal flood insurance is not available within the community.
• Lenders can not make a federally insured, regulated or supervised loans on a property that is in an identified special flood hazard area.
• If there are existing loans within the special flood hazard areas, lenders may be forced to call the loans due, as flood insurance can not be purchased.
• Federal money cannot be used within the special flood hazard area.
• In the event of a presidential disaster declaration, federal money will not be available for repair of buildings in the special flood hazard area.

A lender may determine your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) but you disagree. Property owners in this situation have a couple of options. Depending on the specific circumstances, you may apply for a Letter of Determination Review (LODR), a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), or a Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F).  As stated above, a lender may choose to require insurance on any loan.  However, buildings excluded from the SFHA will realize reduced premiums.

Application forms for LOMAs and LOMR-Fs can be found on the FEMA Forms Webpage; including comprehensive, step-by-step instructions. While completing the forms may seem burdensome, the advantages are thought to outweigh any inconvenience. The following first describes the LOMA or LOMR-F process, followed by the LODR process.

Upon receiving a completed MT-EZ form (for LOMAs) or MT-1 form (for LOMR-Fs), FEMA reviews property-specific information, which is more detailed than the national datasets, and makes a final flood zone determination for the property; normally issued within 30 - 60 days. If the LOMA or LOMR-F removes the SFHA designation from the property, this action can be presented to the lender as proof against a Federal flood insurance requirement for the property. However, even though a LOMA or LOMR-F may waive the Federal requirement for flood insurance, a lender retains the prerogative to require flood insurance. No fee is currently charged for the review of a LOMA; however, there is a review fee for other forms. Check the current fee schedule on the Flood Hazard Mapping Website.

Within 45 days of the date your lender notified you that your property is in the SFH; you and your lender may jointly request FEMA review the lender's determination.   FEMA's response to such requests is a LODR.  FEMA examines the same information your lender used to determine that your parcel was located in a SFHA. Unlike with a LOMA or LOMR-F, the elevation of the structure and property relative to the elevation of the 1-percent-annual-chance flood is not considered. Just like your lender, FEMA only considers the location relative to the SFHA boundary as shown on the FIRM. FEMA reviews this information and issues its finding of whether the structure is located in the SFHA. While this determination cannot consider the elevation of your structure or property, it can be useful if you feel the lender's interpretation of the FIRM is incorrect, or to verify insurance premium levels.

How much does insurance cost?

A flood insurance policy for a $125,000 home and contents, outside the flood hazard area, is currently established at $284 per year.  The established premium increases to $1,330 per year for homes within the special hazard area: Click Here for all the rate classification tables.  Only a select group of agents are able to deal directly in flood insurance; the address look-up tool on FEMA's official page will provide contact information for the agent closest to your residence.  Also, community actions will impact your ability to obtain a policy or reduce the base rates.  Communities who exceed the basic recommendations may qualify residents for cooperative discounts up to 45%

The minimum required coverage is the lesser of the following: 

• The maximum amount of NFIP flood insurance coverage available,
• The outstanding principal balance of the loan, or
• The value of the property minus the land.

For additional reference information on current programs:

Notice of map change from FEMA

www.floodsmart.gov/ or hazards.fema.gov

Microsoft Sliverlight is required to view the new parcel maps

Previously created PDF maps from your County, Metropolitan Planning Commission

Elevation Certificate instructions

   (This certificate may help you negotiate a need for insurance with your lender)

   (This certificate may be required in your community if building near a flood zone)

Michigan DNR-E Quick Guide

Each local city, village or township must take action to participate:

A letter of final determination has been sent to our local community offices.  A Community Resource Page has been authored which may help with understanding section 60.3.