National flood insurance program regulations provide procedures to remove property from the 100-year floodplain or from a special flood hazard area. Amendments and revisions to community flood insurance rate maps cannot adversely impact the floodplain or floodway delineations of the level of the 100-year flood.
There are several procedures provided whereby the federal insurance administrator will review information from the community, an owner, or a lessee of property where it is believed the property should not be included in a special flood hazard area.
Submissions to FEMA for revisions to effective flood insurance studies (FISs) by individual and community requesters will require the signing of application/certification forms. These forms will provide FEMA with assurance that all pertinent data relating to the revision is included in the submittal. They will also assure that: a) the data and methodology are based on current conditions; b) qualified professionals have assembled data and performed all necessary computations; and c) all individuals and organizations impacted by proposed changes are aware of the changes and will have an opportunity to comment on them. FEMA procedures permit the following types of requests:
A request for a revision to the effective FIS information (FIRM, FBFM, and/or FIS report) is usually a request that FEMA replace the effective floodplain boundaries, flood profiles, floodway boundaries, etc., with those determined by the requester. Before FEMA will replace the effective FIS information with the revised, the requester must: a) provide all of the data used in determining the revised floodplain boundaries, flood profiles, floodway boundaries, etc.; b) provide all data necessary to demonstrate that the physical modifications to the floodplain have been adequately designed to withstand the impacts of the one percent (1%) annual chance flood event and will be adequately maintained; and c) demonstrate that the revised information (e.g., hydrologic and hydraulic analyses and the resulting floodplain and floodway boundaries) are consistent with the effective FIS information.
Requests for amendments or revisions to FEMA maps must be reviewed and submitted to FEMA by the (governing body) of (county or municipality) with the applicant for a map amendment or revision required to prepare all the supporting information and appropriate FEMA forms.
The scientific or technical information to be submitted with these requests may include, but is not limited to, the following:
A. An actual copy of the recorded plat map bearing the seal of the appropriate recordation official (county clerk or recorder of deeds) indicating the official recordation and proper citation, deed or plat book volume and page number, or an equivalent identification where annotation of the deed or plat book is not the practice.
B. A topographical map showing:
1. Ground elevation contours in relation to the NGVD (national geodetic vertical datum).
2. The total area of the property in question.
3. The location of the structure or structures located on the property in question.
4. The elevation of the lowest adjacent grade to a structure or structures.
5. An indication of the curvilinear line which represents the area subject to inundation by a base flood. The curvilinear line should be based upon information provided by an appropriate authoritative source, such as a federal agency, department of water resources, a county water control district, a county or city engineer, a federal emergency management agency flood insurance study, or a determination by a registered professional engineer.
C. A copy of the FHBM or FIRM indicating the location of the property in question.
D. A certification by a registered professional engineer or licensed land surveyor that the lowest grade adjacent to the structure is above the base flood elevation.
E. The completion of the appropriate forms in the federal emergency management agency's packets, amendments and revisions to national flood insurance program maps (MT-1 FEMA form 81-87 series and MT-2 FEMA form 81-89 series). (Ord. 624, 2-14-2008)
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