High ground, Vol. 5, no. 4 (Fall 2000)

High Ground
A Publication of the Georgia Floodplain Management Office
Vol. 5, No. 4 Fall 2000
Common Errors With The New Elevation Certificate
When to Require the Form The elevation certificate kept in the file for verification must have Section C.1. checked as "Finished Construction." Often communities require surveyors to shoot the lowest floor elevation before the building is completed. This is a good building inspection procedure to catch and correct elevation errors early in the construction process. The old certificate form allowed this because it only addressed the floor. But the new form needs more complete information, such as the elevation of an attached garage and machinery and/or equipment servicing the building.
The new form requires a change in procedures. The best approach is to continue to require a survey of the lowest floor soon after it is constructed. This survey does not need to be in the form of a completed elevation certificate. It can be on another type of local form. The full elevation certificate need not be filled out until the building is done and the owner wants a certificate of occupancy.
This allows the certificate to reflect any changes that may be made during construction, including locating the furnace and other utility equipment below the floor or below the base flood elevation.
Specific Sections B1: Be sure to include both the NFIP number and the community name. B4: Include the full number of the map and the panel. B6 & B7: Make sure these are included! C2: The diagram number MUST be included. C3: Use "NA" instead of leaving a field blank if it does not pertain to the structure. C3: An embossed seal does not come through on faxed copies. If the seal is not visible, an insurance agent cannot use the form.
Latest FEMA Updates The revised elevation certificate is now on the FEMA website (see Interesting Internet Sites article).
The form was revised based on comments received from the FEMA Regional Offices, surveyors, engineers, and architects. Some of the changes are:

Section C, Item C1 This section was revised to indicate that "Finished Construction" should be selected only when all machinery and/or equipment such as furnaces, hot water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, and elevators and their associated equipment have been installed and the grading around the building is completed.
Section C, Item C3e. This section clarifies that the elevation of the machinery, and/or equipment that service the building, such as furnaces, hot water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, and elevators and their associated equipment, is required.
Section C, Item C3f. This section clarifies that the lowest adjacent "finished" grade elevation is needed.
Section E2 This section allows the measurement to be established using the difference between the lowest floor and the natural grade, if available. Otherwise the finished grade must be used.
It should be noted that most common errors would not occur if the person completing the form filled in every item and read the instructions!
Taken from the "NFIP/CRS Update" newsletter, Fall 2000
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If you have questions regarding the new Elevation Certificate, contact the Georgia Floodplain Management Office at (404) 656-6382.
Training For New Elevation Certificate Now Available on Flood Insurance Program's Website
In-depth training on the new flood insurance Elevation Certificate (EC) introduced last May is the first of a series of on-line training being developed by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that insurance producers can use on their own computers at their convenience, 24 hours a day. The training can be accessed through the NFIP's website (http://www.fema.gov/nfip).
The self-paced, interactive design allows agents to skip over material they already know and concentrate on areas that need more emphasis. Frequent practical exercises help agents to check and reinforce their learning. The comprehensive training module contains multiple links to other resources, such as the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual, and also incorporates an annotated EC that can be used as a handy reference. Upon

completing the module and passing a mastery test, agents will receive a letter of completion from the NFIP.
The Federal Insurance Administration, which is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), developed its new EC after gathering comments from surveyors, architects, floodplain managers, Write Your Own companies and insurance agents. Instructions have been clarified, building diagrams revised, and detailed questions added about property location, Flood Insurance Rate Map data and survey results.
The revised EC provides space to describe the building's use and an option to provide latitude and longitude coordinates. New elevation requirements have been added to the EC. Agents will determine the lowest floor by comparing the surveyor's information with that provided by the property owner for consistency.
Additional training in the use of the revised EC will be offered at NFIP agent workshops across the country. Schedules and registration information for all workshops during the period August-December 2000 are listed on the website at http://www.fema.gov/nfip/a_wshop.htm.
The new EC form and instruction packet are available from the FEMA Distribution Center at 1-800-480-2520 (ask for FEMA Form 81-31). They are also included in the May 2000 revision to the NFIP Flood Insurance Manual and can be viewed or downloaded from the NFIP website.
FAQs:
What Types of Property May Be Insured Against Flood Loss?
Almost every type of walled and roofed building that is principally above ground and not entirely over water may be insured if it is in a participating community. In most cases, this includes manufactured (i.e., mobile) homes anchored to permanent foundations, but does not include travel trailers or converted buses or vans. Contents of insurable walled and roofed buildings also may be insured under separate coverage.
Understanding the Difference between LOMA and LOMR

The acronyms LOMA and LOMR may sound similar but there is a distinct difference in their application.
LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment): A LOMA is the result of an administrative procedure that involves the review of scientific and technical data (topographic data and/or hydrologic and hydraulic analyses) submitted by a property owner or the lessee of property who believes the property has incorrectly been included in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). A LOMA amends the current effective FEMA map and establishes that a specific property is not located in a SFHA.
Although FEMA may issue a LOMA, a lending institution is free to consider requiring flood insurance as a condition of its own standard lending practice even if the building is outside the SFHA (Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973). It is advisable for a person seeking a LOMA to consult with the lending institution regarding the waiving of the flood insurance requirement if a LOMA is issued. If the lending institution will waive the insurance requirement, the policyholder may cancel flood insurance coverage and obtain a premium refund. If not, amending the FEMA map to remove the building from the SFHA will generally lower the flood insurance premium. To obtain forms contact FEMA's Publications Facility at 1-800-480-2520
There are no review and processing fees for LOMAs.
All LOMA requests for property located in the State of Georgia should be mailed to the following address:
FEMA LOMA Depot P.O. Box 2210 Merrifield, VA 22116-2210
Telephone Number: 1-877-336-2627
LOMR (Letter of Map Revision): A LOMR is an official revision to the current effective FEMA map. It is used to change flood zones, floodplain and floodway delineations, flood elevations, and planimetric features. All requests for LOMRs must be made to FEMA through the chief executive officer of the community, since it is the community that must adopt changes and revisions to the flood map. To obtain forms contact FEMA's Publications Facility at 1-800-480-2520
The following are other FEMA mapping terminology that may be of benefit to you.
CLOMR (Conditional Letter of Map Revision): A CLOMR is FEMA's formal review and comment as to whether a proposed project complies with the minimum NFIP floodplain management criteria. If it is determined that it does, the CLOMR also

describes any eventual revisions that will be made to the FEMA maps upon completion of the project.
While obtaining a CLOMR may be desired, obtaining conditional approval is not automatically required by NFIP regulations for all projects in the floodway or 1-percent annual chance floodplain. A CLOMR is required only for those projects that will result in a 1-percent annual chance water surface elevation increase of greater than 1.00 foot for streams with Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) specified, but no designated floodway, or any 1-percent annual chance water surface elevation increase for proposed construction within a regulatory floodway. The technical data needed to support a CLOMR request generally involve detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and are very similar to the data needed for a LOMR request.
LOMR-F (Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill): A LOMR-F is an official revision by letter to an effective FEMA map. A LOMR-F states FEMA's determination concerning whether a structure or parcel has been elevated on fill above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) and is, therefore, excluded from the SFHA.
PMR (Physical Map Revision): A PMR is an official republication of a community's FEMA map to effect changes to base (1-percent annual chance) flood elevations, floodplain boundary delineations, regulatory floodways, and planimetric features. These changes typically occur as a result of structural works or improvements, annexations resulting in additional flood hazard areas or corrections to Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) or SFHAs.
For further assistance or guidance, contact Georgia Floodplain Management Office at (404) 656-6382.
Federal, State and Local Governments Roles in the NFIP
Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is based on a mutual agreement between local communities and the Federal Government that stipulates that if a community adopts and enforces a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, federallybacked flood insurance will be made available throughout the community. Within the NFIP, there are three distinct roles Federal Government, State Government and Local Government. The following is an outline of the roles of the respective governments:
Federal Role Risk Identification (designation of flood hazard areas /establish risk premium rates) Establish minimum development/building standards Provide affordable flood insurance coverage

State Role Provide guidance, training and technical assistance to local communities and agencies On behalf of FEMA, evaluate and document the effectiveness of local floodplain management programs Provide disaster assistance
Local Role Adopt and enforce local flood ordinance in compliance with Federal regulations (local governments can adopt floodplain management regulations that exceed the minimum standards of the NFIP consult Georgia Floodplain Management Office) Review and evaluate development/building permit applications Issue or deny development/building permits Inspect development/building and require elevation certification Maintain records of floodplain development including substantially damaged structures
Refer to community's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance for further descriptions
Communities with floodplain management programs that exceed the minimum standards of the NFIP are rewarded with reduced flood insurance premiums under the Community Rating System (CRS) program. Currently, there are twenty-two NFIP communities in Georgia where citizens receive discounts on flood insurance premiums. Discounts on flood insurance in these communities range from 5% to 15%. If your community would like to receive further information regarding participation in the Community Rating System (CRS), contact David Van Troost, ISO/CRS Specialist, at (770) 536-3039 or the Georgia Floodplain Management Office.
FYI
Of the 695 communities in Georgia counties and active municipalities 62% participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is available in 429 cities and counties throughout Georgia.
Flood insurance is available in 19,043 NFIP communities nationwide.
The average premium for flood insurance in Georgia is $ 443.00
Georgia ranks 11th in the number of flood insurance policies 61,053 - Florida ranks 1st with over 1.7 million policies -

The flood of 1994 is considered Georgia's worst flooding event. Damages to residential, commercial, agricultural, and public facilities approached one billion dollars.
Flooding is the #1 natural disaster in the United States.
Publications
To mitigate losses from natural hazards in coastal areas, FEMA has published an updated coastal construction manual that presents a comprehensive approach for managing risk. The publication, Coastal Construction Manual: Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Constructing, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas, provides technical guidance on the best practices for building along shorelines.
For the first time, the revised manual emphasizes land-use planning methods, including approaches that reduce the impacts of long-term erosion. Careful land-use planning and site design are cited as critical predecessors to any development and building project. The Coastal Construction Manual suggests that rather than attempting to conquer the natural features of the coast, developers should consider options that incorporate the natural features of the land to reduce risk. The manual evaluates numerous practices for improving construction and reducing economic losses associated with coastal disasters and provides detailed guidance for implementing them.
FEMA has developed several training courses to support the new manual:
A one-week course at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), "Residential Coastal Construction Course" (E-386)--October 30-November 3, 2000; March 12-16, 2001; and September 10-14, 2001.
A two-day course that will be available in January 2001. Student training materials will be available free of charge.
An independent study course that will be available soon by mail and on the FEMA Web site.
The three-volume manual will also be available on CD-ROM (FEMA 55, Third Edition), and free copies of both the print and CD-ROM editions can be ordered from the FEMA Publications Center, P.O. Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012; (800) 480-2520.
Advising a Citizen who Disagrees with the Lender's Determination that He/She is in a Flood Zone
Property owners cannot contest a flood insurance requirement if the lending institution has established the requirement as a part of its own standard lending practices. However,

if a lending institution is requiring the insurance to meet mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements, the property owner and lender may jointly request that FEMA review the lending institution's determination. This request must be submitted within 45 days of the date the lending institution notified the property owner that a building or manufactured home is in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and flood insurance is required. In response, FEMA will issue a Letter of Determination Review (LODR). The LODR does not result in an amendment or revision to the FEMA map. It is only a finding as to whether the building or manufactured home is in the SFHA shown on the FEMA map. The LODR remains in effect until the FEMA map panel affecting the subject building or manufactured home is revised.
A fee of $80.00 must be submitted with all LODR requests. The fee must be accompanied by copies of the following: (1) the completed Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form (SFHDF); (2) the dated notification letter to the property owner; (3) a letter, signed by the property owner and lending institution, requesting FEMA's review; (4) an annotated copy of the effective FEMA map panel for the community showing the location of the structure or manufactured home; and (5) a copy of all material used by the lending institution or designated third party to make the determination.
Upcoming Training Courses
Emergency Management Institute (EMI): The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, will be sponsoring the following resident courses. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) serves as the national focal point for the development and delivery of emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of Federal, State, and Local government officials, volunteer organizations, and the private sector to minimize the impact of disasters on the American public.
There are no tuition fees for EMI on-campus courses. All instruction, books, and housing are provided at no cost, and FEMA reimburses airfare. Participants are responsible for the cost of the meals provided and for personal incidental expenses. All persons attending EMI courses are required to purchase a campus meal ticket for the period of their course.
For additional information on the following courses, or to obtain an application, please contact Georgia's Floodplain Management Office at (404) 656-6382. You may also contact EMI at 1-800-238-3358. It is suggested that applications for courses be submitted at least two months prior to the date of the course.
E234 - Digital Hazard Data Course (formerly Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map) February 5-9, 2001; April 2-6, 2001; August 20-24, 2001

E273 - Managing Floodplain Development Through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) February 5-9, 2001; March 19-23, 2001; April 23-27, 2001; July16-20, 2001; August 27-31, 2001
E278 - National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)/Community Rating System (CRS) April 2-6, 2001; July 30-August 3, 2001
E279 - Retrofitting Existing Floodprone Residential Buildings February 5-9 (**see note)
E380 Project Impact: Building Consensus in Disaster Resistant Communities May 7-11, 2001 (Participation in this course is limited to Federal, State, or local personnel with responsibility for coordination of Project Impact in their communities.)
NEW!!!
E386 Residential Coastal Construction The students in this course will learn about best practices in siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining residential coastal construction. Dates Available: March 12-16, 2001; September 10-14, 2001
**Prerequisite - Participants must successfully complete the independent study course IS-279 before applying for E279. There is no charge for enrollment. Individuals should submit an application form (FEMA Form L173) to:
FEMA Independent Study Program Emergency Management Institute
16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Interesting Internet Sites
www.fema.gov/ The Federal Emergency Management Agency's web site has many online technical and informational documents including the Community Status Book which is updated daily. Below are some additional FEMA addresses of interest:
www.floodmaps.net/mit/tsd/DL_comp.htm The Compendium of Flood Map Changes is a list of all the changes made to the NFIP maps including Physical Map Revisions, Letters of Map Revision, and Letters of Map Amendment during a given 6-month period. Compendium issues that are currently available are provided in pdf format.
www.fema.gov/mit/tsd/OT_Q2sr.htm The latest version of Quick-2 (Version 2.0) can be downloaded at this web site. Quick-2 is a hydraulic analysis program produced by FEMA for computing water-surface

elevations in open channels of all types. This Microsoft Windows-based version is more user friendly than its DOS-based predecessor.
www.fema.gov/library/elvinst.htm In August 1999, FEMA released the latest version of the Elevation Certificate. This document along with complete instructions can be downloaded from this site.
Other great sites include: www.state.ga.us/GEMA/ The Georgia Emergency Management Agency's web site contains updates for Emergency Managers, training schedules, and news releases. Many hotlinks to other Emergency Management web sites are also included.
www.floods.org/ The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) web site includes organizational and upcoming conference information, as well as hotlinks to other sites of interest to floodplain managers.
HIGH GROUND A Publication of the Georgia Floodplain Management Office
7 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Suite 440
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 (404) 656-6382
fax - (404) 656-6383
Personnel:
Collis O. Brown, State Coordinator e-mail: Collis_Brown@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
Judy Brock, Environmental Specialist e-mail: Judy_Brock@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
This newsletter was supported by funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element of the National Flood Insurance Program. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.