February 3, 2012
FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) Is Finalized
On November 16, 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mailed their Letter of Final Determination (LFD) to Collier County. The DFIRM has now been declared final for Collier County and will become effective for flood insurance purposes on May 16, 2011. During the intervening 6-month “compliance” time period, flood insurance policies will continue to be based upon the current Flood Insurance Rate Map which has an effective date of November 17, 2005.
Final DFIRM with the flood zones
There are two dates that are important for property owners now that the LFD has been issued:
1. March 30, 2012 Effective for Building Permits – The Board adopted the new DFIRM for permitting and regulatory compliance on January 24, 2012, with a declared effective starting date of March 30, 2012. Between November 16, 2011 and March 30, 2012, applicants will need to comply with the current “old” FEMA flood zone requirements unless the “new” DFIRM flood zone requirements are more restrictive.
2. May 16, 2012 Effective for Flood Insurance Requirements –The DFIRM will be published with effective date label showing May 16, 2012.
- Flood insurance requirements affect structures that are located within any flood zone that starts with the letter “V” or “A” and there are federal dollars associated with the structure (typically a federally insured mortgage or a federal grant). If there are no federal dollars associated with the structure, there is no federal mandate for the purchase of flood insurance.
- A lender has the legal right to require flood insurance coverage regardless of the structure’s flood zone.
- If an owner desires to prevent an existing structure, that is currently located in flood zone X but will be located in any flood zone starting with the letter “V” or “A”, from having a flood insurance requirement, they can apply for a Letter of Map Change (LOMC) between November 16, 2011 and May 16, 2012. If the structure meets all of the LOMA requirements and FEMA is able to process the application by May 16, 2012, the approved LOMC will be issued on May 17, 2012 and thus keep the structure within the flood zone X classification. To learn how to file for a LOMC, see the “Change Your Floodplain Designation to Zone X (Letter of Map Change)” section below.
A schedule of this mapping effort is shown below.
For more information about the FEMA flood insurance rate map program, visit: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/map/firm.shtm
National Flood Insurance Map Amendment Process Presentation
FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Map (DFIRM) Update and Adoption Timeline
| Preliminary DFIRM received from FEMA |
July 13, 2010 |
| DFIRM Viewer Posted on County Website |
August 16, 2010 |
| Public Meetings to begin review process |
August 16-20, 2010 |
| FEMA Notification of Planned Newspaper Publications |
October 25, 2010 |
| First Planned Newspaper Publication |
October 29, 2010 |
| Second Planned Newspaper Publication |
November 5, 2010 |
| Start of 90-day Comment and Appeal Period |
November 5, 2010 |
| End of 90-day Comment and Appeal Period |
February 3, 2011 |
| Review and Resolution of Submitted Appeals |
November 15, 2011
|
| Letter of Final Determination by FEMA |
November 16, 2011
|
| New DFIRM Becomes Effective for Building Permits |
March 30, 2012 |
| New DFIRM Becomes Effective for Flood Insurance |
May 16, 2012 |
Basins included in the BCC authorized appeal of the Preliminary DFIRM based on new topographic information 11/4/2010
Flood Risk Map Hotline Available
A special information hotline has been established to answer questions about the new, preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Residents can call 239-252-2942, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with questions about the DFIRMs.
The new DFIRMs are very different in appearance from the current FEMA flood mapping in that they identify the risk from coastal storm surge flooding as well as rainfall from the coastline to roughly State Route 29. Many areas of the county that had been exempt under previous flood zone mapping are now included. Those who have a federally backed mortgage or plan to refinance with a federally backed lender, may be required to purchase flood insurance if they find that their home is newly shown in a Special Flood Hazard Area on the updated maps.
Also on this web page, you can view your existing flood zone designation and compare it to the proposed flood zone designation under the new FEMA maps.
For more information, visit
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/map/firm.shtm
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS THE FEMA DIGITAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP FOR COLLIER COUNTY
Frequently Asked Questions
Elevation Certificate and Surveyor Information
If you are going to need Flood insurance or desire to remove your home from the Flood insurance requirement you will need an Elevation Certificate prepared by a Florida Licensed Surveyor. The following links will provide some useful information.
Information to consider when hiring a surveyor to prepare an elevation certificate
To obtain a list of Surveyors and Surveying Businesses in the area
FEMA Elevation Certificate Form and Instructions
Change Your Floodplain Designation to Zone X (Letter of Map Change)
FEMA uses the term Letter of Map Change (LOMC) to collectively reference the processes for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision Based Upon Placement of Fill (LOMR-F). If a property owner has a valid elevation certificate for a structure and desires to remove the structure from the FEMA-designated floodplain, there are application forms from FEMA for a LOMA and a LOMR-F. In order to be considered eligible for either the LOMA or LOMR-F, both the lowest floor elevation and the lowest adjacent grade elevation (shown on the Elevation Certificate) must be equal to or higher than the FEMA-designated flood elevation for that location.
The following FEMA application forms are used to apply for the LOMA or LOMR-F. Please read the instructions carefully to determine which form to use for your specific structure.
FEMA MT-1; FEMA MT-EZ; FEMA MT-2
To obtain the date of the building permit approval, call the Collier County Building Department at (239) 252-5866. This date is very important to verify when the fill material was placed on the property. If a building site was ever located within a FEMA-designated flood zone starting with the letter “V” or “A” before the date of fill placement for the approved building permit, the owner must use the LOMR-F application and does not qualify for the LOMA application.
Additional information links to help you better understand the LOMA process and the availability of an electronic submittal of the LOMA are shown below.
Flow Chart for LOMA Process; eLOMA
Updated February 3, 2012