The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes flood maps for the purpose of identifying areas at risk of the 1-percent-annual-chance flood, or base flood. These maps are the basis for the flood zone determinations that banks (and other lenders) use to determine who needs to purchase flood insurance. In terms of local floodplain management programs, possession and use of the appropriate FEMA floodplain map(s) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) is a participation requirement for all communities in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Flood Map Changes
While FEMA attempts to use the best flood hazard information available, some areas that are above the base flood elevation (BFE) may inadvertently be included within the 1%-annual-chance floodplain, or Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). This may be due to limitations of scale or limitations in the topographic data available when the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) were created. Also, the placement of fill may elevate sites within the SFHAs to an elevation at or above the base flood elevation. When this happens, structures or parcels of land may be included in the 1%-annual-chance floodplain on the FIRM.
Property owners or lessees may apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-F) for these situations. LOMAs and LOMR-Fs are documents issued by FEMA that officially change the FIRM and remove a property and/or structure from the SFHA. In order for a property owner to obtain a map change, he or she must submit the appropriate application to FEMA for the property in question. An MT-EZ application must be completed for a LOMA, and an MT-1 application must be completed for a LOMR-F. In both cases, the applicant will most likely need to hire a land surveyor to prepare an Elevation Certificate for the property. Please note that a LOMA cannot be obtained for a site and/or structure that is elevated on fill material; this would require a LOMR-F. A LOMA may only be obtained for a site and/or structure on natural grade.
Click here to go to MT-EZ download page.
Click here to go to MT-1 download page.
A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) is FEMA's modification to an effective FIRM, or Flood Boundary and Floodway Map (FBFM), or both. LOMRs are generally based on the implementation of physical measures that affect the hydrologic or hydraulic characteristics of a flooding source and thus result in the modification of the existing regulatory floodway, the effective BFEs, or the SFHA. The LOMR officially revises the flood map, and sometimes the FIS report, and when appropriate, includes a description of the modifications. The LOMR is generally accompanied by an annotated copy of the affected portions of the FIRM, FBFM, or FIS report. An MT-2 application must be submitted to FEMA for all LOMRs.
Click here to go to MT-2 download page.
All requests for changes to effective maps, other than those initiated by FEMA and LOMAs, must be made in writing by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the community or an official designated by the CEO. Because LOMAs, LOMR-Fs, and LOMRs officially revise the effective NFIP map, they are public records the community must maintain. Any LOMR should be noted on the community's master flood map and filed by panel number in an accessible location.
FEMA has created an online database with detailed information on specific LOMAs, LOMR-Fs, and LOMRs issued in Ohio. FEMA has also created a web page that allows people to track the status of map change requests.
Click here to view FEMA's LOMC database.
Click here to view FEMA's map change status tracking page.
FEMA's Map Assistance Center (FMAC) serves to answer inquiries about map changes, their requirements, processing fees, etc. Click here to go to FEMA's Map Assistance Center.
Sources of Flood Map Data
The FEMA Flood Map Store is now open for ALL customers! Please click on the link below to enter The FEMA Flood Map Store. Persons requiring assistance can still call MSC Customer Service at 1-800-358-9616.
For a fact sheet on ordering Floodplain Maps & Flood Insurance Studies please click below:
Fact Sheet No. 92-21 as (PDF File 41k).
Sources of GIS Flood Map Data
As more communities are remapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), FEMA will make GIS floodplain maps available through the FEMA Flood Map Store mentioned above. Until this map modernization effort is closer to completion, the GIS compatible floodplain datasets should be obtained from the FEMA Flood Map Store. Once this remapping effort is closer to completion our office will begin to incorporate the ability to download GIS compatible files from this site. For the present, our office can photocopy sections of FEMA floodplain maps & make them available for pick-up or by surface mail.
For GIS terminology click below.
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/agidict/welcome.html