The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) found in a community's Flood Insurance Study (FIS) is considered more accurate than the BFE measurement found on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). This is because the FIS BFE is rounded to the nearest 1/10th of a foot, while the FIRM BFE is rounded to the nearest foot.

To read the FIS, begin at the Table of Contents to locate the appropriate floodplain and note its page number. Turn to that page and find the appropriate cross section using the Regulatory column.

The first place to look for a community's Flood Insurance Study is at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Select this link to view the FEMA Map Service Center. If looking online for the FIS is unsuccessful, contact the community floodplain administrator to determine if an FIS profile is available locally.

The Community Rating System (CRS) Elevation Certificate (EC) checklist helps communities meet the requirement that at least 90% of its ECs are accurate. If EC items are missing or incorrect, the community will lose points under the CRS rating system.

Select this link to download the CRS EC checklist.

EC Item B11

Community officials and the NFIP use the newer, more accurate elevation datum to consistently assess risk for buildings and to complete flood insurance ratings. NAVD 1988 is the newer elevation datum.

An easy way to convert BFE data is through the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) online tool known as VERTCON. Select this link to view and use the VERTCON site. You can also contact the appropriate floodplain administrator for guidance.

NFIP Flood Insurance Manual

Having trouble identifying the Lowest Floor Elevation? The lowest floor of a building will change based upon the flood zone and building type.

The NFIP's Lowest Floor Guide aids in identifying the lowest floor of buildings and will help with determining the building type too. Become familiar with this useful NFIP tool, the LFG. Select this link to view the latest Flood Insurance Manual, then go to Appendix C: The Lowest Floor Guide.

EC Items A8.d and 9.d

If you have indicated that there are engineered flood openings, then the official certification or report must be attached to the EC for submission to the community or as part of a flood insurance application. You can find this information in Section A, Item 8.d for buildings elevated on a crawlspace or enclosure, or in Item 9.d for buildings with an attached garage.

What type of certification is required? An Individual Engineered Flood Openings Certification may be required. In some cases, an ICC-ES Evaluation Report is issued and should be submitted.

Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) and Letter of Map Revision on Fill (LOMR-F)

There are a variety of different types of challenges that can be made to flood maps. They are generally referred to as Letters of Map Change (LOMCs). Hiring a professional surveyor to submit an LOMC to FEMA may remove a building from the high-risk A or V Zone. View the LOMC process by selecting this link.

A Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) is one type of LOMC and may be submitted to FEMA online. The LOMA process may be viewed at this link.

An e-LOMA is a second online submission option available to professional surveyors. E-LOMA pre-registration is recommended at the FEMA Mapping Information Platform. Complete the E-LOMA pre-registration by selecting this link.

Online LOMA and e-LOMA requests may be reviewed by FEMA within 24 to 48 hours of submission, versus six to eight weeks for a paper submission.

View the Letter of Map Revision on Fill (LOMR-F) process at this link. The LOMR-F is another LOMC option, and is submitted by the community. Timelines for LOMR-Fs vary widely depending on the size of the project.

Select this link to view the LOMA or LOMR-F online tutorials.

Check for an existing LOMC at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or the local floodplain administrator's office. Select this link to view the FEMA Map Service Center.